The Arvada enterprise., 1913-01-23
WYOMING SOLONS
IN A FIST FIGHT
TROUBLE FOLLOWS NAMING OF
. RULES AND ELECTION COM.
MlTTEEs BY PRATT.
SPEAKER NAMES SELF
RloTlNG FOLLOWS CLASH OF AU-
THORlTY IN LOWER BRANCH
OF THE LEGISLATURE.
L-,---r N.N-pap.- LnLon -. ..------

Western Ecurpapor Union News Service
Cheyenne, Wyoming, Jan 2O.-
Scenes OF wild disorder occurred
on the floor Of the lower branch
OF the Legislature Monday morning
when Speaker Martin l.. Pratt and
Speaker pro tcmpOrc w. J. Wood
engaged in two separate fistfights,
during which Speaker Pratt threw
Wood from the speakers platform.
SO great was the disorder and so
apparently impossible the task Of
quclltug the disturbance that Speaker
Pratt sent request to the governor
10 aid in the restoration OF order even
IT it became necessary to call out the
militia to do 80.
The governor refused to intcrcedc.
At last. after more than an hour Of
conditions bordering on riot, cool
headed floor leaders of both parties
agreed to adjourn until ? o'clock.
Speaker pro tcmporc Wood put the
question, and declared it carried, This
precipitatcd further trouble, but the
sergcantat-arms and his assistants
finally cleared the House OF all save
members, majority Of whom left
the chamber to continue their argu-
mcnts and personal quarrcis outside.
Speaker Pratts announcement OF
committees at Conycnmg of the House
caused the disturbance. The speaker,
who holds the balance Of power in the
Legislature by reason OF tie be
tween the Democrats and Republicans
on the question Of senatorial success
sion. announced the appointment of
three Republicans and three Demo
Gratis with himself as chairman, on
the rules committee. and an equal
number OF Republicans and Demo
Gratis with himself as chairman, on
the elections committee.
These committees were not satisIac
tory to the Democrats, who previously
had been defeated on their motion to
refer the contests Of five representa-.
tivcs' seats to a special committee OF
elections, named by themselves. and
Judge Metz OF Sheridan, Democratic
floor leader of the House. moved for
the adoption Of substitute committees.
Speaker Pratt announced that the
House could not do thus; that the only
method of procedure was to change
the committees one by one.
Seeing that the Metz motion must
be disposed Of, Speaker Pratt called
Representative Hunter of Carbon
county. Republican, aud surrendered
the gavcl to him.
Instantly the House was in an up
roar. the Democrats claiming that only
Speaker pro tcmpOro Wood could be
called to the choir in such an Cmer-
gcncy, and the Republicans just as
yociferously uphoIding the choice Of
Hunter.
The parliamentary rule, that only
the speaker pro tcmporc could take
the chair unless the House was IN
committee Of the whole. was brought
60 bear. and Hunter agreed to surrcn-
der the gavel. whcrcupou Wood rushed
10 the speakers platform, seized the
guycl and called for roll call upon
the Metz motion.
Speaker pratt, declaring an attempt
10 use the stcamrollcr would result,
became onragcd, rushed to the chair
and ordered Wood to yacatc.
Wood refused. and Speaker Pratt
Eraspcd him about the body. tusslcd
with him few moments. and then,
before other members could reach the
platform, hurled Wood from the chair
against the wall and thence TO the
floor OF the House
Upon conycuiuE at o'clock the
lower branch Of the Legislature was
called to order by Speaker Pratt with
out protest and thus a repetition OF
the riutous scenes OF the morning SEES
sion was aycrtcd. This leaves the sit
untiou. with reference 10 the confirm
alton of Putus committees, stul uu-
settled