Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1889-03-04

After Pacsr.. with Him Had Ceased To
He a virtue-He Sends His Resignation
to the Governor--Both Houses Holding
Sunday Sessions, but All the Appropria-
ton Bills About Agreed to--Prestdent
| CIeveIand's Veto of the Direct Tax Bill
A Retrospective Glance at the Record.
WASHINGTON CITY, March 4-Senator
Riddleberger's term is in the upper house of
congress practically wound up last night
fifteen or sixteen hours earlier than it would
under ordinary circumstances-in a very ex-
traordinary manner When the senate met
at p m. he arose and moved that the senate
go into executive session. The motion was
lost, aud then the senator made himself ex-
| ceedingly troublesome by interrupting nearly
every senator who was recognized by the
chair. The presiding officer finally told him
that he would not again be recognized, but
he continued his Interruptions and demanded
recognition, his demands being ignored.
Shortly before 9 o'clock he arose and an
nounced that he had telegraphed his resigna-
ton to the governor of Virginia, because he
found that be had no recognition in the SEN
ate. He was awaiting an answer to his dis
patch and he hoped it would come soon and
relieve him from the embarrassment of his
position. He then sat down, but in a few
minutes be again arose and demanded recog-
milton. The chair refused to recognize him
and told him to sit down. He continued to
address the chair and Senator Ingalls, in
structed the sergeant-at-arms to arrest him il
he refused to he seated. Sergeant-at-Arms
Canaday started around the rear of the cham
ber but before no reached the seat of Riddle
berger Teller and others Immediately around
him had persuaded the senator from Virginia
to sit down.
The sergeant alarms fingered about, how
ever, and when, few minutes later, Riddle
berger arose and once more addressed the
chair, he was placed under arrest Canaday
tried to persuade him TO leave the chamber,
and when he refused the sergeant-at-arms,
| who is q muscular man, caught hold of his
| coat and pulled him toward the cloak room
The senator caught hold of his chair for sup
| port, and the assistant Of the sergeant-at-
arms, Capt May, caught his arm, and to-
| gether the two officers of the senate dragged
him out of the chamber into the cloak room
There was "a slight demonstration of applause
Ia the gallery, but it ceased very quickly.
When the two officers got Riddleberger
safely in the cloak room they placed him in q
| chair, and then they mounted guard over
him TO prevent him returning to the floor
! An effort was made to persuade him to leave
| the building, but as be refused, it was thought
best not to drag him through the corridors,
| which were thronged with visitors
The scene attending the arrest of Riddle
berger was most extraordinary and has no
parallel in the history of the senate. Riddle
berger was in state Of gross intoxication
and was not responsible for his actions The
presiding officer exercised great deal OF
patience and his final action va, unavoid-
able. Riddlsberger has been threatened with
arrest before.
When Riddleberger had been taken into the
cloak room and In degree quoted, he was
visited by Quay and then by Dawes, who
tried to reason with him and endeavored to
persuade him to 60 home, but he refused to
leave. Stretched on couch In the cloak
room he remained in the custody of the as
| sistant sergeant-at-arms.
When the slight applause in the galleries,
which greeted the expulsion of Riddleberger,
| had subsidized, the chair called the attention
of visitors to the fact that the demonstration
was in violation Of the rules OF the senate,
and said that he hoped it would not occur
again. The business of the senate was then
resumed
When Riddleberger was told that the
senate had taken recess, he expressed a desire
to be taken home, and a carriage was called
and he was sent away from the capitol