Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1903-04-30
ALMOST A RIOT
IN LEGISLATURE
0isgraceful Scenes Follow At
tempt to Crowd Street
Car Bill Through.
WILD UPR0AR IN THE HOUSE
Speaker Miller Called Liar Whom He
Declared Amondent to Bill Carried-Re-
calcitrants Remain In Seats and Reor-
ganixe House with Temporary Onicers

Springfield, Ill, April 24.-Slugging
and rolling over each other across the
speakers platform In frenzied gen.
eral fist fight at the feet of score of
women guests, the members Of the
Illinois legislature yesterday sur
passed the widest scenes of the Aus
trian reyehstrath. Last night charges
by the speaker of the house, Isaac
Miller, that attempts had been made
to bride him were formally made as
an explanation for the extraordinary
actions on his part that precipitated
the riot.
The interior of the legislative cham
Der last night resembled In a 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 receiv.
ership proceedings against the Union
Traction company of Chicago yester.
day having brought the matter to a
sudden issue.
The federal receivership was held
by many to indicate an intention by
the Street Railway company to fight
out a claim to ninety-nine-year fran.
chises instead of negotiating with the
Chicago city council for a renewal OF
franchises on a twenty-year basis with
part of the city.
The stormiest time ever experienced
in the Illinois legislature began almost
xxrfkI s.k nrrta Ia. xurtx txtu tx,A ~
wild disorder which arose yesterday In
the house Of representatives over rival
| traction measures, or sC-called munic.
| ipal ownership bills.
The municipal ownership fight now
In progress here is the most interest.
| ing that the state capital has witness.
ed In many years. Chicago sentiment
Is said to favor the Mueller bill, and
Mayor Harrison, Graeme Stewart, the
recently defeated candidate for mayor
Of Chicago. John NJ. Harlan and others
OF influence, have been here several
days working for it. The Lindley
| bill, the municipal ownership meas
ure, favored by an active minority
has. however, been forced ahead. Wed
nesday the speaker arbitrarily refused
a roll call on motion to postpone con
sideration Of the Lindley bill. although
q majority of the house demanded the
roll. The postponemeEt motion was
declared carried. amid the protests OF
the majority. The postponement was
desired by the Lindley forces because
1t was feared that they had not votes
enough to defeat motion to substi.
tute the Mueller bill. Yesterday
Speaker Miller ordered the Lindley
measure advanced to the third read
| ing. A tumuit of voices arose In oppo
| sition during which the attempt was
made to pull the speaker from hii
chair.
The bill was read and as eacS
| amendment was read. despite repeated
| calls for a roll call. the speaker. amid
q din which drowned his voice. de
clared 1t carried. Finally, the previ
cas- question was moved and despite
all protests. the movements of the
gavel indicated that the speaker had
declared the bill passed. The speaker
then declared the house ljourned
Ninety-seyen members then made
Representative Allen temporary speak
er and the Mueller bin was adopted
as q substitute for the Lindley bill. A
resolution was then passed that the
speaker be informed of the action OF
the majority.
| When Speaker Miller returned he
| stated that his action was due to the
fact that money was being used to
pass the Mueller bill. he himself hav
| ing been approached. A resolution
| for investigation of the charges by a
committee of five was ADOPTED and the
house adjourned.