The Indianapolis journal., 1903-02-20
Action on Sequestered and Delinquent
Taxes Bill Provoked a Scene Of
Unparalleled Excitement.
SLACK DEF1ED THE SPEAKER
MINORITY LEADER CHARGED MAR
SHALL WITH TYRANNY.
Representatives Attempted to Ex.
plain Vote and Were Sat Down Upon
-Bill Finally Engrossed.

The most dramatic incident of the present
session of the Legislature occurred in the
House yesterday afternoon when the bill
providing that the auditor of state shall
be empowered to investigate for seques-
tered and delinouent taxes in the several
counties of the State was taken I'D on Sec
ond reading and forced through to engross-
ment without giving the members an op-
portunity to present amendments to the bill
or to discuss it,
For the first time during the session a
member became so turbulent that the
him into his seat ordinations and recrimi-
nations were exchanged between prominent
members on the minority side, the minority
floor leader hurled fiery denunciations at
the members on the majority side and at
the speaker. members spoke with faces
white with passion and voices vibrating
with intense emotion, and all in all bedlam
reigned for few short minutes A large
crowd of spectators was present to share
the excitement. and the visitors crowded
around the bar of the House, expecting
momentarily that some of the members
would come to blows.
The bill. which is No. 313, was a special
order for clock, and Ii was taken up as
soon the House convened. AS soon as
the bill had been read Adair, Slack and
Lewis of Fountain simultaneously de-
manded recognition. The speaker recog-
nized the latter. who is the author of the
bill. and he moved that the bill be advanced
to engrossment. Sparks, of Rush. seconded
the motion. The speaker stated the uues-
ton with Slack and Adair still clamoring
for recognition. but he paid no attention
to them and ordered the roll call, as the
ayes and noes had been demanded.
SLACK WAS BELLICOSE.
Slack. was not to be gagged without a
struggle. however. and as the clerk began
calling the names of the members he
walked slowly down TO the front of the
House. with his long right arm extended.
and shouting Mr.. Speaker at the ton
of his voice. The speaker tried to ran
him down, but to no avail, and the noise
he made was such that the clerk could
not proceed with the roll call. Finally
Slack changed his tactics and shouted
that he demanded recognition on a oues-
ton of personal privilege and the Speaker
recognized him.
white heat by this time. Mr. Speaker. =
he exclaimed, when the chair had stated
this question and before-long he
fore he had ordered the roll cali.
1 demanded recognition. L have every
reason TO believe that the chair
heard me-. This is debatable question.
and L insist that member of this
House l have a right TO be heard
The only answer that the speaker vouch-
safed was the terse sentence:
1.-The question of recognizing menber
is within the discretion of the chair. pro
ceed with the roll call"
Slack subsidized temporarily and his COL
league, Adair. of Jay, took a turn. His
name was the first on the roll call, and
he availed himself of the perogatiye to
explain his vote
II take it, he said, that the sneaker
is chosen to preside over the deiibera- :
tions of this House and not to ride over the
members whose ideas are not in accord
with his on every question that arises.
This bill Is the biggest graft and scheme
of robbery ever brought before this House.
II means that not less than 100000 a wear
will be added to the salary of the auditor
! of state. Talk about. salary increasing
measures! You are ytrtuous enough when