Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1889-02-21
Defiant Senators.
Almost a Fight in the Indiana
Senate.
A BELLIeERENT MINORITY RED HOT

like for q Few Moments--A Statesman
Who Was Spelling for Somebody to Set
Him Down, and Backed by His Party
Coileagues-Legislative Notes.
INDIANAPOLIS, Feb. 2l.-In the senate
yesterday morning under the previous ques.
ton, enforced by the majority, the bill 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 wrangle ensued,
the chair allowing Johnson five minutes
which he devoted to scoring the majority,
vehemently denouncing the enforcement Of
a rule which prevented the minority from ex.
planning their votes.
johnson said: Il want to say that the gag
rule shall not be enforced on me-" When the
five minutes were up the chair pounded the
marble slab, but johnson paid no attention to
| 1t. He continued a scathing denunciation 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 be or
dered the rail- called. Chaos worse COMPOUNDED
took possession of the floor. johnson used all
his energies in denunciatory speech that
| almost drowned out the shouts of the roll
| clerk. The doorkeepers and clerks gathered
| In the lobby
Just at that moment S. E Bulger, the
doorkeeper who elected Robertson from the
chamber two years ago, called out: an set
him down if you want roe to-" This brought
a dozen Republicans to their feet in an in
| slant, and each, quivering with excitement
| denoun ed the doorkeeper
Il 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"
1.-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
II am waiting" be coolly remarked, "for
that doorkeeper to force me into my seat"
Yes, we are waiting for him." echoed
| Dresser
upand down the aisle, telling the doorkeepers to
come on and put johnson in bis seat If they
| wanted to try 1t. The Democrats also pre-
| pared for war. Had the doorkeepers picked
| up the gauntlet and stepped into the arena tc
| put johnson In his scat there would probably
| have been fight that would have Iivaled
| anything that ever occurred, even in the In
| diana legislature
After the excitement had subsidized reso-
| luton instructing the principal door
keeper to dismiss Bulger was introduced The
| offender called several Of the Democrats 10
one side and said he had acted hastily and
was sorry for it. This was announced upon
| the floor, but the Republicans insisted upon
| the resolution. Urnstan 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 insubordination had been
| set continually from the Repub-
| ican side of the chamber johnson saw
q chance to make point, and said that the
doorkeeper was not to blame, as the Demo
| Gratis bad passed rules which no honorable
| body would try to enforce, and, having set q
| cowardly example, IL was but natural that
| the doorkeeper should be anxious TO get bis
hands upon the throat of a 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; reso.
| luton to investigate by q 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 All
the vacancy caused by unseating Carpenter
| Republican, but he was finally seated
The Republicans caucusei at noon on the
| question of resisntng their seats in a body
but about concluded 10 wait until the gov
| ernor vetoed the political legislation and the
senate acted on the vetoes Such bolt would
defeat all the appropriation bills