Evening journal., 1903-04-24
LAW MAKERS IN
FREE FIST FIGHT
Members of Illinois Legis
lature Participate in Regu-
lar Riot

Springfield. Ill.,, April 24.-Slugglng
and rolling over each other across
the speakers platform in frenzied |
general fist fight at the feet of score
OF female guests. the members of the
Illinois legislature surpassed the Wild |
est scenes of the Austrian reichsrath.
Charges by the speaker of the house,
John II. Miller. that attempts had been
made to bribe him we're formally made
as an explanation of the extraordinary
actions on his part. which precipitated
the riot The interior of the legsla-
tive chamber resembles in n measure
the track of a tornado. SO general was
the wreckage Of chairs and desks.
Chicago street railway franchises.
more valuable than gold mines, were
directly at stake. federal court re-
ceivership proceedings against the
Union Traction Company of Chicago
wednesday having brought the mat
ter 10 a sudden issue The federal re-
ceivership was held by many to indi-
cate an intention by the street rail-
way company to fight out a claim to
/ 99-year franchises. instead OF nego-
tiating with the Chicago city council
for renewal Of franchises on a 20.
year basis, with a municipal owner
ship option on the part of the city
The stormiest time ever Witnessed
in the Illinois legislature began almost
without warning. in a whlrlwind Of
wild disorder, which arose yesterday
IN the house of representatives over
rival traction measures, or so-called
municipal ownership bills.
When the session reconvened last
evening and Speaker Miller declared
that the first amendment of the Lind
ley bill had passed by a viva voce
vote, Representative Allen, who was
one of a number standing on their
desks. cried: You are a liar"
There was now a fresh outbreak,
members shouting: "Mr. Speaker,
"Mr. Speaker" Roll call" "roll call "
Above the din Mr., Sherman, as he
seized his chair and placed 1t on his
desk in front Of him, could be heard
shouting. THE speaker ignores the
rules of the house The chair is not in
order"
The second amendment was ther
/, read. The uproar was deafening as
the speaker started to put the ques
ton of adoption The speaker de
clared the amendment adopted. Pan
demonium prevailed. Many member.
. had seized bill books and were pound
/. ing their desks. while Mr. Cummings
from his seat in the front row on the
Democratic side. was vigorousl.
welding a board
The third and fourth amendment.
were declared adopted. When the
7 reading OF the fifth amendment wai
! completed personal violence agains
o the speaker was threatened. A mum
4 Der of ladies were sitting on the couch
y near the speakers desk.
n "Will the ladies please move ou
from behind?" shouted MI Allen.
''Get them out" shouted Mr. Sher
I man. Get the ladies out. DO not ac
the coward"
At this point a fight broke out ol
the Democratic side, a few feet from
the speaker. werdell (Deml AM
Is Glade (Rep) were the central figures
q but eight or ten other members ar
peared to be taking a hand in tn
> melee in an evident endeavor 70 ser
arate the two combatants- II deve
- oped afterwards that Werdell ha
- started for the speaker with a mena'
a ing air, and that Glade had seized hin
. thus precipitating the encounter.
Above the din an indistinct motto
NJ for a recess was heard end a momer
later the speaker declared it carrie,
= and another uproar cnsued
Chicago sentiment Is said to favo
he the Mueller bill. and Mayor Harrison
i Graeme Stewart, the recently defeate
candidate for Chicago's mayoralt
l., chair; John NJ. Harlan and others {
influence have been here for sewers
days working for it. The Lindley bill
the municipal ownership measuT
l. favored by an active minority, ha
e, however, been forced ahead.