Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1899-04-06
WHIP APPLIED AT CAPITAL.
Republicans Forced Into Line to Pass
Omnibus Appropriation Bill.


Omnibus Appropriation Bill.
The same tactics that brought sue
cess to the party at the polls in Rock
Island Tuesday were adopted by the
republicans in the house at Spring
field Yesterday, when by applying the
whip and compelling the party mem
bers to get into line, the omnibus
appropriation bill, including the
Berry fee, was passed, amid scene
of intense excitement. Speaker Sher-
man left the chair to assume
the leadership of his party upon the
citrants into line.
The trouble grew out of the item in
the insurance bill appropriation to the
use of the insurance department
81, 600 for legal services and So, 900
expenses in prosecuting violations of
insurance laws, most OF which goes to
Senator Berry.
Mr.. Sherman went into a discussion
| of the merits of the item in contro-
versv. He said that under the Alt
geld administration the appropriation
for enforcing the insurance laws had
been placed with the attorney gener-
ais office. rather than the insurance
III IcdSOHS- nc
defended the practice of allowing the
insurance department its own legal
services, and said the board of health
and the railroad and warehouse COM
mission were given money for the en-
| ployment of special counsel. He said
the money was well expended, for the
| prosecutions brought into the state
large amount of money yearly. 1t
was no valid objection, MIR. Sherman
said, that Senator Berry got some of
the money in fees.
| Mr.. Cleary, of 10 Daviess, demo-
crat, said the contention of the speak
er that the members of the minority
were not responsible for legislation
was unconstitutional and untrue.
The members of the minority recog-
nized their responsibility. But be-
cause they were denied the right to
discuss the bill when on second read
ing or to amend it, they sat silent in
their seats as a protest against the
action of the speaker in overriding
the rights of the members Mr..
Cleary argued that it was contrary to
the statutes and against the spirit OF
the constitution to do what the speak
er wanted done.
E. w. Hurst, of Rock Island, reply.
ing to Sherman's statement that the
employment of Berry as counsel fol-
the insurance department was not
contrary to the law, read bill intro
duced by Berry that has passed the
senate and is now pending in the
house. This bill provides that ''tht
insurance superintendent shall pos.
sess and have all the powers, and he
may perform all the duties in regard
to the business of insurance in this
state which are now attached by law
to the office of auditor of public ac-
counts and the attorney general" Ii
further stipulates that ''said auditor
of public accounts and the attornev
general are hereby relieved from any
duty heretofore imposed upon them
by any law of this state in relation
thereto, and the said superintendent
of insurance is fully authorized and
empowered from and after the date OF
his appointment and qualification as
such superintendent to perform the
same" The bill carries the emer-
gency clause. Mr.. Hurst said the
fact that this bill was being pressed
for passage was a sufficient answer to
Speaker Sherman.
The roll call was ordered. All the
democrats refused to vote. When the
name of Leahy, democrat, was called,
Sherman rose and read telegram
from him asking to be recorded as
voting for the omnibus bill. The
whole democratic side rose to object.
When Allen directed the clerk to re-
cord the vote the democrats all shout
ed and shook their fists at him. Fail
ing to get the chair to remove Leahy's
name from the list of affirmative
voters, McGoorty went to the speak
er's desk to expostulate with Allen.
Finally II votes were secured, count
ing Leahy's, just the number neces-
| SarV