The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1901-02-08

OF the measure was taken, and call FIR
the ayes and noes resulted in the defeat
OF the bill by vote of Is to 10.
NASH VILE, Feb. Gone of the pref
test parliamentary fights that has ever
taken place in the Senate occurred yes
terday over the passage of the Peeler
bill. indications for some time have
pointed to the fact that the vote would
be close one, but no one anticipated
that 1t would be the battle of yesterday.
The proceedings of the morning session
were unusually interes ting and were re.
plete with wit, sarcasm, sharp answers
and cunning moves for parliamentary
advantage.
The leader of the side favoring the
passage of the bill was Senator e. 7.
Seay, OF Sumner, and he was ably ser
onded by Senator Byrns, of Davidson
On that side were sixteen Senators, and
so. we'll organized We're they that
throughout the day they voted as one
man under the leadership Of Mr.. Seay.
All of the parliamentary moves to gain
advantage or to block the clever maneuv.
ers of the opposition were made by him.
Although one of the youngest Senators
upon the floor. so ably did he conduct
the fight that he made reputation for
himself that will spread over the State
He was cool and collected, meeting argu.
ment with argument and answering per.
sonal thrusts with stinging sarcasm
that brought applause from the specta
tors every time. Although there were
seventeen votes against him, the mum
Der necessary for the passage of the bill
he was able to block every move they
made, and at the close of the day hac
postponed the final vote upon the bill
until 10 o'clock this morning, thing he
had commended for at the morning SEES
sion.
On the side opposing the passage o.
the bill there were several leaders. They
were Senators Bean, Davis of Morgan
Peake and Drennon. OF these the man
agement of the fight was more in the
hands of Senator Bean than any ont
else
The spirited debate came upon The
amendment of Senator Bean to make
the bill applicable to cities and towns o.
1861 900 or less, which was bitterly
fought, as it would destroy all chances
for the bill. The amendment was los
by tie vote.
Mr.. Seay offered an amendment pro
viding for the election to surrender th'
charter of a town. Under it an election
can be called at the request of twenty
five voters, but not more than once il
two years 1t was adopted.
Mr.. Seay offered another amendment
making the bill take effect May /, 1901
which was also adopted.
The bill appropriating 81, 576 so to w
H. Dunn as compensation for services
as Live Stock Commissioner was passet
by both Houses.
NASHVILLE, Feb. THE vote on tn
Peeler bill In the Senate yesterday wa
as follows:
Ayes-Byrns, Caldwell, Claiborne
Cochran, Erwin, Gambel, Houston
Seay, Swofford, Tharp, Thompson, Till
man, Turner of Gibson, Turner O
Humphreys and Warfield. is.
Noes Bean, Butler, Cox, Davis o
Hancock, Davis of Morgan, Drennon
! Eldridge, Fryer, Greer, Howell, John
son, Lasater, Leech, McCorkle, Peak
VanDeventer, Williams and Speake
White.-18.
A motion to reconsider was tabled.
AD amendment to the bill making i
apply TO cities of 104, 900 was adopted.
Before che bill, which is a House bill
was put to the vote it was clearly evi
dent that there had been no changes il
the ranks of the prohibitionists, an
everyone in the Senate was aware of tn
| fate of the measure. When this becam
evident there was roar fromthe House
and open charges of corruption wer
made.
Charges of Bribery.
Mr.. Adams, of Wilson, brought tn
matter to the attention of the House a
the opening of the morning session b
introducing resolution calling for til
appointment of joint committee to in
yestigate certain rumors that connec
the names of certain Senators with col
ruption. In explaining his resolution
he said that it was whispered about tn
Capitol that the whisky lobby ha
bribed certain Senators into votin
against the Peeler bill. When Gale
on for the names, Mr.. Adams refused t
give them, saying that it would be tn
duty of the committee to ascertain then
The House adopted the resolution, an
it is pow up to the Senate to say whethe
or not the charges will be probed to tn
bottom. These charges passed beyon
the whispering stage after the resolr
ton was adopted, and some of the pre-
hibit'on lobby, among them a prom
nent preacher or two, were outspoken
making the assertion, going so far as
call names and give the amount Of tn
bride accepted.
Investigation of the Senate.
Mr.. Seay, in closing the debate jus
before the vote on the bill was takeI
cited the arguments presented by thos
who opposed the bill. Dies prohibitio
prohibitY The statute against murds
does not prevent the killing Of mel
Under the Constitution the iegislatiS
branch is not responsible for the 81
forcement OF the law; that lies with Il
executive branch. Can any Senate
deny that How can a man defend b
position on that grounds Criticism
have been made Of the presence
i ministers who are interested IN the pa
sage Of the bill. Has one word be