The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1907-03-07
SUBSIDY BILL IS
PASSED BY HOUSE
Victory Wrestsd Out Of the Jaws
Of Defeat.
SEVERAL VERY EXCITING SCENES,
Splendid Organization of the Republi-
cans and the Disorganlzation Of
Democrats Accredited as Reason for
Bills Final Adoption by Majority
of IL Votes.


Washington, d. c., Especial -
After defeating the Ship subside Bill
Friday afternoon by majority of
5 votes, the House, after an excit-
ing discussion, reconsidered its vote
and adopted the bill by a majority
of ~ votes.
The official vote by which the bill
was first defeated was 161 TO 154,
an apparent majority Of Z, but. as
a matter OF fact, Mr.. Littauer. of
New York, who has been in charge
of the measure, when he saw that
the bill was doomed, changed his
vote from aye" in favor of the
bill to mo" against it, in order to
avail himself of his parliamentary
right to move to reconsider the vote.
Hence, the actual strength of the
friends of the bill was 1876 votes and
the strength of the opponents was
100. so that the bill was defeated
really by a majority OF votes.
That Mr.. Littauer was able TO
wrest the victory out OF the very
Jaws of defeat was due solely to the
splendid organization of the Repub-
licaus and the disorganization of the
Democrats. The voting began at 3
O'Clock, but earlier in the afternoon
Mr.. Littauer realized that the trend
of sentiment against the bill was
steadily growing. Last Tuesday,
when the bill was brought before
the House, the vote by which the
resolution was passed showed ma
jority for the bill of between 20 and
80 votes, but the three days discus
sion of the measure had been gradu-
ally undermining that majority, until
Friday afternoon Mr. Littauer recog-
nized that victory was more than
problematical From time to time
test votes on amendments showed
that the bill was steadily losing
friends, and the roll call on the
adoption of the bill had not proceed
ed very far before Mr.. Littauer recog-
nized that he was defeated.
Hasty Consultation.
A hasty consultation of the Re-
publican leaders was held. Messen-
gers were sent all over town to hunt
up absent Republicans and to bring
them to the House, by main force II
necessary. To gain time Mr.. Lit
tauer changed his vote, as stated
| from aye to nay, believing that If an
hours time could be gained enough
| Republicans could be brought into
the House to pass the bill. Awaiting
| himself of his parliamentary right
| Mr.. Littauer, after the vote by which
the bill was defeated had been an
nounced, moved to reconsider the
| vote.
Mr.. Williams, the leader of the
| Democrats, promptly moved to lay
that motion on the table, and ther
unwisely demanded rollcall. This
was, of course, exactly what the Re
publicans wanted. They had noticed
that several Democrats, after thu
vote had been announced, had hur
ried to the cloakrooms, and, putting
on their hats and coats had left tn,
Capitol. rollcall in the House con
sumes nearly three-quarters of al
hour, and Mr.. Williams blunder IL
demanding a rollcall gave the Re
publicans just so much time to brins
in absent men.
The tally clerk called the rol
slowly understanding that ever.
minute gained increased the oppor
for bringing more Republicans Z
the House. When the vote was fin
ally announced on Mr.. Williams mo
tion the Republicans had game,
their first victory, for the motion L
lay on the table Mr.. Littauer's mo
tion to reconsider was defeated b
vote of 159 to 1856. Every Re
publican had remained in his sea
and one or two had been brought IL
while the diminished strength of tn
Democrats showed that some of ther
had gone home.