The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1895-06-26
The Closing Hours of the Republi.
can Legislature of Illinois.
ATTEMPT OF CORPORATIONS TO
OVERRIDE GOV. ALTGELD'S
VETOES.
Corruption, Rottenness, Drunken.
ness. Trickery and Violation of
Law-The Speaker a Party
to 1t.
is POPULAR GOVERNMENT POS.
SIBLE UNDER SUCH OONDI-
TIONS?

T1ONS?
.(From the Chicago Times-Herald Rep).
II the honest, lava biding people Of
Illinois could have been present in
Springfield to witness the extraordin-
ary proceedings during the closing
hours Of the thirty-ninth general as
sembly they would have been led seri-
Ously to doubt whether there exists in
this state Republican form of gov
ernment, such as the fathers con-
templated. They would have seen the
senate ruthlessly overriding the gov
ernor's veto In order to pass measures
wholly in the interest of corporation
monopoly and subversive of the rights
of the people. They would have seen
an insolent maj ority in the house, aid
ed by the speaker, endeavoring to imi-
tate the action of the senate.
The bills under consideration were
the street car and elevated railroad
bills, introduced by Senator Crawford.
These measures were intended to give
to the street car and elevated railway
companies in Chicago an indefinite
lease of power, and to permit them to
consolidate their interests at will.
They were passed originally by con-
stitutional majority in both houses,
and were only prevented from becom-
ing laws by the interposition of the
executive voto. Governor Altgeld re-
turned these messages to the general
assembly without his approval some
three weeks before the date of final
adjournment. Under the constitu-
tion the vote should have been taken
at once in the senate, where the bills
originated, upon the proposition to
pass them over the governors objec-
tions.
Und er one pretense or another, how
ever. final action upon the bills was
deferred until the last day of the ses-
sion. It was understood that the OBJ
ject of this delay was intended to give
time for the managers to organize the
votes necessary to put the bills
through. The agents Of monopoly
were successful in bringing more than
twO-thirds of the senate to the sup
port of these odious measures. That
they believed they would be able to
command the support of o-thirds of
the house also is only too evident.
MIsJUDGED THEIR STRENGTH.
They were mistaken, however, in
calculating their strength in the
house, and it was this error of calcu-
lation which gave rise to the remark
able scenes witnessed in the house on
Friday. When the Crawford bills were
called up, not one of the 153 represen-
tatives present had a reason to offer
why they should become laws, in spite
of the objections of Governor AltgeId.
Without one word of debate the roll
call began on the question Of passing
them over the veto. Mr.. Crafts Of
Cook, Mr.. Hawley of Kane, Mr.. Jones
Of Green and Mr.. Berry of Carroll
were the men who had charge of the
movement to send the measures
through the House. For three weeks
these managers had been shaping the
legislation solely with the view of
.resurrecting the Crawford bills from
the grave to which the governors
veto had consigned them. They must
have had assurances of the support Of
1O2 members, or they would not have
risked the chances of the roll call.
Yet, when the roll call was finished
only eighty.nine members were on
record as favoring the proposition to
pass the bills over the governors
veto. More than one-third Of the
House, or fifty-tive members in all, had
recorded themselves against the
proposition.
For moment the baffled managers
were at loss to decide what course to
pursue. The fate of the bills could
ageous and conscientious man had Oc-
cupied the speakers chair. Unfortun-
ately Speaker Meyer showed himself
only too willing to be used as the
plant tool of the corporation agents
holding seats on the floor, as pretend
ed representatives of the people.
While Speaker Meyer hesitated, be-
fore announcing the result of a vote
which meant the eternal death Of the
bills Mr.. Crafts was recognized to
move that the further consideration
Of the pending question be postponed
until 8 o'clock in the evening. It was
about o'clock in the afternoon when
the bills were submitted to vote,
and Mr.. Crafts motion meant that a
roll call was to be interrupted for the
transaction of other business and
that the result Of tally already
made by the clerk was not to be an
nounced until four days later AS a
matter Of fact, the result Of the roll
call was never announced, and hence
will not become part of the journal,
which contains record Of the pro-
ceedings Of the general assembly.
VIOLATED PARLIAMENTARY LAW.
There is no question of parliament
tary law which is more clearly and
definitely settled than the proposition
that no motion is in order pending
roll call except the motion that a
member may be excused from voting.
It is parliamentary adage that 'sa
motion to adjourn is always in order,"
but not even a motion to adjourn is
In order during roll call. The hon
est members Of the Illinois House of
Representatives who voted last Friday