The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1907-02-22

, 4 ASnNS Al TIC VI tue ACunCOCCt
Legislature, the House of Represen
tatives at o'clock Thursday after
noon passed on final reading the Tai
bert telephone franchise bill. The
fight on this measure lasted three
hours. Although the opponents of the
bill faced a hostile majority and the
Speaker was against them, they put
up as pretty a fight to defeat final &C
ton as has been seen in the halls OF
the House in many days. Time and
again they prevented the call for the
previous question being sustained,
says the Nashville American.
Finally firing of the delay in get
ting vote and anxious to put an end
to the dilatory tactics, on the demand
of Mr.. Bradley, Speaker Cunningham
directed the Committee on Rules to
report a cloture rule to prevent furth-
er discussion of the matter. This is
the first time that cloture rule, has
been invoked in the Tennessee Legis-
lature by application to the Commit
tee on Rules In many years.
Speaker Cunningham during the
pending of the bill demonstrated that
as parliamentarian he was the equal
of the late Gar of Russia. When the
Speaker did not want roll call he
absolutely declined to see the neces-
sary number of hands and put the mo-
tions viva voce. At times the oppon-
ents of the measure were greatly in
censed at the Speakers action and
would crowd around the Clerks desk |
shouting for recognition. Through 1t |
all the Speaker kept a cool head and
calmly declared motions to table |
adopted without roll call, although !!
nearly half OF the House was clam
oring for record vote.
Speaks In Behalf Of the Bill.
In the course OF the discussion
Speaker Cunningham took the door
and made probably the most sensa.
tional speech made during the ses-
sion. He charged that the Cumber-
land Telephone Company owned the /;
City Council OF Nashville and that for
many years 1t had corruptly dominat. /
ID the politics OF the State. In the :
and most scathing terms the |
Speaker denounced this corporation. {
Mr.. Stainback, speaking for the OPP q
,osition to the bill, also made some d
ather yitriolic statements concerning T
he telephone company and its cor a
upt lobby" Nevertheless the mem Z
er from Fayette County passionate c
y exclaimed that he had never and r
yould never vote for any bill because 8
( hatred for an enemy or love OF Il
riend. The debate was participated
/ by dozen members.
After voting down referendum
Iause and numerous other amend
rents, the Committee on Rules report =
an order fixing the time for the
lose OF the discussion, and the bill
as passed with but two votes to
,are. The Speaker refused to allow :,
motion to reconsider to be entered =
i'd the bill now goes to the Cover !,
Or. who it is expected, will return 1t Is
the Senate this morning approved r,
A resolution was adopted fixing the ~
,ur for adjournment today at Q i
clock instead of at IL o'clock as for =
ally set. The Senate bill to allow =,
knoxville to vote on the question of 60
arter repeal was passed and goes -
the Governor. ~
Passes Memphis Bill. 90
The Senate passed the bill amend
2 the charter of Memphis. The re- -
1t is for the most part due to the =.
olomacy OF the Senators from Shell -
Through the entire term they n
We been most courteous and to a de-
ee inconspicuous and even the
oral" Senators only voted against
} bill after apologies for breach OF
material courtesy. The exhibition
8 the most remarkable of the ses-
n, the expected vfrility Of the fight
s Slapped by courtesy, and the con-
{ was most inane. Senator Bean
advocacy of an amendment to put
measure into effect after the expir-
pms Of the terms OF the present Of
ais. had some things to say about
mphis politics. and warmed some
at to his subject, but aside from
the discussion was tame and not
AZ had been expected.
he measure abolishes the present
: government by amendment OF
charter. It being amended instead
repealed, thus escaping the provi-
Is OF the Pendleton law, and vests
legislative and ministerial func-
% OF the city in council Of Eve
President A clause giving
Municipal Council authority to II. ~