The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-04-24
IN WILD DISORDER
ILLINOIS LEoIsLATuRE HAS
 IT'S TROUBLES.
Fight Comes Up Over the Municipal { Ownership Bills-Attemrt to Pull the Speaker from
 His Chair.

Springfield, Ill.,, April ZS.-Whd oisoroer marked the proceedings today in the House of Representatives over municipal ownership bills. Adherents of the Muel- Ter bill. indignant at Speaker Miller's ruling in favor of the Lindley Dill. at tempted to pull the Speaker from his chair. The Speaker raised his voice above the turmoil and declared the House adjourned. Thereupon Represen- tatiye Murray, a Mueller bill man. called for the election of a Speaker pro tenn. Charles Allen of vermillion was selected, but had difficulty in forcing his way to the Speakers chair. The aisles were thronged with a crowd so excited that 1t was almost a mob. Eventually he made the passage and Henry Beitler was made clerk. It was found exceedingly difficult, however. to transact business.
 The municipal ownership fight, now in progress, has been the most exciting which the State Capitol has witnessed In many years. Chicago sentiment IS said to favor the Mueller Dill, and Mayor liar rison, Graeme Stewart, the recently de- feated Republican candidate for Chica- ro's mayoralty; John NJ. Harlan and others of infuence, having been here several days working for 1t. The Lind- ley Eili, the municipal ownership meas ure. favored by an active minority. has, how ever, been forced ahead.
 Today Speaker Miller ordered the Lind ley measure advanced 10 third reading. and a tumult of voices rose in opposition. during which the attempt was made Co pull the Speaker from his chair.
 Above the din an indistinct motion for a recess to 2:30 o'clock was heard and a moment later the Speaker brought down his gavel and declared it carried.
 Fully half of the members of the House appeared to be standing on top of their desks. Republicans were shouting at the Speaker, protesting ag dnst the recess.
 NO; you don't adjourn!" they were re- beating.
 Mir. Murray from the top of his desk, then addressed the House.
 Gentlemen of the House." said he. "l notice that we are without Speaker"
 The House has adjourned interrupted Mir. Erickson.
 No. 1t hasn't" was the response of several members.
 Ut is very evident" continued Mir. Murray, waving his hands for silence, that we are without a Speaker at this HlCHleHt, anu tndI tnCEc IS q Ih&JothtJ here, and I move that the Honorable Mir. Allen be made Speaker pro tenn"
 Amid great confusion MT. Murray put the motion and declared 1t carried.
 Mr. Allen was hurried up to the chair.
 Speaker Miller had carried the gavel to his room and there was a momentary embarrassment owing to the absence of this emblem of authority. Mir. Schlagen- hauf however, rose to the emergency and brought up the rung of disabled chair and handsd 1t to Mir. Allen. The speaker was surrounded by a large num- ber of members, both Democrats and Republicans. He at once made at at tempt to restore order and requested the members to resume their seats. In the midst of the uproar one of the clerks from the Senate appeared in the center aisle announcing a message from the Senate. Speaker Allen recognized 1 him and before the clerk knew just wha' was the matter he had read message | It was impossible to hear him and somt organization man immediately grabbe, him and pushed him out of the Repre- sentatives hall before he had a chance tt send the message to the Speakers desk Representative Knoll was made clerh pro tenn of the House and Representa- l tives Bush, Schlagenhauf. Burke anC | waddell, assistant clerks.
 Speaker Allen: Take your seats please. We cannot do anything wher | there is so much confusion" Mir. Brown: Do you want to transac | business in the condition this house Il in?"
 ''Yes. sir" came the response! "Throw him out!" cried MT. Sherman Speaker Allen: The center aisle VII | be cleared"
 voice: we have no officers. The' have all gone"
 Speaker Allen: Then the janitors will please clear the aisles and the clerk VII call the roll"
 l MT. Gray tried to explain his vote. bu | he was howied down by cries Of "Throv | him out!'
 when Mir. Rinakers's name was reach ed he asked for little information al | to what was going on. | ''Since the late speaker vacated ni chair" said he, "I have been unable t' l find out what is being done" | Sneaker Allen: '"rhe purpose IS t' ascertain if a quorum is present" l After much confusion and great dea l of delay the roll call was finally com
 pletcd. IL showed ninety-seven memoer
 present. Wilson (Dem) protested agains | the revolutionary action on the part
 those who organized the house in Januar' ! and Mir. Sherman spoke at length on tn
 constitutional status of the existing 'ses
 sion of the House.
 | He held that the House was not oes troved by the adbication or withdrawal O if, regular presiding officer.
 ''IIe might die" said MT. sherman an
 for parliamentary purposes In tni | House, he is now dead
 The municipal ownership bill was tnel | -ecaIled from third reading to which
 had been sent by the regular organization l and considered for some time. It's dlsposi
 t,or however, was not determined
 Al the afternoon session the trouol
 was snoothed over by the surrenderin of the House to the regular officers. MI | Miller then attempted to call up bi hui the point was made that the ques tIon was pending on the Llndley bill.
 move to adjourn until tomorrow. however brought about an uproar. Another mo lion to adjourn until o'clock was car ried. IA
 Before adiournment Speaker Miller saio
 "Ir justification of my conduct today Il
 yefusing a roll call, which might nav
 ssc1oed high-handed but which. an
 toId is not wholly unprecedented, l de
 s,re to make a statement. one' tnlnk
 which no one will object to.
 "I have been approached at direren
 ar.as bv narties who inumated to m | ,Ia voolra money by allowing