Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1899-09-09

they had been placed by the minority
candidate for Speaker. Mr.. McGoorty.
why was this?
IL was one of the old members and
Mr.. McGoorty thought I might he use.
full on the Committee on Municipal Cor.
porations. on the Railroad Committe.
the Committee on Live Stock and
Dairylng and others. saw the list
when II left McGoorty's hands. and I
saw II when 1t was given out by the
Speaker. Meantime my name. together
with those Of Alschuler and Hurst. had
disappeared. understand that the list
was sent To Chicago and passed upon
by certain men. who blue-penciled the
Objectionable names. We were pretty
good fellows as the gang said. but we
were some Of those reform
ers.' II appears that the street rail.
ways. the steam railways and the live
stock interests could not stand u.s."
DIR. John a. Vincent. Of Springfield.
was looked upon as one Of the most
independent members Of the late House
On the Democratic side. He voted with
the Republicans on two or more Occa-
slOns when party lines were tightly
drawn and the bosses Of his own or.
Sanization tried hard to keep him ''in
the traces" He defended his action by
stating that the questions were In no
sense political and he did not intend
to allow his associates to force him
20 regard as party matter what was
nothing Of the sort. Touching the Leg
islature. DIR. Vincent said:
"Our legislative body Is Overrun with
evils. 1t Is not representative Of the
people. The people do not control 1t.
There Is no longer any need OF Sena-
tors or representatives over at the cap
itol. Let the people elect a speaker.
and let him choose clerk aud the Leg.
islature Is ready for business.
II was IN my seat every day Of the
recent session and tried to keep my
eyes open. saw that the power Of the
speaker. seconded as he was by the
clerk, was that Of life and death over
every measure introduced. He took
bills out Of their regular order ON the
calendar and pressed them to passage.
Other bills he retarded by refusing to
recognize their sponsors and by pass
ing under the gavel motions to refer
them to committees whence everybody
knew they would never emerge. am
satisfied that twO-thlrds of the men,
bers. including many Republicans, OF
course. were opposed to the despOtic
and unjust course of the speaker. but
they dared not antagOnize him. They
knew that the cost of such antagOnlsm
would be their overthrow for the rest
of the session.
Let the people not imagine that the
early adjournment was effected for the
sake Of the taxpayers. 1t was effected
for the sake of the gang. The com.
blnatlon that ruled had passed all the
bills II wanted TO pass and was afraid
II the session We're prolonged that
measures unsatisfactory to It might be
hammered through. Many Republic.
ans were opposed 10 the early adjourn
ment, knowing that several weeks
more would be required to do decently
and In order what remained to be done
They sworc at the early adjournmen,
proposition in their private talks to me-
but when the vote was called for they
all lined up with their party and It's
bosses. So II was on every other prop
ositiOn, and so It will be so long as the
political lives Of the members are In the
hands Of the chair.
II do not think there ever was n more
dlsgraccful spectacle than that which
marked the closing hours Of the late
session In the House. There was an
utter absence Of decorum and parlIa,
mentary usage. The House was in an
uproar. Men rushed about shouting
ge,tlculatlng and curslng, and through
IL all bills We're passed, or declared
passed IN rapid succession. many OF
them not read. Members frequently
did not know how they voted or wheth
er they voted at all. Twice ! went Il
the clerk and demanded TO know how
! was recorded. | found both time'
that ! had been made 10 vote otherwise
than did vote, and | knew that sllcl
eases were common. Whatever thl
gang wanted passed was declare,
passed, and whatever II did not wan
passed was declared lost II has bceI
suggested that some bills got through
during that Wild scramble which d'
not appear in the session laws as pub
lished. Whether this Is true do no
know, but DO know that probably th'
majority OF The members could no
keep track Of what was taking place.
# am In position 10 know tina
money is sometimes demanded by th'