The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1897-03-11

NORTH CAROLINA DISGRA CED.
The following report of scene In
the lower house of the General Assem-
bly, in Raleigh last Friday, as reported
by special telegram to the Norfolk
Pilot, will cause every true North Car
Gilman to blush with shame:
/ Raleigh, n. c.. Feb. 5.-The most
exciting scene that ever occurred In
the North Carolina Legislature was wit
messed here to-day. It was over the
now famous question of the ninety
nine year lease of the North Carolina
railroad to the Southern railroad, and
it was a pitched battle, almost resulting
in riot. The Senate substitute, which
bill is favored by the Southern's people,
had been made special order for IL
O'Clock to-day.
Mr.. Sutton asked consent to call up
a resolution asking the Supreme Court
to give tomorrow its opinion in the
matter of the Senate substitute for the
House BILL
Mr.. Blackburn sprang to his feet and
as the hands of the crock pointed to
noon, declared that the hour set for
the special order, the Senate substitute
lease bill, had arrived, and that it must
be taken up. Both he and Mr.. Sutton
kept on their feet Demands we're
poured at the Speaker to recognize one
or the other. Conspicuous among those
who cried out were Sutton, Hancock
and Alexander. Mr.. Sutton said he
wanted the special order held up until
the resolution was voted on. He want
ed delay. Then the storm burst. Mr..
| Blackburn said:
THE EXPLOSION.
"YoRknow that under the resolution
adopted by this House no resolution
| can be introduced save by unanimous
consent. You know the journal shows
that the resolution is not introduced.
[ move that the House concur In the
Senate substitute"
Then confusion broke loose. Twenty
members were on the floor at once, all
shouting, all protesting some one way,
some another. The two factions array
ed themselves. For two or three min
utes the fuss continued. Then DIR.
Alexander moved that the House take
a recess until 3 o'clock. There was a
roar of protest, "Vote it down, vote it
down." and amid the din the voice of
Person, the two Suttons and Hancock
could be heard seconding the motion.
The aisle filled Cook put the mo
ton. There was a roar of "ayes," fol-
lowed by a sweeping rush of "no," both
rafting to the dome and descending in
a torrent of sound. "Division p shout
ed Blackburn, Murphy and forty more.
But Cook had declared in the House
had taken a recess until 3 O'Clock.
Blackburn strobe up the aisle. "That
is false y he cried. ~ appeal from the
decision of the chair"
The scene was at this moment indie
scribable. Cook left the chair as the
yaYel fell. He stepped to the rear
lobby. The uproar ragged. Pandemo-
MUM broke loose. Members rushed to
the front. Some put on their hats and
moved toward the door. Some of the
nervous ones hurried to the lobby. The
atmosphere was filled with excavations.
mainly OF Cook and his ruling. cit is
tyrannicai,' alt is unjust" 1--WE will
not submit to it" "He had right to
declare the House adjourned" shouted
Cooks friends
ALMOST A RIOT.
The factions found each other pre-
pared for battle. One blow would have
caused an instant riot.
Some man shouted "For Gods sake. !
stop this. 1t is the most disgracetul
scene the State ever witnessed. Never
talk about the Legislature of 1868 |
again."
During the turmoil the Speaker
(Hileman) sat serene in his chair at
the Speakers desk. Suddenly some one
shouted: "The House is without a
speaker. I move we elect Freeman
speaker pro tenn"
81 second the notion" said Black
burn and score of others. Murphy
put the motion. There was rafting
volley at ayes, and then, taking Free
man by the arm, Murphy led him to
the Speakers desk. Freeman did not
take the chair, but stood at the end of
the desk
The assemblage was not mob. The
galleries fairly bulged with wild-eyed.
excited spectators. The uproar reached
the Senate and the senators poured in
to the hall of the House.
Suddenly Lusk rushed to the front
and leaning over the desk at which the
correspondents of the newspapers were
seated, raised his. arms high above his
head, and in his loudest voice shouted.
as he looked at the Speakers desk: II
protest. In the name of North Car
Dina, protest. This Is treason. This
IS revolution. We ought to send for
orce to clear this hall and to stop these
'iotous and revolutionary proceedings.
Be ashamed OF yourselves. Be men," ]
All this was said with rising note.
% an accompaniment of yells and cries
which stunned the ear, s
DIR. Alexander, rushing up near the |
lesk, shot bis fists at freeman. His {
yes flashed with anger: "Come down
rom that place !" he cried, "you are a l
lsurper you are. traitor" a
In a few moments some quiet con- a
liberation was had as to "where thew lI
we're at" 1t was finally decided to re-
ire until 3 O'Clock as per the ruling OF c