Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1891-01-08
THE FUN BEGINS.
Lively Time in the Legislature
of Nebraska.
A NOISY FIGHT OVER A CHAIRMAN.

The Alliance Seems to Want the Earth
and the FuIlness Thereof-Black Eye for
the Attempt to Beat Boyd-aliinois
Legislators Open Two Hostile Houses
for Business-A Charge of Bribery
Against IA Kansas Congressman-Gen-
eraI Assembling of State Lawmakers.
LINCOLN, Neb., Jan. S.-The joint session
Of the legislature for the purpose of open
ing, canvassing, and publishing the re-
turns of the late election was held yester-
day, and for the greater part of the time
the widest anarchy reigned. The ALI
snce members had r clear majority, but
the Democrats and Republicans were not
willing to lay down their hands quietly,
and a fight was made. The afternoon was
spent in wrangling, and nothing was ac-
,omplished, the Republican and Demo
cratic members being able to keep the Al
lance members from bringing the contest
eases up in the canvass of the returns. The
joint convention adjourned last evening
with the fight still unsettled.
Had the Law at His Back.
The attempt to choose committees of
three in the house and senate to canvass
the vote was defeated in the morning by
the president of the senate, who quoted
the constitution that the election of Off
sers of the executive department shall be
sealed up and delivered to the secretary of
state and directed TO the speaker of the
house, and opened in the presence Of both
houses, and the one receiving the highest
number of votes shall be declared elected
The Prohibitionists and Independent at
:orneys were lobbying hard during the
entire session TO unseat Boyd, the Demo
cratic governor-elect, and this was
knock down for them.
A Struggle for the Chair.
The first tilt in the afternoon was be-
tween Lieutenant Governor Meiklejohn
and Speaker Elder as TO who should pre-
side over the joint convention. By reason
Of his greater experience and better knowl-
edge of parliamentary law, Meiklejohn
was able TO take the reins of the conven-
ton and keep them in spite of the protests
of a majority. At times during the after
noon the widest confusion prevailed, and
4 dozen members were excitedly talking at
the same time. Governor Thayer had taken
the precaution to station a couple of COM
panies ii state militia in the basement Tor
sary.
Hrginning of the Fight.
Both bodies had met in the house cham
Der to canvass the returns on state officers
made by the secretary of state. The lob
bies were crowded to suffOcatiOn when
Lieutenant Governor Meiklejohn raped
for order. He announced that the count
would proceed, and requested Speaker FL
der IN oman no Snalad ratnrpS N Iii.
ance member moved that il be the sense
of the joint assembly that the speaker of
the house preside. This was declared out
Of order, the lieutenant governor holding
that he was, under the constitution, the
proper presiding officer until after his sue
cessor had qualified.
MeikleJohn Not To BE BuIIdozed.
Then the hubbub began Fifty Alliance
members We're on their feet with points of
order and excitedly calling upon Speaker
Elder to exercise what they claimed was
his right. This he attempted to do, but
Meiklejohn held his ground and the spec
tacle was presented of two presid-
ing officers with widely differ
snt views. Thus the uproar CON
tinued until nearly 7 O'Clock when a com
promise resolution was adopted providing
that the election returns be remanded to
the secretary of state and that recess be
taken for the day.
Deal in Prospect
The Republicans and Democrats are
evidently working together as against the
Independents, who have majority over
all in both houses, and it is asserted that
deal has been made by which Boyd,
Democrat for governor and the balance of
the Republican state officers will he
seated. Last night caucuses were held in