The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-03-15
THE CHICAGO DRAINAGE BILL.
The Huge Scheme Receives Setback in the
Legislature in an Unexpected Manner.

SPRINGFIELD, ILL.,, March 1.-THE Chi
cago drainage bill, which, if passed. would
have involved an outlay to the State of
SIC, COX, 600, received another set back in the
House, to-day, when. after spirited de-
bate, its further consideration was post
poned until April II. The greatest inter-
est was manifested on all sides when the
House convened, and the galleries were
thronged with spectators. Immediately
after the reading of the journal the Speaker
announced the drainage bill as special
order, and directed the Clerk to read it.
Mr.. Quinn asked to have the bill recalled
from the second reading for the purpose of
introducing an amendment, but there was
storm of objections from the Republicans,
and the Clerk was ordered to proceed with
the reading. The reading had hardly COM
menced when Mr. Ross shouted for recog-
milton, with motion to postpone the con-
sderation of the bill The Speaker ruled
the motion must be reserved until after the
bill had been read.
After the completion of the reading Mr..
Ross secured the floor and said an impress
sion throughout the State. and particularly
that portion most Altered by the bill, con-
strained him to ask postpOnement of it's
consideration until April IL. When the bill
was In second reading. he said, some very
important amendments had been submitted
which had not been printed nor generally
circulated.
Mr.. Jones. of Sangamon, seconded the
motion.
Mr.. Craft SAID the bill had been properly
printed and thoroughly distributed, and
the only object In postpOning it a month
was to postpone it beyond the time when it
can become a law.
On motion of Mr.. Meyer, of Cook county,
the previous question was ordered. and the
yeas and nays called. After the call of
forty or nifty names 1t became apparent to
the friends of the bill that the secret labors
of the opposition were bearing fruit, and
that the number of votes for pOstpOnement
would be far in excess of any anticipation.
Then Mayor Roche, of Chicago, began to
move around on the Republican side.
endeavOring to change the votes of some
who voted for postponement, while Judge
PTendergast made effort among his Demo-
cratic friends to control sentiment on that
side in favor OF the passage of the bill. He
of SangamOn, who rallied his friends and
interviewed every Democratic member as
fast as he was seen by Judge Prendergast.
At the conclusion of the roll-can and be-
fore verification, it was apparent that the
motion to postpone had prevailed by ma
jority of 10 or IL. There were fully thirty
members, however, who had not recorded
themselves, and Mr.. Meyer moved call Of
the abSenteeS. This was unfortunate, how
ever, as many who had refrained from vot-
ing were in favor of postponement, or had
declined to record themselves for fear of
being considered enemies of the bill. Mr..
Lester was one of these. The lobby crowd
ed around him and endeavOred to influence
his vote by the promise of Cook county
support for the bill consolidating the SUI
preme Court. Mr.. Lester wavered, but
voted in the affirmative.
"GOod-by to your Supreme Court bill"
shouted Mr.. Meyer. Mr.. Lester smiled
somewhat regretfully. Friends of the bill
did not lose heart, and crowded around
him In an endeavOr to persuade him to
change his vote, and during the verification
of the rOll-call he made the change.
On. the completion of the roll-call, the
Speaker raped for order, and announced
that the motion to postpone had prevailed
by vote of 70 to 81. A dozen members de-
manded recognition from the Chair, but
Mr.. Meyer secured the floor, and gave no.
tice he would move tomorrow a recOnsid-
GRAFTON of the vote by which postponement
was ordered