The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-04-10
Majority Report on Chester In
vestigation Adopted by Strict
Party Vote.
MINORITY. FINDING TABLED.
Exposure of Farcical Inquiry by
Democratic Representatives 1g-
nored by Speaker Sherman
Debate on School Bills.


Springfield. ILL.,, April s.-The Chester Pen
itentiary occupied the House most OF It's
time Tuesday. The Democrats. led by Reiss,
Browne of Lasalle, and Crafts. made the
Republicans squirm like Holsters when nrst
introduced to boiling water. and the Repub-
lican leaders looked and acted like Holsters
during the debate.
Christian and Miller Of McLeansboro
made lame attempts to explain why they
refused to subpoena the witnesses demand
ed by Reiss and Browne in the investfga-
ton to prove irregularities on the Warden
and Commissioners. Most Of the Republic
ans hung their heads in shame during the
speeches of the Democrats.
More courageous than discreet was Mr.
Bundy of Centralia. who jumped into the
torrent to rescue his friends. He only sue
ceeded in making bad matter worse, Tor
he was fairly overwhelmed and vanquished.
Chairman Miller and Representatives
Christian and johnson of Rock Island.
sent to investigate grave charges against
Warden Tanner, Commissioners Scott, Mes
sick and Jobe and officers and employees
OF the prison. confined their examination
Of witnesses to Warden Tanner, the Com
missioners aforesaid, Chief Clerk AL Mills
paugh and other employees. Only those IN
the regular employe of the State. or un-
der charges, were admitted TO the star
chamber Investigation"
And these people were expected by the
Tanner administration committee to indict
themselves!
It is no wonder they squirmed like eels
while Reiss and Browne and Crafts tore
the cuticle from their quivering frames.
CallcuSed as he Is to the hagrant sins OF
his party officials. Speaker Sherman refused
to listen to the Democratic oratory, and
either conversed with friends or read news
papers during the debate.
Miller's Admissions.
In his majority report, Miller made sew
erai important admissions. He acknowl-
edged MacForman's contract price for coal
the excess was paid to the miners. He ao-
mitted the mine run was furnished when
screened lump was contracted for by the
State. The Kirzdorfer defaleation was adj
mitted. but it was claimed the Warden
did not discover it until last December.
The minority report makes different
den and Allison was admitted, as was also
the charge that Commissioner Scott sold
products to the prison through "a business
firm with which he was connected. but it
was stated the articles were furnished at a
lower price than the same quality and guam
tity could elsewhere have been obtained"
The majority report closes with general
and liberal coat of calsomine.
Minority Report.
Mr. Riess, on behalf of the Democratic
minority. offered the minority report.
a farce and that the Republican majority
were not sincere. As an instance Of their
insincerity II was cited that none OF the wit
nesses desired by the minority were sub
poenaed to testify as to alleged irregular
ities that no stenographer was provided
to make a record Of the proceedings. that
persons directly interested in the questions
involved were those who were examined
by the majority members. that the major
ity refused to grant the minority the right
to subpoena witnesses WHOM, they consid-
fa ,aI Nnpf
then enters into a detailed account of the
testimony, which it would have introduced
to show Irregularities.
Mr.. Riess spoke eloQuently in support OF
the minority report, extending his re-
marks and including subjects not men-
toned in the report. He maintained all the
points he made could be proved and Chair
man Miller consented to subpoena the wit
nesses he desired.
The minority report was tabled by Speak
er Sherman's gavel and the majority was
adopted by rising vote, the clerk acting as
teller and counting more Republicans than
Democrats.
Nothing was done with the apportionment
bills Tuesday. Opinion is divided as to
~ pass.
1t was suggested Tuesday night that the
Senate would take up the subject. pass .. the
will probably be done.
In the House an attempt to call up the
bill providing for infiicting the death PEN
The Senate bill to repeal the Case gar
nishment law was read first time un-
der suspension Of the rules, but motion
to order it to second reading without ref
erence to a committee was lost-31 to u
and the bill went to the judiciary Commit
tee.
children to father and mother passed and
goes to the Governor.
In the Senate Humphrey offered a Joint
resolution providing for submitting to the
tion authorizing the abolishment Of town.
ship organization on vote Of a majority
OF the legal voters.
There was row over some amendments
TO the appropriation bill for Illinois Univer-
sity, which were offered by Mahoney
Oem). They were all tabled by a party
The State Architect question was the
principal contention.
Pemberton's bill to coneede to the mi
nority judges and clerks Of elections passed
The House bill to exempt from taxation
has been pledged to the association for
loans passed with the emergency clause.
Democratic Caucus.
The Democratic members Of the House
held caucus at nth the St Nicholas s g, Hotel ,s
Gus was a story which had come to CAR.
man Heffernan 20 the effect that an effort
to ae e the in
the apportionment bills. A motion was
unanimously adopted. declaring II the sense
OF the caucus that the Democratic members
avoid participating in the apportionment
fight and leave the Republicans to settle
their own troubles.
The Senate Committee on Judicial Depart
ment ordered favorable action on the fol-
lowing:
Juufs: To permit the Home for Juvenile
Female Offenders to have charge Of females
between the ages of Is and q years. and
change the name Of the institution to the
State Training School for Girls.
Hunts: To permit women to vote at town
elections.
Stubblef1eld's: To prohibit the wearing OF
society badges insignia by unauthorized
The House Committee on Municipalities
renewed the hearing on the street railway
bill prepared by the Chicago Street Railway
Commission. The feature Of the days
meeting was an attack on the bill made by
stated that he represented number OF tax
payers Of that city.
The House Committee on Education heard
arguments In support OF petitions by the
passage OF certain bills now pending. They
also heard arguments in favor Of the same
bills from representatives of German So
cieties and the Federation OF Labor
extending the free school libraries, another
providing for consolidation Of districts and
the other for the free transportation Of pu-
pills. were the bills which precipstated the
spoke In favor Of the three bills. explaining
them from his Investigation Of the subjects
contained In the bills.
Action upon the bills was deferred until
The House Committee on Railroads or
dered a favorable report upon the bill In
troduced by Mr.. Rankin of Iroquois, which
would prohibit switching and terminal
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