The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1889-02-22
Defiant Senator's.
Almost a Fight in the Indiana
Senate.
A BELLIGERENT MINORITY RED HOT

DoorlSeeper Bulger Rouses the Wrath OF
Senator johnson and Things Look War
like for "A Few Moments--A Statesman
Who Was Spelling for Somebody to Set
Him Down, ana Backed by His Party
Colleagues
INDIANAPOLIS, Feb 21.-In the senate
yesterday morning under the previous ques
ton, enforced by the majority the bin Great
ing the supreme court commission was passed.
Senator Byrd then sought to bring up the bill
creating the department of geology, but
Senator johnson Rep.) had meantime
secured recognition from the chair. Senator
Byrd claimed the floor and attempted TO
move the previous question and shut off all
debate. Senator johnson vigorously protested
and claimed the floor A wranglo cnsued,
the chair allowing Johnson five minutes,
which lie devoted to scoring the majority,
vehemently denouncing the enforcement of
rule which prevented the minority from ex-
planning their votes.
Johnson said: II want to say that the gag
rule shall not be enforced on rhe.' When tho
five minutes were up tho chair pounded tho
marble slab, but Johnson paid no attention to
it. He continued a scathing Pronunciation of
the party legislation that the majority was
enacting, and of the gag-law and thumb
screw rules that were being applied to the
minority. The presiding officer pounded the
marble slab in distraction. Finally he or
dered the rail- called Chaos worse COMPOUNDED
took possession of the floor johnson used all
his energies in a denunciatory speech that
almost drowned out the shouts of the roll
clerk. The doorkecpers and clerks gathered
in the lobby.
Just at that moment s, f. Bulger, the
doorkeeper who elected Robertson from the
chamber two years ago, called out: "I'll set
him down if you want me to-" This brought
a dozen Republicans to their feet in an in
slant, and each, quivering with excitement,
denounced the doorkeeper
81 dare you to attempt it," Indignantly ex-
claimed johnson "These cowardly brutes
may put down men in the house, but you
can not force into his seat member of the
senate"
"The whole twenty -seven of them can't
do it," exclaimed Dresser
mo, sir" cried out Grose, "you can't do it
here; all of you can't" johnson squared
himself.
~ am waiting" he coolly remarked, "for
that doorkeeper to force mt into my seat"
ayes, we are waiting for him." echoed
Dresser
The Republican members walked excitedly
upand down the aisle, telling the doorkeepers to
come on and put johnson in his seat il they
wanted to try it. The Democrats also pre-
pared for war. Had the doorkeepers picked
up the gauntlet and stepped into the arena to
put johnson in his seat there would probably
have been a fight that would have rivaled
anything that ever occurred, even in the In
diana legislature.
After the excitement had subsidized, a reso-
luton instructing the principal door
keeper to dismiss Bulger was introduced. The
offender called several of the Democrats to
one side and said he had acted hastily and
was sorry for il. This was announced upon
the floor, but the Republicans insisted upon
tho resolution. Urmstan declared that the
minority had transgressed every rule of the
senate, and he, for one, was not in favor of
censuring the doorkeeper, when an ex-
ample of INSTRUMENTATION had been
set continually from the Repub-
lican side of tho chamber. johnson saw
a chance to make point, and said that tho
doorkeeper was not to blame, as the Demo
Gratis had passed rules which 10 honorable
body would try to enforce, and, having set
cowardly example, it was but natural that
tho doorkeeper should DO anxious to get his
hands upon the throat of q member of the
minority. The resolution was then tabled,
several of the Republicans voting with the
Democrats The bill was then passed.
A message was received from the governor
stating that serious charges were made
against the insane asylum and recommending
a thorough investigation by experts; a reso-
luton to investigate by committee of the
two houses was adopted and sent to the house
A long fight then took place over the seating
of Ewing, Democrat, who was elected to fill
the vacancy caused by ulseating Carpenter,
but he was finally seated.
The Republicans caucused at noon on the
question of resigning their seats in body,
but about concluded to wait until the gov
enor vetoed the political legislation and the
senate acted on the vetoes Such bolt would
defeat all the appropriation bills.