The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-02-26
Hayes Measure is Turned
 Down, 15 to IA.
DETERMINED EFFORT TO
 FORCE VOTE ON QUESTION
Action of Upper House Surprise to
 Its Supporters.
Clever Trap Almost Kills Proposed En- actment-JudiciaI Legislation Oc- cupies Attention of Senators
 at Afternoon Session.

The cotton mill exemption bill was defeated in the Senate yesterday after noon by the narrow majority of one vote. The usual attempt at reconsid- eration, which follows the defeat of a supposed administration measure Is looked for today. It was reported in the Senate yesterday afternoon that lieutenants of the administration had been talking over the bill with mem- bers who had voted in opposition to it.
 The result of the vote was entirely unexpected The friends of the meas ure were confident the bill would pass. They were so confident that vote on the measure was forced, and no oppor- tunity was given for its discussion. The vote of fifteen against the bill to four teen for it was a surprising disappoint- ment to the members. The Senate had been well canvassed. and number Of tho leading cotton mill men of the State had been In tho city to help the bill get through.
 There was some basis for the hope that the bill would pass. Introduced originally by Senator Hayes, the bill had been adversed by the Senate Com mittee on Mines and Manufacturing Senator Hayes had made the hght ana made it successfully to get the bill from the adverse calendar. The Sen ate, by majority of six votes, had called the bill from the adverse caien' dar. This circumstance alone gave the friends of the measure the conhdence 1t would be passed by the Senate. Ever the opponents of the measure conceded if would pass, whatever might be US fate in the House. It was known the measure had the endorsement of the administration and the administration leaders.
 Trap Laid for Bill.
 The bill came up rather suddenly At the session yesterday morning. It was read and the Senate learned from the reading the bill provided that all ne" ootton mills and all new additions to cotton mills costing more than $5O,ooO to he hereafter built should be exempt from taxation for period or ten years The bill was immediately ordered TO third reading. and 1t was seen It was being pushed. It was further seen be- fore 1t 1cd been beaten, that the de- termination had been reached to put the measure through under whip ana spur.
 skilful parliamentary trap was laid for the bill by its enemies, and the trap came near killing the bill. Fer haps if the President oe the senate had been unfriendly to it, the trap would have been successful. At any rate, the ruling of Lieutenant Governor Gray saved the measure
 1t happened .n this way; senator Barbour, whom the friends Of the meas ure might have known was It's enemy proposed an amendment extending the time of the exemption from ten to twenty years for cotton mills.
 Senator Thomas of Barbour said i'm mcdiately:
 T move the indefinite postponemen' of the amendment.
 This was carried by an overwhel- ming vote. The bill was then put up on it's passage.
 "I rise to a point of order.' saio Senator Thomas? The amendment was indefinitely postponed. and the in definite postponement of an amend ment carries with 1t tho indefinite postponement of the bill as well. refer you to the rules and to genera parliamentary usage on the point whicf l have raised"
 Appeals from Chairs Decision.
 The Chair holds the point of order is not well taken, the question is or the passage of the bill." said President Gray.
 '4You will pardon me. Mir. President ' said Senator Thomas courteously, but I shall appeal from the decision oi the Chair.
 The vote was then taken on the question as to whether the Chair shoulc be sustained. Senator Gum asked leave to explain his vote on the ques tion. He expressed the highest esteem for the Chair and announced that with some regret, his vote would be cast against sustaining the Chair He took inc position that under the rules of the Senate and under general parliamen- tarv usage the indefinite postponement of an amendment carries with 1t the in definite postponement of the pending measure.
 But President Gray was sustained ir his ruling by a vote of Is to 12
 He immediately ordered the bill tc he put upon its passage. At the same time. Senator McWhorter and three or four other senators were on their feet clamorfng for recognition. While they were calling MT. President MT. Presi- dent" the roll call on the bill was or dered President Gray rapped for or der. and announced that as the roll cal had been ordered, any speeches for or against the bill would be denied hear ing.
 If was at first thought n tie vote had been cast. and the President would have to cast the deciding vote. Gen rral W. w. Brandon, who was assist ing the secretary, asked for the Verifi- cation of the vote as he had recorded 1t. His original record of the vote rroved to be correct. The vote on the nassape of the bill follows:
 Ayes-Davis. Doster, Gardner. Gum Hammer. Hayes. IIoacock, Hinson. Insk Miller. Overton. Reynolds, Spragins Wtlson--t4,
 Navs--.Rarhour Glenn. Horton. Jones ryt- ou,e Merritt Moody Me WI hnr-