The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-02-19
AFTER THE BATTLE.
Speaker Douslass Of The Constitutional House
Briefly Reviews the situation at Topeka

Honorable George L. Douglass, speaker
| of the constitutional house of representa-
tives of the state arrived in the city last
night and is spending Sunday at the resi-
dence of his neighbor and friend y. G.
Knight of North Lawrence avenue. Mr..
Douglass felt In splendid humor and seems
to be as happy as a schoolboy after passing
good examination and going to the head
of his class. Physically he says he is well.
although traces of three hard nights
of bivouackiug in the state house and an
irregular attencance at the dining table.
could be seen on his face, Notwithstanding
the fact that he was then after having a
good old fashioned Wichita square meal Of
oysters.
Between the Populists, the guards. the
militia and the reporters" said he, II have
had my hands full for the last seventy
two hours. and so far as news is concerned
was pumped as dry as lemon before
left Topeka; but see you fellows are as
hungry after the heeting item as the To-
peka chaps, and guess must give you
something"
'aThe struggle" said he, "ot last
week is now happily over. 1t
arose from an attempt OF the
Populists to exclude the constitutional
house from the hall of representatives. It
was understood that Governor Lewelling
agreed TO back them up in this effort and
he and Adjutant General Artz, I presume,
arranged the details. The result is known
aud needs no comment from me. The dis
trict court of Shawnee county in the IN
Anl
priation bill passed by the 'Dunsmore
house is not a law for the reason that that
body is not the house of representatives.
On Tuesday next the supreme court will
have before it the habeas corpus case OF
L. c. Gum. who was subpoenaed
as witness before the elections commit
tee of the house of representatives and re-
fused to come. He was arrested by our
sergeant-atarms on warrant issued by
myself as speaker for contempt OF the
house in his failure to appear as witness
and appealed to the supreme court Tor
writ Of habeas corpus. II the case is heard
on its merits and not upon any side issue
it will serve to settle finally the status OF
the constitutional house. All this talk
about disregarding decision of the su-
preme court should it be against the legal
ity Of the 'Dunsmore house l regard as
mere hluster. If the supreme court decides
that our body is, in feet, the constitutional
house; that must necessarily settle the
matter for the Dunsmore house could pass
no laws which would have any force or
effect whatever. No taxes could be levied
to support the state; no appropriations
could be made the payment OF which
would not be enjoined, and no act affect
ing private rights in any way could be
passed which would not be overthrown
the instant il would be brought to the
test. 1t is utter folly, therefore, to talk of
'rump' house which
is powerless to do any of the
things which house OF representatives
is intended to do and all talk of this char
acter is either the result of ignorance or is
simple buster"
Mr.. Douglass will remain at Mr..
Knights till tomorrow night when he will
again return to take his place at the head
Of the victorious body over which he pre-
sides. He will spend the day looking over
his correspondence for it has accumulated
on him so fast that he is compelled to
forego rest even on the Sabbath.