The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-04-24
HALL OF LEGISLATION
BECOMES ABEAR
GARDEN
Wrangle Over Two Munich
pal Ownership BiHs-At-
tempt Made to Pull the
Speaker From the Chair
Allegation Of Attempted
Bribery.

SPRINGFIELD, ILL.,, April 23.-Wild,
disorder marked the proceedings to-
day in the house of representatives
over municipal ownership bills. Ad-
herents of the Mueller bill, indignant
at Speaker Millers ruling in favor of
the Indy bill, attempted to pull the
speaker from his chair. The speaker
raised his voice above the turmoil and
declared the house adjourned. There
upon Representative Murray a Muel-
Ter bill man, called for the election of
a speaker pro tenn. Charles Allen, of
Vermillion, was selected, but had diff
ficulty in forcing his way to tl\, speak
er's chair. The aisles were thronged
with a crowd so excited that it was
almost mob.
Eventually he made the passage, and
Henry Better was made clerk. 1t was
found exceedingly difficult, however,
to accomplish business
The municipal ownership fight that is
now in progress here is the most ex-
citing which the state capital has wit
messed in many years. Chicago senti-.
ment is said to faver the Mueller bill,
and Mayor Harrison. Graeme Stewart,
the recently defeated candidate for
Chicagos mayoralty chair. John NJ.
Harlan and others of influence have
been here for several days working for
it. The Indy bill, the municipal own
ership measure favored by an active
minority, has, however, been foiGd1
ahead. I
Refused a Roll Call.
Yesterday the speaker arbitrarily re-
fused roll call on motion to post
pone consideration of thes Indy bill,
although majority Of the house de-
manded the roll. The postponement mo-
ton was declared carried, amid the
protests of the majority. The postpone
ment was desired by the Indy forces
because it was feared that they would
not have enough votes to- defeat mo-
ton to substitute the Mueller bill.
Today Speaker Miller ordered the
Indy measure advanced to third
reading, and tumult of voices rose in
opposition, during which an attempt
was made to pull the speaker from his
chair.
It was 1920 when Speaker Mueller
announced that the Indy municipal
ownership bill was a special order on
second reading. The bill was read.
Then Mr.. Indy was recognized and.
offered the amendments formulated at
Tuesday nights conference.
The first amendment was read and
then the speaker started to put the
question of its adoption to a viva voce
vote, the house was thrown into dis
order. "A large number of the mem
bers were on their feet, some of them
standing a0n chairs, a few on their
desks, demanding roll call.
The amendment is adopted" said
Speaker Miller, bringing down his CAV
ell.
Dubious Compliment.
You are a liar retorted Mr.. Allen
There was a fresh outbreak, MEM
bers shouting Mr. Speaker "Mr.
Speaker" roll CALL" roll CALI
Above the din, Mr.. Sherman, as he
seized his Kitchen chair and piled it
on his desk in front of him, could be
heard Shouting:
r The speaker ignores the rules of
the house. The chair is not in order''
~uhe second amendment was then
read The uproar was deafening as
the speaker started to put the question
OF adopt1on, many as favor,"=the
rest of the sentence being entirely lost.
All the while the demands for a roll
call continued. The speaker. declared
the amendment adopted, although his
decision could be heard scarcely three
feet from him, the third amendment
clared adopted. By this time a perfect
pandemonium prevailed. Many mem
bers has seized bill bobks and were,
pounding their desks, while Mr.. Cum
mings, from his seat in the front row
on the Democratic side, was vigorously
welding a board. 20
The fourth amendment was declared
adopted. When the reading of the
fifth amendment was completed per-
sonal violence against the speaker was
threatened
Previous Question.
In the uproar Mr.. Indy was heard
to-, move the previous question. on the
bill. The speaker put the m0,kfon and
although he could not be heard, the
movements of the gavel indicated that
the motion had prevailed.
AT this point fight broke out on
the Democratic side, a few feet from
the speaker. Werdell Oem) and
Glade (Rep) were the central figures,
put almost everybody in their imme-
dlate vicinity appeared to be taking a
hand In the melee in an evident en-
deaVor to separate the two combatants.
1t developed afterward that Werdell
mad started for the speaker with a
menacing air and that Glade had seiZ-~
ed him, thus precipitating, the encoun-
ter. Above the din an indistinct mo-
ton for recess at 2:30 was heard, and
a moment later the speaker brought
down his gavel and declared it car
ried. Fully half the members of the
house appeared now to be standing
on top Of their desks.
The Republicans denied that the
mouse mad adjourned and the election of
Allen as temporary speaker and Belt
Ter as clerk took place. A clerk of the
senate appeared with message from
that body, but the message was not re-.
ceived and the clerk was elected.
Bill Up Again.
After some parliamentary questions
had been disposed of, house bill 864,
the municipal ownership bill, was re-.
called from third reading, to which it
had been sent by the regular organf-
cation of the house a few moments be-
fore. Several amendments to the
Mueller bill were adopted and to pre-
vent reconsideration a motion to recon
slider was tabled.
Inc resolution was adopted and then
there was considerable discussion as to
what action should be takens with ref
erence to the proceedings when the
mouse reconvened at 230 with Speaker
Miller in the chair. -
Mr.. Donoghue (Dem.) said that he
mad been creditably informed that the
speaker had sent for deputies to pre-
serve order this afternoon. He advised
the members to turn over to Speaker
~