The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-04-24
FOUGHT
LIKE
RUFFlANS
Disorderly Scenes in the
Illinois Legislature.
FIERCE RIOT RACED
IN LEGISLATIVE HALL
Fiqht Followed Attempt to
Drag Speaker from Chair.
CHARGES MADE OF
ATTEMPTED BRIBERY
Chicago Street Railway Franchises
We're Under Discussion, and Mem.
bers Fought and Rolled Each
Other Across the Speakers
platformln Presence Of
Many Lady Guests.
Fight Followed Attempt to
Drag Speaker from Chair.
CHARGES MADE OF
ATTEMPTED BRIBERY
1sv Associa.ed Press.1

tBy Associated Press)
SPRINGFIELD. ILL. April 2.--slug-
ping and rolling each other acress the
upeakcr's platform in frenzied general
t1st fight at the feet OF q score OF female
guests the members OF the Illinois Leg
islature to-day surpassed the widest scene
OF the Austrian Reichsrath. Charges.
by the Speaker OF the House. Isaac
Miller, that attempts had been made TO
bribe him were formally made tonight es
an explanation OF the extraordinary ac-
tions on his part, which precipitated the
riot The interior OF the Legislative
chamber tonight resembles In a meas
ure, track OF tornado so general was
tho wreckage Of chairs and desks.
Chicago street Railway franchises, more
valuable than gold mines. were directly
a, stake, Federal Court recelvership pro-
ceedings against the Union Traction COM
pany OF Chicago. yesterday having
brought the matter to sudden issue.
The stormiest time ever experienced In
tho illinois gislatare B \ began almofit
SltnOuE "lInlHSp AL u mn Ac ~ W'i1 atS-
order, which arose to-day In the House
Of Representatives over rival traction
measures, or socalled municipal owner
ship bills.
Adherents OF the Mueller bill, Indignant
at Speaker Miller.s 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. Thereupon
Representative Murray. Mueller bin
man. called for the election of Speaker
pro tcmpore. Charles Allen. OF Yermillion,
was selected, but had difficulty In forcing
his way to the Speakers chair. The aisles
were thronged with crowd so excited.
that it was almost a mob Eventually
he made the passage, and Henry Better
was made clerk. 1t was found exceeding
ly difficult, however, to accomplish busl-
ness.
WILD SCENE.
During roll-calls on amendment to the
Indy bill nearly half the members OF
the House stood on their desks, shouting
and gesticulating.
Many members had seized bill books
and were pounding their desks, while Mr..
Cummings, from his seat In the front
row on the Democratic side. was vigo-
rously welding board.
Personal violence against the speaker
was threatened a number OF ladies were
sitting on the couch or the Speakers
desk,
''Wtll the ladies please move out from
behind?" shouted Mr. Allen.
sect them out!" shouted Mr. Sherman.
Get the ladies out. Do not act the cow
ard"
A fight broke out on the Democratic
side a few feet from the Speaker Wedell
CDemocraD and Glade Republican) were
the central figures. but eight or ten other
nembers--in fact, almost everybody in
their immediate viclnity-appeared to be
taking hand in the melee In an evident
cndeavor to separate the two combatants
1t developed afterwards that Wedell had
started for the Speaker with a menacing
air, and that Glade had seized him, thus
precipitating the encounter.
EXCITING FIGHT,
The municipal ownership fight, now In
progress here, is the most exciting which
the State Capitol has witnessed In many
years. Chicago sentiment Is said to fa-
vor the Mueller bill. and Mayor Harrison
and others of influence have been here
several days working for It, The Lindly
bill. tho municipal ownership measure
favored by an active minority. has. how
ever, been forced ahead. Yesterday the
Speaker refused roll call on a motion
to postpone consideration Of the Indy
bill, although majority OF the House
demanded the roll call. The postpone
ment motion was declared carried, amid
tho protests OF the majority.
To-day Speaker Miller ordered the Lind
,y measure advanced to third reading, and
tumult of voices rose In opposition
during which tho attempt was made to
null the Speaker from his chair, After
sneaker Miller declared the House adj
to,rped. the newly organized House re-
called the bill from third reading and
proceeded, section by section. to substl-
t,te the Mueller bill for It. The time
then arrived for the regular afternoon
session, and Speaker Miller resumed the
chair without opposition Considerable
ccnfusion attended attempts to transact
business, and recess was taken until
evening. ,,, i,
AT the night session Speaker Miller said
his action In refusing the roll call was
que to reports that he could make money
bv allowing a roll cali on the Mueller bill.
but as che House desired IT. he washed his
hands of the entire matter, and would
permit a roll call, An agreement was
reached for Reconsideration of the Lind
ily bill. and the House adjourned until tn-
morrow,