The San Francisco call., 1905-01-07
COLORADO|S
Ia v MAKERS
TURBULENT
Exciting Scenes At
tend the Joint
Session.
House Speaker and Lieu
tenant Governor Both
Claim the Chair.
Pandemonium Reigns When Ruling
Of One Presiding Officer Is Set
Aside by the Other.

DENVER, Jan. 6.-Behind locked
doors and amid scenes of great confu-
| sion and excitement the Colorado Leg
| islature to-day passed a resolution cre-
ating a committee of fifteen members
! to canvass the vote cast for Governor
! at the last election and submit report
! to the Legislature not later than 2
o'clock on the afternoon of next Mon
day. The committee is composed of
five Senators and ten Representatives,
| the political division being twelve
Republicans and three Democrats. 1t
/ organized this afternoon by the election
of Senator Arthur Cornforth of Colo
rado Springs as chairman and will COM
mence the hearing of evidence to-mor-
row.
The trouble began with the first ses-
sion of the joint session and continued
until Its close. 1t was expected that
there would be contest over the re-
spective rights of Speaker Dickson and
Lieutenant Governor Haggott to pre-
side over the joint session. The Speaker
based his opinion that ii was his right
to preside on a section Of the State con-
stitution which says the Speaker shall
open and publish the section returns
| in the presence of majority OF both
branches of the Legislature. Lieuten-
ant Governor Haggott construed his
| right to direct the proceedings on a
statute which declares that in conduct
| ing any contested election the General
Assembly shall convene in joint session
and that the President of the Senate
shall preside unless he is the contestee.
Legal advice was given to each gen.
tleman that his position was correct.
PANDEMONIUM REIGNS.
Lieutenant Governor Haggott was
assured that the wording Of the statute
amply covered the case. Speaker Dick
son was advised by his attorneys that
the proceeding was not officially known
to be contest, and that a provision
of the State Constitution always over
rides statute when the two are in
conflict When Lieutenant Governor
Haggott mounted the rostrum Speaker
Dickson was standing in front of the
center of his desk, and did not move.
The Lieutenant Governor advanced,
the two men smiled, bowed, shook
hands and then stood gazing into each
others eyes. Neither man made a
move and their features hardened as
they realized the situation. Together
they turned to face the Assembly, the
Speaker behind the center of the desk.
the Lieutenant Governor at his left
hand. Gently edging up to the Speak
er, Lieutenant Governor Haggott gave
him gentle "hunch" with his shoul-
der, as if to shove him along. The
Speaker was immovable. The gentle
"hunch" was repeated and still the
Speaker held his ground and brought
down his gavel with thump
"The clerk Of the House will call the
roll" he said.
Bangl went the gavel OF the Lieuten-
ant Governor. He Is a powerful man
physically, and every time he brought
his black gavel down the pitcher Of
water on the Speakers desk trembled
and the tumblers bumped and jingled.
'aThe clerk of the Senate will call the
|Nroll," he shouted.
SCENES OF CONFUSION.
Clerk Harper OF the House and Sec
retary Farwell of the Senate began to
call their respective rolls. while great
CONFUSION arose al Tile I1Ouse. meLl-
bers laughed. cheered and shouted,
while Representative Street, a Demo-
crat, gave vent to the cowboy yell.
"Yip, zip, yip." A few names had
been called when Representative Fre-
wen, a "Wolcott Republican" shout
ed: Mr.. Chairman"
"Mr. Frewen,' responded the Lieu
tenant Governor. you are out OF or
der"
"Mr. Frewen." shouted the Speaker,
you have the floor"
"Mr. Frewen,' said the Lieutenant
Governor.
Bang! bang! went the Speakers
gavel: boom! boom! went the gavel
of the Lieutenant Governor.
Frewen accepted the ruling of the
man who gave him what he wanted
and commenced to speak to a point
of order which was that the President
of the Senate was the proper presid-
ing officer at joint session.
you are out of order, sit down."
commanded the Speaker.
You have the floor" said the Lieu
tenant Governor, and again the gavels
banged.
II move this session adjourn.
shouted Senator Morgan.
TT is moved that this session ad-
journ," shouted the Lieutenant Gov
ernor.
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