The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-03-21
1t Is the Cause Of a Big Sensar
tiOR in st. Paul.
LEGISLATURE DEFles COURT.
Sends the Sergeant -at-Arms to Re.
lease Member Under Arrest.
Result Of Minnesota Coal Combine In.
stiEation-Donnelly's seathing Re.
marks-Jadge Egan Afraid TO Try
Concl usions.

ST. PAUL, March 20-The coal combine
fight grows more warm. This morning
Judge Egan, of the circuit court, ordered
the detention Of the sergcant-at-arms Of the
house, had Representative Walsh brought
before him and demanded possession Of
the letter books of the coal combine.
Walsh refused to acknowledge the author.
ity OF the court a. far ~ the giving up oG
the books was concerned, nor would he
tell where they could be found. In the
meantime tho senate was considering .
house joint resolution instructing the in.
vest,gating committee to return the letter
books.
Senator Donnelly made another scorch.
ing speech, denouncing not only the
coal combine but fercely attacking
Judge Egan. whose personal character, q
we'll as official acts. he condemned. The
resolution was finally adopted by vote oG
"a to3.
There was even . warmer debate in the
house and threats Of impeaching Judge
Egan for OBTAINING an officer and . mem-
Der ofthe legislature were freely expressed.
Finally call Of the house was ordered.
and Assistant Sergeant-at-Arms Wells was
instructed to bring into the house the
body Of Representative Walsh, illegally
uctoiucu Oy tu0 court. Cever0l speakers
advocated passing resolutions instructing
the governor to call out the militia to enc
force the orders of the legislature.
When the assistant sergeant-at- arms ap.
peared in court Judge Egan was about 70
give decision on Representative walsh's
refusal to give up the letter books. Buo
the appearance of Wells and his demand
for the custody of Walsh so disconnected
the judge that Wells and Walsh walked
out without any attempt being made to de.
tain them. as did also Sergeant-at-Arms
Smout. who had been under arrest since
Friday. After their departure Judge Egan
said that Walsh had not at any time been
under arrest, but he declined to
say what the next step would
be. This afternoon, however, he
dismissed the whole proceeding and
peace reigns once more, although the tenn.
per Of the legislature is still much ruffled.
The judge read his decision on the case OF
Representative Walsh, admitting the
power of the legislature and its COMMITTEES
to retain possession of the letter book, aud
stating that Walsh appeared Voluntarily
and had ct no time been under arrest He
further stated that everything had been
done legally; that too much heat had been
engendered with which the courts had
nothing to do, and he held that tho sheriff
should be held responsible for any ct.
tempt TO take the book from tho capitol.
Attorney O'Brien then moved that the
court issue an order to show cause why
Basil Smout. house sergeant-at-arms, and
J. w. Wells. assistant sergeant-at-arms.
should not be punished for contempt Of
court. the first for putting the books out
Of his possession after the process had
been served. and the latter for invading
the court and taking therefrom . witness
on the stand, but both applications were
denied. When the whole matter was
thrown out Of Judge Egan's court new
proceedings were instituted BY Attorney
O'Brien for Mr.. Rhodes, of the coal com.
bine, in the shape Of damage suits against
the twenty members of the joint investi.
eating committee and its official for the
seizure of its books and papers. The dam
ages are laid at $4,000. When further
action will be taken by the committee 10
not known. A mass-meeting to denouncs
the combine is to be held Wednesday
evening.