The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-03-15
LEGISLATURE
OF OKLAHOMA
ADJOURNED
After Longest Drawn-out Fight
on Appropriation in Years.
NORMAL SCHOOL PLACED
And Granite Mil Give Back
Land to Donors.
NORMAL SCHOOL PLACED

Guthrie, O. T, March H.-This morn
ing just a few minutes before o'clock.
thirty-nine men concluded their labors as
members acting in the Seventh legisla-
tive assembly The legislative clocks did
not show the hour as indicated by the
watches Of the members, the hands of
these important accessories TO legislation
not yet pointing to the hour of twelve,
at which time the session was supposed
TO end. One Of the clocks was stopped
early in the session last night, for it was
known that the last important measure
before the assembly-the general appro-
priation bill-would run the session into
the daylight hours of the following day
Last year the session ended at 7:50 o clock.
and this year the gavel fell for the last
time a few minutes later. The general
appropriation bill caused the long ses-
sion OF last night and this morning, and
without doubt it was the longest drawn
out fight on appropriations that any leGis-
Iature' of recent years in Oklahoma has
had. The appropriation bills were up all
day yesterday, and the members in ia
vor Of retrenchrnent had excellent oppor-
tunfties for fIibustering, If nothing more.
Conference committees were numerously
appointed in order that the two branches
might get together on something definite
Usually some little matter caused an
other committee to be appointed, and then
the battle had to be fought over again.
Finally the appropriations were agreed
upon, and then there was a long wait for
the preparation of the bill in order that
st might be gone over and passed by the
legislature.
The last day of the session brought
many visitors to the capital city to watch
the proceedings in both houses. The lob
bies were filled during the day session,
and last night until after midnight,
standing room was at a premium. Many
ladies remained in the legislative halls all
night, unwilling that single detail of
the dying hours of the session should
be lost. Many times during the latter
part Of the night, both houses were at
ease, and it was then that the fun-mak-
ing characteristic of such a gathering
broke loose. College songs were sung,
impromptu speeches made. and if the long
session of last night and this morning
produced nothing else, it did produce
laughter
The members Of the legislature Were
thoroughly wearied last night, but real
izing that it was the last session of the
assembly. they were perfectly willing to
remain in the halls as long as necessary
in order to complete the business.
The council appeared to be the battle
ground last night on which many an ap-
preparation asked for sunk into oblivion
Massingale. the retrencher from Washita
county. occupied the chair in the COM
mittee OF the whole, while the appropria-
tion bill was up for consideration. Math-
ews, the Democratic member from Greer
who is feminist anything carrying an
appropriation, was almost constantly on
his feet, amending, striking out appro-
priations and making speeches that call
ed for retrenchment on the part of the
lawmakers. Mathews and Massingale
have worked together during this ses-
sion. opposing practically everything ad-
vocated by their Republican colleagues
Mathews had no trouble in being recog-
nized by the chair. and if there was ever
any doubt on a vote or on a matter pro-
posed by Mathews. it went his way a
comedy might be written on the actions
of these two energetic workers. In spite
of some OF their iaughable motions they
succeeded in making things tiresome for
the Republican members OF the upper
body. While the men of the council were
tired, yet frequently the room would be
sent into an uproar by some witty re-
mark in debate.