Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1891-02-13
D.IT,
A Strange Scene.

THIRTY-SIXTH DIT.
A Strange Scene.
1t will be remembered that yesterday
mornings TRIBUNE stated that the men,
beers of the larger body Of the legislature
were at a late hour still in session under
call of the house and that there was every
likelihood of the dead lock continuing IN
til it was broken by the arrival of the
eight absent members.
A visit to the hall of the house and to
the corridors of the capitol building we'll
repaid the visitor. The siege had been a
long one, big hours were yet to pass, and
some of the members we're using all their
ingenuity to make time pass less heavily
for themselves and for their fellow men,
bers.s The night session was a genuine
razzle-dazzle from beginning to end. Along
about midnight a lunch was set by the
Catholic ladies, who were giving the pub
lie supper down town, and everybody did
full justice to the provender. In the early
part of the night a colored minstrel band
was taken up and they made things must.
cal n merry for awhile. Occasionally
members would stretch themselves out in
the cloak rooms, in the gallery or in a
corner of the house, but soon a roll call
and a visit from the sergeant-at-arms or
one Of his deputies would again bring
them to their seats.
SeriO. comic speeches were made upon
different subjects, songs were sung M
card parties were arranged at the different
tables. Occasionally there would be a
loud and prolonged racket as some truant
member who had been captured down
town by the house officers was brought be-
fore the bar.
Nor need it be taken for granted that
beverages stronger than water were not to
be obtained. Such was not the fact.
There was plenty OF it, and its ABSORPTION
was not by any means confined to those
favorable to resubmissiOn.
AS the hours passed the situation grew
tiresome and monotonous to many of the
members, and they sought to WOO the
drOWsy GODDESS in all sorts of implOvised
~-sleeping-places, and the visits of sergeants.
alarms were met by protests and ~refusals
to bulge from the half,awake members.
More slowly than ever the hands of the
house clock seemed to move, and many
were the anxious glances cast in the d.
rectiOn of the official time piece. Day
light came, and a few members got away
and went after their breakfast. But most
of them remained in the building.
The absent ones Of the DAY before were
Messrs. Williams, Ch%ristianson, White,
DALEY, Daniel, Ebbighausen, Larson and
Holritz. All had been excused except Mr..
Williams: Mr.. Holritz came in from the
west by the midnight train, and the others
absent with leave came in from the east at
9:2O in the morning. No one was then
missing but Mr.. Williams. Mr.. Beardsley
had been excused the night before on ac-
count of sickness.
It had been thought that as soon as the
absent members arrived the battle would
begin and be tonight to a finish. But
Messrs. Williams and Beardsley were still
absent, and neither side seemed anxious
for what most believed would be the final
clash.
There was a calling of the roll about II
q. m. One of those who had been absent
failed to answer to his name. WhereupOn
Mr.. Oliver said: "Mr. Speaker, must we
who nave peen here all night SIT in our seats
and allow those who have kept US here to
stu stu absent themselves from roll call when
MI. Burke, addressing Mr.. Oliver, said
"lf your side had extended the courtesy of
a p~Ostp0nement yesterday, these absent
members need not have kept you here"
Mr.. Lutz said: These absent members
are excused until 2 o'clock.
Mr.. Hill came in with a page.
Mr.. Burke said: II pages are sent for
members on our side, perhaps we can get
'em in.
The roll was called and a large number
of members found to be absent.
The speaker instructed the sergeant-at-
arms to bring them in forthwith.
Mr.. Strom moved to dispense with the
call. Lost-22 voting therefor, and 80 nee
essary to carry.
MIR. Strom: us there no way to compel
obedience to our rules %
The speaker said: 1.-THE sergeant. at.
arms has hunted for them-what more can
be done 2"
Mr.. Oliver, Sin the interest of SUITE ring
humanity" moved that the sergeant.at-
when they wanted to go down stairs.
The house again relapsed into the cha
otto condition that had prevailed during
the night, and, as before remarked, "the
hours passed" The noon hour came, and
baskets well laden arrived for the married
men whose wives were looking after the
Interests of the imprisoned ones, while the
bachelors RECALLED themselves on peanuts
and popcorn from the house restaurant.
The hour of 2 approaches. But bark!
The building shakes! The doors fly open!
walks into the house "like a village peda- |
gOgue who enters the school room with an |
'ahem! and frightens the apple-munching |
urchins with the squeaking of his Shoes"
All eyes turn in his direction. Murmurs
of satisfaction and signs of relief are
heard. Can it be true? 1t is-it is. Let
the sun again shine and the world roll on.
Williams is here.
Then said the speaker, with gratitude in
every meditation of his voice: "Mr.
Williams having arrived, proceedings
under call of the house will be dispensed
with"
The question before the house was Mr..
HIPS motion Of the previous day-to re-
consider the motion by which the report of
adopted, and to lay that motion on the
table.
Mr.. Lutz moved that the house adjourn |
until ESQ O'Clock, but withdrew the same.
MIR. Hill demanded roll call on his mo- |
e finn 81 npfoofo1 nunp on o. |