The St. Louis Republic., 1903-05-06
Men Who Denounced Canal Bill as
Steal Vote for 1t on
Il Trade.
MAY BE THROWN IN COURT.
Representative Burke Says He
Will Enjoin the Payment of the
Money-Drainage Bill Deal
for Votes.

REPC BLlc SFECIAL.
Springfield. H.. May 5.-The House of
Representatives added two more patches TO
its variesated record to-day by reversing it
! self on the sanitary district and canal bills.
! This was brought about through trade
| between the friends of the two measures
! by means of which enough votes were se-
| cured 20 insure the passage of both, though
| neither had more than a third of the House
| membership.
Under the terms of the trade men who
have denounced the canal bill as steal
and an unauthorized appropriation of public
! funds voted enthusiastically for the meas
ure. In return the friends of the canal
helped the sanitary district strip its bill OF
all the Objectionable amendments which
were adopted by the House when that bill
was up the other day. The bill was then
advanced to third reading. and 1t will pass
tomorrow.
Representative Burke of Chicago made a
hard fight against the canal BILL He de-
clared that men were serving terms in the
Penitentiary for less offenses than was con-
templated in the proposed appropriation for
the canal.
WILL APPEAL TO COURT.
When the bill had passed he stated that
he would enjoin the payment of the money
by suit in the Supreme Court. He holds
that the appropriation is illegal because Of
clause In the Constitution prohibiting the
use of public funds in aid of railroads and
canals
The canal bill carries an appropriation o:
$4,000 for the improvement Of the water-
way. The sanitary-district bill authorizes
the annexation of the Calumet and the
Evanston districts TO the Chicago Sanitary
District.
1t was fought by the Illinois Valley peo-
pie because it turns large additional
amount Of sewage down the valley
Previous to the working out of the canal
and drainage deal. the Republicans of the
House put on farce comedy to appease the
people who are clamoring for the passage
of local-option bill.
LoCAL-OPTION BILL.
In the grayest possible way 1t took up
the Trautman substitute for the antisaioon
league bill and as sravely passed it.
Originally the bill provided for local op-
ton in cities and villages making the vote
OF the people on the subject obligatory on
the Council or Town Board for two years.
1t cut out the county and the ward and
precinct features of the antisaloon league
bill. and. while it was not at all satisfactory
to that organization, 1t appeared to meet
the public demand for local option.
While the bill was on second reading.
providing for local option in election pre-
cincts and wards in Chicago This. II Is
believed. will render the entire act un-.
Of s1,orreH Indeed; ths is tine the OPINION
OF the measure is. therefore. likely, to bring
about the ears of the Republican leaders a
they ignored the demand for local option
altogether.
In addition to the charge. of bad faith
IN the passage of the substitute. there Is a
the antisaloon league bill was s!detracked
The substitute bill was adopted In it's stead
Of the men who stood by the original He hiii
Messrs beaverton. Weatherbee and Law
renee. were not recorded, and their votes
the antisaloon league bill. They an mada Savea sa
effort to have the journal corrected 40
as to show that they voted against the sub
stitute. but the House refused to permit
them to do SO.
The Senate this morning concurred in the
House amendments to the Mueller traction
Sa and snaa lion messnre es h Is now ready for
Is to be presented to him at 10 o.c,ocI ' tni
morrow morning M and there will be a public
be made to the bill by those who onnoee e.
Senator kunz opposed the Tramtman
Eendment to the bill. but the only votes
against concurrence were cast by Messrs
kunz Andrus. Dunlap and Fuller.
CH1LD-LABoR MEASURE.
The Senate tabled the amendments tn the
child-labor law which were jntrod,1ced hv
Senator Walker. and which would bave nsr' s
mitted the employment Of boy helpers in
fhe Ts. s,sss a factories act; at Alton Madison and
men are employed. II slso Ie,ns.nS nonas me the
amendments to the Factor inspector.s biz.
me House passed bill TODAY. appr,.