Emmons County record. [volume] (Williamsport, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-current, 1891-02-13
RGsQbnlisSiOl in The House.
An Interesting Day and Night in the
Branch "Nearest the People"
Bismarck Tribune, Wednesday.l

mornings TRIBUNE stated that the men,
bers 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 un-
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
long one, big hours were yet to pass, and
some of the members were using all their
ingenuity to make time pass less heavily
for themselves and for their fellow mem
bers. The night session was a genuine
razzle. dazzle from beginning to end. Along
about midnight 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 musi.
cal and merry for awhile. Occasionally
members would stretch themselves out in
the cloak rooms, in the gallery or in
corner Of the house, but soon a roll call
and 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 and
card parties were arranged at the different
tables. Occasionally there would be
loud and prolonged racket as some truant
member who had been captured down
town by the house officers was brought be-
fore the bar.
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 budge 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 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, Christianson, White,
Daley, Daniel, Ebbghausen, Larson and
llolritz. All had been excused except MIR.
Williams. Mr.. iIOrtz 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.. Bearsisley
had been excused the night before on ac-
count of sickness.
1t had been thought that as soon as the
al pr,s.,n bate 4
begin and be fOnght 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
a. III. One Of those who had been absent
failed to answer to his name. WhereupOn
Mr.. Oliver said: "Mr. Speaker. must we
who have been here all night SIT in our seats
and allow those who have kept us here to
still absent themselves from roll call when
they are about the building"
IF your side had extended the courtesy of
pOstponement yesterday, these absent
members need not have kept you here"
Mr.. LutZ said: These absent members
are excused until O'clock.
Mr. Hill came in with page.
Mr.. Burke said: If pages are sent for
members on our side, perhaps we can get
'em in.
The roll was called and 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
Mr.: strom: lis there no way to compel
obedience to our rules"
The speaker said: "The sergeant at.
arms has 81 hunted for them-what more can
Mr.. Oliver, sin the interest of suffering
humanity" moved that the sergeant.at-
arms be instructed to escort members
when they wanted to go down stairs.
The house again relapsed into the cha
otto condition that had prevailed during
the night, and, as as before remarked, "the
baskets we'll laden arrived for @ the e1 married Gd
men whose wives were looking after the
interests of the imprisoned ones, while the
bachelors regaled themselves on peanuts
and popcorn from the house restaurant.
The hour of 2 approaches. But hark!
The building shakes! The doors fly open!
walks into the house "like village peda-
gogue who enters the school room with an
'ahem! and frightens the apple-munching
nrchins with the squeaking of his Shoes"
All eyes turn in his direction. Murmurs
of satisfaction and sighs of relief are
IlCdlus Ndu ~ Uc tluc. IL lS-lL ~. Leu
the sun again shine and the world roll on
Williams is here.
Then said the speaker, with gratitude in
every modulation 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
the temperance committee had been
adopted, and to lay that motion on the
table.
Mr.. Lutz moved that the house adjourn
until ESQ o'clock, but withdrew the same
Mr.. Hill demanded roll call on his mo-
ton. Defeated-ayes 80, nays 81.
Mr.. Oliver then moved that the house
adjourn, which was carried.
THE NEW LEGISLATIVE DAY.
Most of those present-both members
and audience-thought that the adjourn
ment just carried was until Wednesday,
as it was then 2:30 p. M, a half hour later
than the hour set for the beginning of the
succeeding days session. But they were
mistaken. The speaker called the house
together, and, as usual, announced ''prayer
by the chaplain"
Chaplain Kline arose and prayed. In
addition to the customary invocation the
reverend gentleman petitioned the throne
Of grace for the enforcement of the pro-
hibitory law, and expressed some strong
sentiments favorable to prohibition.
At the conclusion of the prayer it could
be seen that the chaplain's remarks had
not been entirely satisfactOry-at least to
the re-submission side-and there were
some hurried whisperlngs between mem
berS In different parts of the room.
nd ln., ~