Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1893-02-27

Dunsmore House Declared Inegal-Dff-
ficulty Over State Treasurer Biddle's
Operations-The Losers of the Legal
Fight Go Into Conference, bat 1t Looks
Like Waterloo for Them-Talk About
the Senatorship - Another Candidate
Put Up.
Topeka, Kan, Feb. 27.-The supreme
court Saturday morning. Chief Justice
Horton rendering the decision. Justice
johnson concurring, and Justice Allen
(Pop) dissenting, sustained the Douglass.
or Republican, house as the legal and con.
stitutional house of representatives of the
Kansas legislature, and incidentally de-
clared that the Populists had no stand
ing. The opinion of the chief justice was
given orally, and occupied an hour and
forty minutes to deliver. Justice Allen de-
livered dissenting opinion. holding that
the supreme court had no jurisdiction in
The case, and that as the Populist house
had been recognized by the governor and
senate it was de facto organization and
its act were good in law
VIII Need an Extra Session.
The decision Of the court perhaps puts
an end to condition ofaffairs more unique
and exciting than anything which has
thrilled Kansas since the border wars.
The rival houses. which have been struggling
FOR the mastery, sometimes by force and
at last through the judiciary. will now
perhaps unite in one body and transact
much-needed business. The acts of the
Popullst house having been declared to be
illegal all the appropriation bills will
have to be passed over again. The present
session of the legislature expires by limita-
ton March 8, and it be necessary to hold
an extra session in order to transact the
necessary business.
Populists Hold a Conference.
The Populist members of the house and
senate held a meeting behind closed doors
Saturday evening to consider future action
in view of the decision of the supreme
court. A committee was appointed to con-
fer with the governor and report to a meet
ing to be held Monday. Speaker Duns-
more said after the meeting that there
would be no question about the Populist
members becoming a part of the Douglass
house provided the Republicans would
agree to favor the passage of an appropria-
ton bill to reimburse State Treasurer Bid
die for the money paid out to members and
employees of the Dunsmore house under the
authority of the legislative appropriation
act which appropriated $4,000.
Paid Ont Nearly $50, 200.
Nearly this amount WAS paid out by the
treasurer before he was enjoined Not
one-half the expenses so far incurred were
provided for in the bill. Speaker Douglass
Is one who would oppose it. Unless an ar
rangement of this kind is made the treas
urer or his bondsmen would be left to hold
the bag. Some of the Populist members
who are getting tired declare that unless
the Repu blicans are willing to make an
agreement to treat them fairly they will
resign. As soon as the Republican house
heard that the court had decided it to be
the legal body it extended the time of act
ing on the resolution in regard to vacating
the seats of the Populists until this after
noon.
The Question of the L. :. senator.
Chambers Democrat declared Saturday
in the Republican house that he would do
nothing to reopen the senatorial matter,
as he had received many letters from
prominent Democrats in the Seventh dis
trict asking him not TO be a disturper. A
letter was received here Saturday from
Senator Chandler, of New Hampshire, In
which he says; Recent developments in
Kansas cast a doubt upon John Martins
admission 10 the senate"
Mrs. Mary f Lease has been appointed
member OF the State Board of Charities.
and Mrs. Anna L. Diggs member of the
Board Of Regents of the state university