The Colfax gazette. [volume] (Colfax, Wash.) 1893-1932, 1901-03-01
PASSED REAPPORTIONMENT BILL.
Democrats Fumed and FiIibuster-
ed, But Without Avail.

Olympia, Feb. 21.-The Jones lerisIa-
tive reappOrtiOnment bill passed both
houses of the legislature today, after a
desperate filibustering effort OF the solid
democratic minority in each house to
delay action. All sorts of amendments
were offered ,dilatOry motions were made
and delay tactics resOrted to. Finally,
however, the republican majority tri-
umphed and passed the bill This re-
suit was not accomplished, however, un-
til Merritt, in the house, threatened that
Gov. Rogers would not only veto the
bill, but would butcher your bills as
well" Realizing that his remarks were
exciting considerable attention, Merritt
proceeded to disclaim that he was speak
ing authOritatively for the governor.
He declared, however, that the bill was
a gratuitOus insult to the chief eXecu-
tive.
In the senate TOlman, on behalf of
MantZ, who was absent, offered minor
ity report on the Jones bill, making the
representation eighty in the house and
thirty-fOur in the senate, as at present,
but changing the apportiOnment in sew
eral particulars. This report was voted
down by strict party vote, and then a
recess was taken until after lunch. When
the session was resumed, the democrats
offered thirty-three amendments to the
bill, insisting in a majority of instances
upon a roll call. Finally all their
amendments we're voted down and the
bill was placed on it's final passage.
Several speeches were made by the
democrats in opposition to it, but final
ly vote was had and the bill was pass
ed. A motion was made to transmit to
the house Immediately, but the demo-
Gratis protested that the motion was
out OF order, President Mcbride ruled
against them, and an appeal was taken
from his decision, which, of course, was
not sustained.
crow OF Whitman made an eXcitable
speech in which he accused Mcbride of
unfairness. The latter put the motion
while Crow was wildly brandishing his
arms. Crows glasses fell off during his
defamation, and altogether the scene
was ludicrOus in the extreme. The mo-
tiOn to transmit was carried.
When the bill came up in the house
under special order the democrats
showed by their action at the outset
tnat they proposed to delay matters as
long as possible. Jones introduced a
substitute bill for the one before the
house. 1t was in reality the senate bill,
but could not be termed such, as the
upper house had not yet passed it's bill
Merritt sought to question the right to
introduce the substitute, but was ruled
against by the chair Then the reading
of the bill was taken up, and the fun be-
gan.
Before the close of the afternoon the
house was dozen times in more or less
of an uprOar, and it was impossible at
times to find dozen members in their
seats. Merritt introduced amendment
after amendment for the purpose, it was
charged, OF delaying final action on the
/ bill. de had stack of them on his
desk, and when he grew tired of Offering
them himself, he turned one over to a
fellow democrat.
Cameron OF Lincoln was permitted to
introduce several. Each time a roll cal
was demanded, and the result was the
same-the minority voted for the amend.
ment and the republicans against it.
The republicans voted soidly for the
bill, with the exception of Jerard of Co.
lumbia, who felt that his county had
not received Justice When the vote was
announced Cameron of Lincoln con
graduated Pierce county for winning
out in her demand to retain her present
representation.
Under the new bill the present mem,
bership of the legislature will be increas
ed from ia to 135. The house, which
now numbers eighty, will have ninety
three, and the senate, which now mum
bers thirty-four, will have fOrty-two.
The democrats here are a unit in de