The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-02-24
GOVERNMENT IS DEFEATED.
REDISTRIBUTION BILL FAILS TO
PASS BY A VOTE OF 10 TO Is.
Governor VIII He Asked TO Dissolve
the Legislature and Appeal to
the Country, But the Chances Are

Special Dispatch to the Post-Intelligencer.
VICTORIA, b. c.. Feb 23.-The British
Columbia government met with defeat
this afternoon when, during the debate on
the redistribution bill Richard Han.
member from this city, moved the previ-
Gus question This brought the debate
to close. and precipitated a vote, upon
which the administration was defeated by
a vote OF nineteen to eighteen.
The speaker Immediately declared the
bin lost and the opposition members
broke into tumultuous cheering, which
was Joined in by the great crowd which
thronged the galleries The scene in the
chamber was extremely interesting, as the
government did not anticipate such mo-
ton or even defeat, II IL were moved, as
Joe Martin had promised 10 support them
IL they brought down a fair measure Of
redistribution, and he measure submitted
was admitted on all sides TO be fair and
conservative. When the tumult had sub
sided the premier rose and asked that the
house adjourn until Tuesday next. when,
doubtless he will be able 20 make some
announcement TO the house and country.
In the meantime, a government caucus
Is in progress. the result OF which IL not
vet known, but IL Is almost certain that
they win ask the governor for a dissolu
tion and win appeal to the country. Had
the bin passed they would have been in
much better position to do so, as IL would
have given them considerable strength in
the upper country. which receives three
more members and would have done much
to offset the bad effect which the eight
hour law has had in alternating support
there. What the governor will do remains
TO be seen. and II is not at all unlikely
that he viii refuse TO grant dissolution
and will call on some one else to form a
government. II is considered improbable
that he viii recall the Turnertes, who
haxf 1plt .f ,l.aFu ~ina
were dismissed from office by him.
Close observers Of the situation believe
that the governor win make a coup such
as he did last year. A prominent member
of the government ranks told your cor
respondent yesterday that he was willing
TO bet that the governor would send for
Joe Martin. the understanding at the same
time being that w. w. b McInnes. NJ. r.,
and eldest son of the governor. should be
included in the new slate. With this COM
bination an appeal would be made to he
country with fair chances OF success, as
both Martin and McInnes have been labor
champions. and 1t Is no secr~t-that the
governor. through his private secretary,
who is also his son, has kept In close
touch with Martin throughout the ses-
sion. Others predict the governor will go
outside the house, as on the last occasion,
and call upon Hon. Fred Peters late pre-
mier of Prince Edward island, now resi-
also to Higgins. the speaker
Defeat was preceded by a stormy scene
between Eberts and Neil. arising out of
the statement Of the former yesterday that
the latter had said, when informed OF the
death OF Canadians in Africa, that
that would take some OF the heady
patriotism out of them. Neil strenuous
ly denied this. saying he was once a SOL
der himself and did not need to be always
soldering about his loyalty, as Eberts
did. Eberts reiterated the statement
when Neil shouted. You're a liar!' E.b-
erts yelled hack. Come out OF the house
and say that. II you darer'
The speaker insisted that Neill should
withdraw his remark. and finally did SO.
stating that he did It because OF defer
ence TO the speakers position. In doing
30 he insisted that Eberts should apollo
gize. The latter replied that he would
apologize to the speaker and all the house
except the member for Alberni. Martin
took Neilfs part and pressed Eberts to
withdraw, which he finally did, with great
reluctance.