The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-01-19
THE KNOT TIED BY HAINES.
Interesting Features Of the Wrangle in the
Illinois House of Representatives.
Chicago Special.


Lake county, commonly called "The Waukegan
Spider" Waukegan is in Lake county, being
the town where Elijah lives. Charles B. Far
WE'LL the well-known Illinois politician, also lives
in Lake county. Haines is an old member of
the Legislature and served one term as Speaker
Of the House
In the present House the Democrats have a
majority of one, and the Republicans have a
similar majority in the Senate. The Senate
was organized without difficulty, it being con-
coded by the Republicans that John A. Logan
would be the unanimous choice for United
States Senator. In the House it was different
There were several candidates for Speaker and
none of them wished to divulge where they stood
on the Senatorship question.
Haines was, early in his political career, q
Republican. Then he became an Independent
and, after being twice elected to the House in a
Republican district by Democratic votes against
the regular Republican nominee, he leaned con-
stantly toward the Democrats. This, however
did not satisfy the Democrats. They wanted
pledges sufficient to assure them of his support
when the vote for United States senator was to
so close. In their House caucus they united on
Cronkrite of Freeport, for Speaker. Haines
went into the caucus, but he did not abide by
It, When the House was temporarily organized
he was elected temporary Speaker, Eugene Sittig,
OF Chicago, Republican, a friend of Farwell ana
an enemy of Logan voting for him, Haines being
unable to vote for himself.
Thus the House was temporarily organized.
After week of wrangling over the motion to
confirm HalneS as permanent Speaker, the
House adjourned, Haines as temporary Speak
er, receiving, deciding and declaring the various
notions and, at the end of the week, signing the
vouchers of clerks and employees for pay. He
maintained that he was the Speaker de facto on
account of the inability of the House to unite
upon or elect any other Speaker. and by virtue
of his acts this week he sUill maintained his po-
sition.
Cronkrite leads Democratic faction which in
slsts that Il is their constitutional right to vote
for permanent Speaker, and that no act OF the
House will be legal and constitutional until such
permanent Speaker has been formally elected.
The second week has been spent in
wrangle over this issue. The Repub-
lican members, under the lead of Fuller,
of Boone, have been siding alternately with
either Democratic faction in the hope of gaining
votes, breaking the deadlock and electing Re-
publican to the Senate. Yesterday HaineS,
Stunning all the functions of the Speaker in fact,
stated that he had duty to perform under the
Constitution. which was to receive and open the
abstracts of the late vote for State officers,
which the law requires both houses to canvass in
joint session The Secretary of State had re-
fused to give up the returns, except upon notice
that the two houses were in session. He had,
therefore, prepared notice to the Senate that the
House was in session. This raised a storm of
objections from all sides, and the House rose
almost en- maSse and demanded of the door
keeper, who had the message, that he should
return it to Haines, and not deliver it to the
Senate. HaineS called one of his partisans to
the chair, and took the floor in his own behalf.
He walked down the center aisle to the farthest
seat, and started in on three hours speech in
his own behalf. AS an example of exclusive
oratory it was thought model He travelled
from the notice on the clerks desk to Japan and
back again. He was III the House of Commons
one minute, and in the constitutional convention
of 1870 the next minute. He badgered West
and disputed with Fuller. and when no one
would furnish him with fresh topics by asking
him questions, he fell back on his legislative ex
rerience or elueidated theology and ancient his
tory. After he had been at work this way for
one hour and three-quarters, he suddenly
brought up to the question before the House.
He said if the House were not now permanently
organized ali the proceedings of the Senate were
illegal. He insisted that one house could not
lawfully conduct business beyond the matter of
organizing until it had notice that the other was
duly organized. When he had stated this much
by way of argument he again began to talk
against time.
A motion to take recess was 1ost-Linegar,
West, ODonnell. Shupp. Browning and Tenn
pleman, Democrats, voting with the Republic
ans. On the rollcall Mr.. Fuller explained his
vote in very fervent speech. but little could be
heard owing to the general confusion that pre-
vailed. Mr.. West, too, explained his vote Mr..
Haines then proceeded to answer the explainers
AS there are no rules limiting speeches,
physical endurance sne was he only
and Mcdonald, Linegar took the floor
and spoke for nearly two hours. He ridiculed
the idea that man could be elected to an ofi1R
by implications: Haines was he said, usurper,
and without shadow of right to the speaker
ship. The House was its own Judicial authority
in the matter, as coordinate branch OF the
government He would never recognize the
pretentlons of this temporary Speaker. this
servant of the House 1t was not with him a
question of who should be a United States
senator but question as to whether any man
should take to himself the power of the House
the rights and privileges Of its members He
was frequently applauded by the Republicans
When he had concluded Mr.. Haines again took
the floor. He began by saying: Il am here to
say that whenever a vote takes place
on the speakership the position will
go over there" pointing to the Re-
publican side. This was a manifest
threat because of Linegar's severe criticism. He
yielded the floor after time for a motion to
take recess, This was lost the same Demo
Gratis again voting with the Republicans Haines
was tired. He resumed the chair, and was
heard to remark to Crafts as he did so: '"Theyve
got u.s." From this point on, rollcall followed
IolEcall In eHortS 10 gain recess or an ADJOURN
ment.
Whatever detection existed among the Repub-
licans, was overcome by the inharmonious con-
dition of the Democrats. The division in the
ranks of the latter enabled the former to keep
the House in session. The members finally be-
came puerile. Cheap wit ran riot. MFR. Pike, of
Bloomington, made a specialty of this
At 945 o'clock this evening 149 members
were present, as shown by cali of the House.
Matters had quieted down. The long session
was getting serious when Fuller, however,
moved the previous question The chair asked
him What on"
"On the pending question" Fuller replied, re-
ferring to the notice to the Senate.
The Speaker said the call of the House was
not complete. Fuller then called out MIR
Speaker"
''For what purpose does the gentleman rlsel'
Mr.. Hanes inquired.
''None of the Chairs business" Fuller excit-
eddy replied and, with this introduction, he
boisterously insisted that he was in order. The