Waterbury evening Democrat., 1895-03-12
RIOTOUS LAWMAKERS.
Indiana's Legislature Adjourns
 After Great Disorder.
ONE MEMBER DANGEROUSLY HURT.

UNh mhMb6h DANGhhOUS4 hUhIs Governor Matthews Private Secretary, Sent
 With 8 Veto to the House, Was Seized and
 Kept a Prisoner-RevoIvers Flourished
 on the Floor and Much Blood Spilled.
 INDIANAPOLIS March 2.-Licutenant Governor Nye ruled that the senate could not pass any bills, as it. was the last day of this session. Speaker Adams of the house making an opposite ruling allowing bills to be passed. There was an animated scene in tho lieutenant governors room after the senate adieHrncd. Mir. Nye was signing bills when Governor Matthews came in. He was visibly excited and said he had three bills before the senate which ought to be acted upon. One was against prize fighting.
 Under your ruling" declared Govern or Matthews. "these bills cannot be pass ed. You should not have made such ruling"
 My ruling was according to the con stitution," and the lieutenant governor reached for n book and read the section.
 II am willing to waive my rights un- der tho constitution, began Governor Matthews
 Well, am not. What is the constitu- ton made for if it is to be disobeyed? Is it made for the whole people or just for the governor of Indiana?''
 You made q wrong ruling two years ago"
 ''I say did not. and the lieutenant governor brought his fist down on the ta- ble before him. "I ruled then that a bill under consideration on Saturday night at adjournment was proper to be brought up Monday"
 Well, if those bills arc lost, I will hold you responsible for them.''
 II don't care a d-n for your bills. They have been before the senate for some time. Why were they not brought up and passed before this?'
 Session Ended In n Row.
 The legislature broke up in wild riot in which almost every member participat- ed. RevOlvcrs were drawn. and many per sons were seriously injured, Adams of Park county perhaps fatally.
 For fully 20 minutes the statehouse was filled with n hewling, surging mob. Men who had been friends and sat side by side during the session became deadly enemies and made every effort to injurc each other.
 Myron King, Governor Matthews pri- vate secretary. was locked in the elevator. and big burly man guarded the door and refused to allow him to leave Tho police finally drove the man away, and the sccre- tary was released. When he arrived at the door of the house at I1:l5, he found it locked. He had an important message from the governor. and n great deal de- pended upon its delivery to the speaker before l2 o'clock.
 He pounded on the door, but was de- nied admission. Ho cried that the door was locked and requested that it be open @I,. or. His voice was heard by number of Democrats who were in tho corridors and they ran to his assistance.
 An attempt to force open the door was made, but the crowd of Republicans who were keeping the governor 5 secretary out with his message resisted with all the force they could command. The doors were un- able to stand the pressure brought to bear upon them, and they were forced open.
 King, who was in front, was forced right into the crowd of Republicans who were bent on keeping him from reaching the speakers desk. With one accord the men began striking at each other, and the secretary was in great danger of being killed.
 Kill himr' Kill himH' cried hun dred voices. The women who were in the gallery screamed, and one or two fainted All was confusion. and friends and ene- mics alike were fighting. The sole aim of the Democrats was to get King through tho crowd to the speakers desk with the governor message, and the Republicans were determined to hold him back until l2 o'clock, at which time tho house would adjourn sine die
 Revolvers Drawn on the Floor.
 Inch by inch the Democrats gained ground. Many persons were knocked down and trampled under foot. Revolvers were flourished in the air, but as fast as one was drawn tho man holding it was knocked down. Tho heavy chairs were torn from the floor by the mob, and tho desks were broken to pieces. Doors lead ing to other rooms were shattered by per sons in the corridors trying to effect an entrance to tho chamber.
 The police were powerless to check the mob. which seemed bent on destroying everything in the room.
 At 11:57 the excitement was intense, men wrenching at every part of the room, and several of them were bleeding from numerous wounds The Democrats wore gradually forcing King to tho speakers desk, and the Republicans were growing weaker on account of so many of their number being injured.
 A few seconds latter King, with his clothing tOFn from his body and his face bleeding. was pushed by main force through the crowd and thrown heavily against tho speakers desk. He still held the governors veto in bis hand, but it l never reached the speaker. Just as King was about to place it in his hands Speaker Adams kicked and beat back the crowd, and in a voice which could be heard above the horrible din cried: The house has adjournedl The house has adiourned"
 This raised a great cry from the crowd, | and everybody made a rush toward the speaker. The veto was torn from Kings l hand by man, who dashed out of the crowd with it and made good his escape. This practically ended the riot Several | small fights occurred, but the police and others finally succeeded in driving the men from tho chamber. No less than two dozen persons were hurt. No arrests were made.
 The Cause of the Trouble.
 The trouble originated over the bill to supplant Custodian Griffin, Democrat, with Republican. Tho governor has three days in which to consider all meas ures The bill was delivered to the gov ernor two nights ago. It was his scheme to hold it until the last minute, and then the legislature could not pass it over his veto. as adjournment would take place at 12 o'clock.
 The governors secretary started with the bill within ten minutes of time The Republicans attempted by force to prevent his reaching the legislative hall with the bill in time. Adams who was injured, is the representative of Park county. He was kicked in the pit of the stomach and had to be carried from the housa