The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-03-01
FR0LIG IN
THE HOUSE.
RecaIcitrants Who Were Abb
sent at Call
OF the House Are Fined Bar
rel of Apples.
BARREL is ROLLED IN
On Floor of the House and a
Grand Scramble
For Them Among the Dignified
Members.
BARREL is ROLLED IN

The house will not be likely to de-
mand a call of the house very often
when there is doubt about securing the
requisite number Of votes TO pass the
bill under consideration,-espe cially
when Speaker Pro Tenn Benehel is in
the chair. It is too hard to dissolve
the call.
When the amendment to the present
banking law, which had been prepared
by banks and banking committee. was
read. for some reason an unexpected
opposition TO il developed. No one eX-
pressed any reason why and no one
fought the bill openly on the floor OF the
house. but il was whispered around
among some of the Republicans that
John Breidenthal had a hand in franz
ing the bill and approved of IL. and they
began to fear IL was a POpulist meas
ure- Then. again, although the banking
committee were working hard for its
passage. some or the Republicans were
Jealous Of Mr.. BreidenthaPs influence in
banking matters. and they voted against
the measure on that score
When the roll was called it was found
that only % members voted for the bill
and an equal number voted against it
a call of the house was demanded and
the doors locked It soon became evil
dent that constitutional majority
could not be secured TO vote for the bill,
and a motion was made to dispense
with the call OF the house. Speaker
Pro Tenn Benefel promptly ruled the
motion out of order.
This house will learn some time I
hope he said. what il means to call
the house When a call OF the house is
once demanded. there Is no way Of dis
pensing with il until the sergeant-at-
arms has been sent after the abSenteeS
and has reported again TO the house.
In the meantime every motion and all
other business Is out OF order"
Why. that might keep US here for 4
week" said some one
We'll. there would be no way out of
It but TO stay replied the chair.
There was considerable objection to
the ruling of the chair, but there was no
help for il.
After waiting some time the SER
geant-at-arns arrived with five alb
sentees. Hoag. Campbell, Bogenriet,
Heberling and Reeder.
Bring EN- before sIhe bar of the
house. said Speaker Pro Tenn Bene-
fiel.
Give EN- so days. yelled one mem
Der, as the recalcitrants were ranged in
q row in front of the press table.
Fine EN-" said another.
What excuse have you for being alb
sent without an eXcuse?" demanded
the chair severely.
Mr. Campbell started to explain, but
Mr.. FairC lild said:
I move that they be fined one bar
rel OF apples"
Make it a key of beer" suggested a
member of convivial inclinations.
F'airchtld's motion carried.
Another roll call was taken result
ing in IS votes for the banking bill and
20 votes against il. The call OF the
house was then raised and other bus
mess taken up.
A half hour later FIVE members Of the
house rolled a barrel up the middle
aisle and planted il in front of the press
table The head was removed and
rough house ensued-
First, a half dozen members and en-
ployes started for the barrel, but they
were quickly reinforced by 80 or 40 9TH
ers and the struggle began 1t resem-
bled the third down in a college foot
ball game. 4 dozen dignified legisla-
tors tried to get their heads in the bar
rel at one and the same time, while the
entire house rose as one man and de-
manded apples
Doc" Marks planted himself on the
press table and as fast as the apples
were handed out to him he threw them
TO all parts OF the house by the hands
full In less than three minutes the bar
rel had been emptied and every man in
the house was munching an apple.
1t broke up all further business at