The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-02-21
.FILIBUSTERING AS
A LAST RESORT
To Block Watts Bill on Final
Reading.
PAR LIAMENTAkY TRICKS
Tweniy-three Amendments Offered Yesterday
Morning House dcp'td lug Law Amend
m4nt and Then Changed rs
MI

Mind.
Regular United States Senate tactics
of filibuster and delay were resorted to
yesterday morning in the House to block
| the passage of the Watts bill on its
third reading.
Every known parliamentary trick was
| tried for the opposition leaders are
| among the shrewdest and most astute
| parliamentarians in the House
At times the excitement was intense,
and the scenes on the floor almost inde-
scribable, with anywhere from three to
six members calling upon the Speaker
for recognition at the same time, or ris-
ing to points OF order, or questions of
parliamentary inquiry, or personal privi-
| lege, or begging unanimous consent of
| the House, or calling the previous ques-
| tion, or explaining votes, or changing
| votes, or demanding the ayes and noes
1t was a wonderful test of the nerve
| OF the speaker, but he stood it without
quiver, and it is a high tribute to him
| to record that on no occasion was one
of his rulings disputed by either side
First of all, the opposition wanted
| the further consideration of the bin
postponed until the night session This
vas after the special order, the Revenue
bill had, by consent, been displaced for
an hour, it being thought that the
| Watts bin could be gotten through its
| third reading by that time But the
| House wanted to settle the Watts bill.
and get it off it's mind
Then the fun commenced. Amendment
after amendment was sent forward, until
% had been numbered by the clerk OF
these Mr.. Morton sent up three, and Mr.
Murphey two
AS each amendment was taken u9 ne
ayes and noes were demanded and many
members explained their votes
Tht first half-hour didn't go anywhere
and Governor Doughton gave them an
other half-hour, and another. Mr.. Watts
was for continuing in session until the
whole thing was settled.
When Mr.. Murphey's first amendment
came up, to exemtp Rowan county, I'm
| less it be submitted to vote OF tie
people. he made vigorous, extended
| speech on it, thus consuming consider
able time.
! But the worst tussle of all was over
an amendment offered by Mr.. King, en-
bodying the cub law"
At first this was voted down But 50
many members in explaining their votes
expressed surprise that the advocates of
the Watts bill should oppose a tenn
perance measure, that before the re-
suit was announced, there was perfect
avalanche of changing votes. until the
amendment was actually adopted by
vote of 50 to 81
The scene at this iuncture must have
been funny from the gallery and there
were plenty there to see it. Mmb9rs
wre lodging in and out among the seats.
button -holing, gestculating and explain
ing. Mr.. Watts wasn't still second.
Neither was Mr.. Morton.
Then came motion to reconsider from
Mr.. Luther, of Montgomery, and one
to table, that from Mr.. Smith
The reconsideration prevailed, and the
amendment was finally voted down by
81 to Sc, the reason for it being that it
was considered that the amendment was
offered for the purpose of crippling an
stultifying The bill.
Here is the amendment that caused
all the trouble;
That the place where delivery of any
spirituous, malt, vinous, fermented, or
other intoxicating liquors is made in the
State of North Carolina, shall be con-
sale thereof, and any station or other
place within said State to which any per-
son, company, firm or corporation shall
EhR or convey any spirituous, lnalt
vinous, fermented, or other Intoxicating
liquors, for the purpose of delivery or
carrying the sale to a purchaser, shall
be construed to be the place of sale:
Provided thfs section shall not be con-
strued 20 prevent the delivery Of any
spirituous, malt vinous, fermeuted, or
othe< intoxicating liquors, to druggists
in, sufficient quantities for medical our-
poses only, or to legally organized dis.
pensaries"
On the final roll-call, those voting for
it were Messrs Alexander of Tyrrell, An
derson, Benbow. Bowman, Britain, Bry-
an, Carson, Daughtridge DeHart Ether
idge, Freeman of Henderson Gay, Gra-
ham, Grant Hamlin Hooker. Humphrey,
Jarrett King, Kreeger, Little Love.
Michael. Morris of Mcdowell. Morris of
Polk, Morton, Murphy McNeiIl MacRae.
Nissen Offman, Parker of Halifax. Pc.
gram, Phillips, Price of Rockingham,
Price of stanly, Quickel, Riddick. Rober-
son. Rucker, Simpson Of Union, Smith.
Thompson, Waddell West. Whitaker of
Guilford Whitaker of Wake White of
Halifax, Williams, Willis. Woodard-51.
Those voting against it were Ms5srs.
Abell, Aiken, Alexander of Mecklenburg,
Beasley, Blount, Britt Britton. Bullard.
Carlton, Cowan Crocker Curtis. Daniel
of Warren, Davidson, Dobson, Dockery,
Doughton, Drewfy. Duncan. Erwin, Foy,
Freeman of Mecklenburg. Fuller, Gluyas,
Goode, Guion Hall. Hamilton, Harr:ng-
Continued on Third Page.)