Emmons County record. [volume] (Williamsport, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-current, 1891-02-20
LETTER FROM THE CAPITAL,

I61 jill luOW I'LL Uni u NJ.
Editorial Correspondence.
The legislative grist mill is still grind
ing, and the output is satisfactory in
quantity, though judgment as to quality
depends entirely upon the views of the
citizen who investigates the proposed
statutes.
Last week the RECORD gave the result
of the resubmission fight in the house, and
by way. of prophecy stated that neither
side had much of a majority in the senate.
Saturday the house concurrent resolution
for constitutional amendment providing
for resubmission of the prohibitory provis-
ion came up in the senate. The house at
once heard of it, and on motion of Harry
OliverS- the prohibtionist leader in that
body. and one of the brightest men there,
"a recess was taken 80 that the members
could go upstairs and see the fun. The sem
ate lobby was crowded; but the "fun' didn't
amount to much, as there was little debate
and the dilatory motions were knocked
out in onetwo three order. The first test
vote was substitute by Senator Ink to re-
fer the matter to committee instead
of acting on it at once. The vote for i'm
mediate consideration was 16 to Is. Then
point of order was raised by prOhibi-
tion senator, which the president decided
we'll taken. An appeal was taken, and the
chair was overruled by 16 to Is. This
brought the main question to vote, and
again the vote was 16 to Is in faver of re-
submission. The ''sinch" notion. to re-
consider and to lay the motion to reconsider
on the table-was then made by Senator
LaMOure, and, so far as the second session
is concerned, prohibition had received a
| knock out blow. 1t cannot be con-
stdered again in either house. The rules
| specify that where motion is adopted to
reconsider the vote by which bill passed,
| and to lay the motion to reconsider on the
table, the question cannot again be brought
up during the session. Motions of this
kind "sinched" the resubmissiOn bill in
both houses.
Perhaps some of the RECoRp's readers
have not read-or if they have read, may
have forgotten-the method prescribed by
| the constitution for amendments to the or
ganic law. A resolution for constitu-
| tional amendment that passes this (the
second) session of the legislative assembly
must also be indorsed BY the session two
years hence. and then must be adopted by
majority vote. 1t is not necessary to
wait until the next general election, as
there is nothing in the constitution that
| prohibits the calling of special election
to vote on amendments. 1t will thus be
seen that high license has quite distance
to travel yet before it reaches safe har-
| Dor.
10 show how sharp parliamentary prac-
tice is sometimes liable to defeat the will
of the people, will give an instance that
occurred in the house last week. II was
during the resnbmission fight. Now, where
action has been taken on question, ii
cannot be reconsidered later than the fol-
lowing day. The resubmisson resolu
ton had been, on Monday of last
week, reported from the house temperance
committee, favoring indefinite postpone
ment. In the absence of half a
dozen resubmisslonists the report
was adopted. Then Mr.. Hill, pro.
hib, moved the "sinch" motion, and
it was on this motion that the filibustering
began, as the re.submissionists wan ted to
keep the matter open until the absentees
arrived. This they did by "a call of the
house," which blocked business until the
west bound train came in next morning
A legislative day lasts from the time OF
meeting one day until the time of meeting
the next-or, in this case, from 2 p. m
Monday until 2 p. m. Tuesday. All that
was done Tuesday before the expiration OF
the Monday session illegally so. o.called) wat
to defeat the motion of Mr.. Hill to recon
slider the vote by which the report of the
temperance committee had been adopted
and to lay that motion on the table. This
left the prohibitionists still ahead, as the
report of the temperance committee still
stood. At o'clock Tuesday the new leg
islative day began-the last day for recon
sidering the vote by which the report OF
the temperance committee had beer
adopted. Shortly after the opening of the
new day, Mr.. Oliver fired in a harmless
looking little motion to adjourn; and
right here is where the milk in the cocoa
nut Is developed. Mr.. Fiske, of Kidder
voted to adjourn. But, as good luck woult
have it for the the resubs, Mr.. McCulloch
a rock.ribbed prohib-but who wants tt
establish record by voting against all ad
journments-voted "ferninst" the motion
The prohibs were as much disgusted witt
Mccullough as the resubs with Fiske
for, had the motion to adjourn carried, re
submisson could not have been brough
up in the house gain at this session.
There is talk of an effort being made a
this session to cut off the claws and extrac
the teeth of the prohibitory law by knock
ing out the penalty provisions. But an
certain this will not be done. A numbe
in the house who voted for resubmissiol
did so because they believed that, as a ma
jority Of the voters Of the state did no
vote for prohibition, they should agair
have chance to express their opinion
and knowing that, if the people want tn
sumptuary law, they will again indorse i
at the polls. But these members will no
vote for anything that takes away pro
hibtion without giving US high license.
The capital-removal ghost has beel
stalking since my last report was written
The hoary:headed old spirit first shove,
up in the house, on a concurrent resolution
for constitutional amendment offered b,
Mr.. Burton, Grand Forks man. The res
olution was presented Immediately aftel
resubmissi0n carried in the house, and, a
!. Mr. RnrtOn Ia a nrOhih IL W. fho,, oh = to ho