Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1895-02-12
Lively Scene in the House OF
Delegates.

Lively Scene in the House of
Delegates.
Last Tuesday was a lively day in
the West Virginia House of Dele
gates. From Wheeling Register
special we learn that Mr.. Evans, OF
Berkeley. arose and denounced in
the most vehement manner and ex-
trav agant language the action of the
Speaker the night previous for fail
ing to announce the vote on an
amendment to the school book bill
that night. He said the action of
the Speaker was disgraeeful and un-
precedented. He said lie would not
submit to such high-handed proceed
ings in which the rights of the mem
bers were trampled upon and the
will of the people outraged. lie did
not want to see the House return to
the methods of the Democratic party,
when in former sessions under Dem
ocratic rule. the Republican minority
were treated with unfairness and
their rights ignored.
After remarks by the Speaker aud
others, Mr.. cambridge got the floor
and repealed the aspersion put upon
the Democratic party by Mr.. Evans.
The rulings of the Democratic speak
ers had always been fair and just,
and demanded Evans to cite an in
stance in which the rulings of any
Democratic speaker had been unfair.
MIR. Evans cited the rulings of
Speaker Bennett in the Guberna-
toriaI contest of 1889.
Mr.. cambridge quoted Romeo H.
Freer. Republican member at that
time, as saying that the rulings of
Speaker Bennetthad always been just,
and if he had deviated from what was
right in any case it was in favor of
the minority. This seemed to sat
Iisfy every one and attention was
again directed to the question of an
nouncing the vote.
There was long delay and several
members called for the announce
ment of the vote. Morris was under
the impression that to change his
vote would defeat the amendment
and changed to no. He was mis-
taken and changed back to aye.
There was another long delay and
the Speaker and the clerk conferred.
Mr.. Campbell arose and said he had
submitted to this outrage as
long as he could, and beg an to
protest that the vote should be an
nounced. If the clerk could not
figure up the result the House would
employ clerk who could and would
discharge his duty.
sThe gentleman from Ohio is not
recognized" said the Speaker.
"Then 1 shall he recognized by
this House," said Mr.. Campbell, his
voice ringing with emphasis.
The Clerk rushed down the aisle
to Mr.. CampbelPs seat and the two
gentlemen engaged in an alteration
which could not be distinctly heard,
owing to the pandemoninm which
then reigned. Mr.. Campbell told
the clerk he was discharging his duty
as member and gave Mr.. Dawson to
understand that he must attend 10
his. Mr.. Campbell took out his watch
and held it in his hand to see how
much longer it would take to foot
up and announce the result. After
another long delay, the opponents
of the measure gave up the fight,
and the vote was announced by the
speaker in voice that showed deep
feeling; ayes Sc, noes 81. Mr..
Evans then moved to strike out the
sectionwhich adopted Dole American
citizen" as the text book on civil gov
ernmcnt, because it was free trade
book and read paragraphs from the
work to prove it. Pending Evans mo-
tionthe bill was made the specialorder
for Thursday at 2:3o o'clock, and
the House again got down to bust
ness.
/