The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-05-23
AS a Committee of the Whole It
Rejects Favorable Report
of Measure.
BIRGE MAKES MAIDEN SPEECH.
Appeals of Well-Known Citizens
for Passage of Bill Avail
Nothing-Vote Is
Is to II.

In an exciting two hours session, the
longest OF the present House. that body re-
solved itself into committee of the whole
and reported unfavorably on House bill No.
81. which provides for the election of the
thirteen freeholders on June g.
Now that the bill Is again in the hands
OF the Committee on Legislation, there Is
small hope OF Its passing so that the ques-
tion of the election of thirteen freeholders
can be submitted to the people at the cleo
tion June %.
The Committee on Legislation, composed
of Hagerman, Moloney. Brennan, Kinney
and Lakeland. to which the bill had been
referred when 1t was introduced, could not
agree and Kinney moved that Speaker Pro-
Tenn Meehan resolve the House into n COM
mittee of the whole, SO that discussion
might be heard.
This was done, Mr.. Hagerman, chairman
OF the Committee on Legislation. taking
the chair, and calling upon all gentlemen
for their opinion on the bill
KINNEY PUTS QUESTION
TO EACH SPEAKER.
Those not members Of the House who ac-
cepted the invitation of the chair were: H.
L. Christie. F. N. Judson O. L. Whitelaw,
James l.. Blair, each of whom urged i'm
mediate action on the part of the House
ana the ultimate passage of the measure.
After each speaker finished. Kinney con-
fronted him with this question: IF you
were member Of that board of thirteen
freeholders would you advise against
Charter provision for the House Of Dele
gates?'
Mr.. Christie begged the question by say
ing that he could not foretell what COM
btnation of circumstances might come up
which would influence his Judgment, and
refused to answer yes or no.
In reply to the question. when It was put
to Mr.. Judson. he said that he was in favor
Of local representation
Mr.. Blair was the last of the four to
speak, and anticipated Kinney's question
by closing his remarks with an fndorsemeet
OF Mr.. Judson's view regarding the abol-
ishment of the House.
BURGE APPEALS FOR
PASSAGE OF BILL
AT this point the House, as a committee
OF the whole, took up the question, but
they were unable to transact business while
acting as committee. and. after an hour
and half Of wrangling on points in parlia-
mentary law, the bill was returned to the
Committee on Legislation. with a recon-
mendation that it should not pass, by
vote of Is to II. Speaker Hughes and Mr..
Teschmacher being absent.
Just before the rising vote was taken Mr..
Birse got the floor and asked that the bill
be recommended for passage. He said that
the question was not whether there was to
be one House or two in the Municipal AS
sembly under the new charter.
He said: THE question at stake was
whether the people had q right to make
laws for themselves. If they wanted one
House. let them say so; If they wanted
two, let them 50 express themselves at the
polls"
"The bill now before the House was mere
ly one which would give the people an
opportunity to draw up a new charter for
themselves. They had the chance to ac-
cept or reject it at another time"
IF this body refuses to pass the bill
granting this election you convict your
selves and are nothing more or less than
tyrants when you deny the people right
to be heard
William A. Block and Mr.. Lakeland also
made speeches favoring the recommended
ton of the bill, but the motion to report
favorably was lost by a margin of four
votes