, 1890-03-16
NO MONEY VOTED.
Houses Fail to Agree on the Appro-
priation Bill.
Salaries and Contingents of All
Officers are Changed.
Silly Action by the House, but the
Council Stood Firm.

Thanks to the stubbornness of the
house OF representatives in the perform
ance of its mission as defender to the gov
ernor and tCady to the secretary, the
eleventh assembly adjourned without
passing the general appropriation bill.
When this paper went to press at 5
o'clock yesterday morning the council
had, at request of the house, receded
from each of its several amendments to
the bill except the apportionment rider
and the contingent funds of governor and
secretary.
Another conference committee resulted
in the removal of the last rider, leaving
the question on cash contributions to his
excellency aud the secretary. As is well
known the council took the position that
free Office rent was sufficient extra com
pensation to the governor. and accepted
the recent declaration of the secretary
that he was a federal official beyond the
reach of a common territorial council. In
this stand the upper branch was fortified
by the United statutes and a high sense
of duty to the people.
As early as 6 o'clock yesterday morn
ing it became evident that there was not
the remotest possibility of agreeing on the
bill. Self-respect, consistency and justice
forbade surrender on the part of the
council.
In their sober senses the representatives
might have listened to reason and acceded
to the claims of right. but their action
seemed to be controlled by the evitable
third house and frequent visits by lead
ers'' to the executive department had a
visible effect.
The scene in the house was a disgrace
to the members, to the assembly and to
the territory. The %effrontry OF the
local heelers and imported ~persuaders was
simply astounding. They occupied seats
at the desks and were active as members
in the proceedings, while during the
dozens of short recesses they argued in
bold tones the question from the erroneous
house standpoint and insisted on accept
ance OF suggestions. Such a spectacle
was never before witnessed in Wyoming
legislative halls.
The result of conferences was unvary-
ing and the plan OF simply sending the
bill back and forth was adopted, when the
house was discourteous enough to trans
NIT the measure without any comment
whatever. The council was charitable
enough to overlook the breach of legisla-
tive etiquette. expecting nothing else from
such source at such a time and under the
peculiar existing circumstances
The situation was becoming strained,
but each side seemed firm. From 8 to 10
was given to discussion of refreshments.
There was a big crowd in attendance and
interest in the contest was intense and the
sympathy with the council.
About IL O'Clock Mr.. Adams presented
these remarkable resolutions:
WHEREAS, The general appropriation
bill. known as house bill No. LA, was
passed by this body and transmitted TO
the honorable council for concurrence on
Monday, the 10th inst, and remained in
possession of the council from that time
until about s o'clock in the evening of
this, the 14th inst. the last legislative
day OF the present session. when it was
returned to the house with sundry amend
merits, including two amendments not ger
main to said bill, and improperly contain
containing special matters of legislation.
viz An apportionment OF the members
oil the next legislative assembly and also a
provision regulating the salaries of mu
nicipal officers; and
WHEREAS, Alter repeated conferences
between the two branches of the legisla-
ture, the honorable council has consented
to recede from all its amendments except
ing those made by the council deprivinR
the governor and the secretary of the ter
ritory of their contingent funds for the
ensuing year; and
WHEREAS, The honorable council, after
having been respectfully requested to re-
cede from the amendments ~hereinbefore
specified relative to the contingent funds
of the governor and secretary of the ter.
Iitory, have notified the house that the
council positively refuses to recede as re-
quested. and
WHEREAS. In the opinion of the house
the action of the honorable council is
manifestly a great injustice to the chief
executive and to the secretary of Che ter
ritory, and is prompted by partisan and
Unworthy motives on the part of the
council. which should never enter into
honest legislation and which cannot do
otherwise than work an injury to the
people, therefore be it
Resolued, That IN the opinion of the
house the responsibility for the failure to
pass the general appropriation bill, and
the consequent injury to public interests.
must rest upon the honorable council,
and be it further
ResotUed. That this house again request
the honorable council to recede from their
position, and that said house bill No. ia
be returned to the honorable council Tor
their action.
In the meantime the council was be.
coming weary OF the boy play of the
house, an attitude prompted by purely
political reasons and dictated by time
serving bosses. Mr.. Liggett introduced
and the council passed the following:
WHEREAS, A disagreement has arisen
between the council and house of repre-
sentatives of the territory OF Wyoming
concerning certain appropriations in
the general appropriation bills, to-
wit: An appropriation of 81, 200 as a con-
tingent fund for the governor of the terri
tory, and 5000 for the secretary of the