The St. Louis Republic., 1901-03-28
HOUSE HOLDS BACK
CHARTER AMENDMENTS.
Lower Branch of St. Louis Municipal Assembly
a Republican Body, Deals a Blow at
Worlds Fair Improvements.
Action Is in Striking Contrast with Prompt Manner in Which
the Democratic Legislature Voted to Submit
Constitutional Amendments.

The Public Welfare Charter amendment
bill probably will die in the hands of the
Committee on Legislation of the House
of DELEGATES. or il may be killed after
being reported. Organized opposition has
developed in the House, and there seems to
be no prospect that the bill will be
passed.
4 Striking Contrast.
The action of this committee of a Re
publican House of Delegates is in striking
contrast with the manner in which the
Democratic Legislature Of the State voted
to submit constitutional amendments to the
people. at the instance of the same nom
partisan Commission for the Public Welfare,
and in the interest of q new St. Louis for
the Worlds Fair period. The Missouri As
sembly promptly responded to the request
of the city of ST. Louis. as expressed by
the Public Welfare Commission, for an op-
portunity to build up the city's finances
and enable it to make necessary improve
ments for the reception of visitors from
over all the world during the Louisiana
Purchase Exposition In 1903.
The action of the House of Delegates
committee is construed as violent and un-
provoked opposition to the Worlds Fair,
and is regarded as an especially bold stab
at the enterprise on the eve of the mu-
nicfpal election.
posed to report the bill. the House can take
action to compel the return of the bill for
action. Therefore. the House will be re-
sponsible for the death of the bill.
The House is composed of sixteen Re
publicans and ten Democrats. and is. conse-
quently. Republican by majority of six.
Chairman ]. X. Murrell Of the Committee
on Legislation IS the Republican member
from the Fourteenth Ward; T. E. Albright.
,<1o 81 20 hN11
is a Republican from the Seventeenth Ward:
John A. Sheridan. who seconded Albrght's
motion, is a Democrat from the Fourth
Ward; Charles F. Kelly, who is thinking of
adding the free-bridge amendment, is the
Delegate from the Twertieth Ward. He is
a candidate for reelection on the Demo-
cratic ticket and on the Public Ownership
ticket.
Speaker E. E. Murrell of the Thirteenth
Ward is Republican and is candidate
on the Republican ticket for reelection. His
brother IS chairman OF the Committee on
Legislation. Speaker Murrell has great in
f1uence on the House. and he could exert
this influence in behalf of the bill.
The Committee on Legislation. which re-
ceived the bill on the same date that the
same committee Of the City Council received
1t. showed more or less opposition
Wednesday morning, and other men,
bers of the House displayed SINH
lar inclinations. After giving a pub
lie hearing on the bill Wednesday
this committee practically voted that it
knew nothing about the measure, regard
less of dates and facts to the. contrary. CIV
ing information on all the details.
J. K Murrell was in the chair. with Dele
gates Sheridan and Albright of the commit
tee present. City Counselor Schumacher,
o. L. Whitelaw. Given Campbell and Har-
vey L. Christie explained the bill. The
hearing was called for 10 o'clock, but the
committeeman did not arrive until nearly
II. Chairman Murrell told Mr.. Schnur-
macher that the committee meets SO sell
dom he has trouble getting the members
together.
Mr.. Whitelaw tersely stated that the bill
had been prepared by the Nonpartisan
Commission for the Public Welfare, and
that its object is 70 have the City Charter
amended, If the people of the city decide
by vote, SO as to permit of extensive public
improvements. Mr.. Schnurmacher, he said,
had rendered the commission valuable as
sistance. The amendments. he concluded,
were formulated with much care and by
men Of experience and integrity.
Delegate Albright inquired whether the
proposition could be submitted at next
Tuesdays election. Mr.. Whitelaw
replied In the negative, but added
that the commission desired the
passage Of the bill in order to sub
init the amendments to popular vote as
soon as possible. Chairman Murrell re-
marked that the bill had come to his COM
mittee only last week; however, he did not