The daily morning journal and courier., 1907-09-06

NCOnlAluEu IIDIl IlISb T c1e5Os filed away for future reference. At that convention it was proposed to work for the admission to the bar of one of the temperance lobby and then retain him at salary of at least $1O,- 900 year to look after the interests of the liquor dealers of the state. So completely bewildered were the mem bers that no definite action on any thing in particular was taken by the convention.
 Many Excise Bills.
 But to resume: There were fifty four excise bills introduced into the general assembly. The liquor men were early active to size up the mem bers of the excise committee. So were the temperance men, and the latter quickly found that certain men on it were not likely to be in favor of their side. The hearings on the bills began. At the outset, it was discovered, so 1t was said, that the liquor lobby had tried to make deal with certain members of the committee that de- baters on the bills should be limited to five minutes each,
 An Early Suspicion.
 Several other members said they would not stand for any such action, Thus early there was suspicion that attempts would be made to fix" the committee. The temperance people at that time felt certain that the com naittee stood to in favor of temper ance legislation. A brewery president announced that the liquor dealers did not desire any excise legislation as they thought there were enough laws and if they were enforced no commit nity could complain of conditions. The dealers stood for enforcement of the law. The lobby chairman was told that if he did not care to stay,to hear arguments for and against bills which had been introduced he could gC home, as the committee could not re- fuse to hear those who wished tc speak on the different measures. Il was then o'clock in the afternoon and it was thought that an attempt would be made to put the five minute rule into effect. A member of the tenn. perance lobby opened upon bill and he spoke for two hours, the senate chairman of the committee not cut ting him off until he had announced the time had come for adjournment After that there was no attempt tc curtail the time of the speakers anc the temperance lobby made the mos of the opportunity. The liquor mer called in many long wlnded speakers for their side. Meantime the liquor men had brought, it was said, a cer. tain member of the committee into the office of one of the states salaried of. ficers and after that the committet stood to in favor of the liquol men. Votes taken many times in tho committee showed this to be so.
 Liquor Men Felt Secure.
 The liquor lobby felt reasonably SC. cure as it had always been the prac tice to secure control of the commit tee, and then let both branches accep the recommendation of the commlttet which meant little or no new legisla tion of an antagonistc character. Tn, a member was unwilling to state hi hearings went on and the liquor lobby dwindled down to a few men, mostly those who at the time were active II lobbying on other matters. The brew cry president returned home for sev, eral weeks,
 Temperance Lobby at Work.
 The temperance lobby began a sys -tematic canvas of the house and wherl attitude some one member of the lobb, went to that members home town anC gave an address in local church il which the members reticence was touched upon. One of the house lead CTS, long in the political game, ha! been heard to say that more harm wal done to him by an address given in thu Congregational church of his town by a temperance advocate than by any other means in his whole career, anC 1t forced him through home pressure to come out into the open. Anothe 1lenber-a senator-who had promised to assist In excise legislation and wh, had hedged, found an interview in paper in his district that was so dras tic fin reference to his lack of gooC faith that he immediately found it nee essary to temporige. This was on thu O'Brien bill and he swung into lin when quick witted house membe amended the individual license bill t, read ''person' instead of "elector" ant that senate member then kept his wort and voted for that bill The signif canoe of this vote will be seen later.
 Minority Members Angry.
 The five minority members of the ex else committee got their dander up an, selecting those who could be dependet upon in the house proceeded to work.
 The majority of the committee began to prepare reports and in most case they were unfavorable. Most of these were to go into the senate. But tn minority members on every one of tht f1fty-four bills drew up their own re- parts and, remarkable as 1t may seem every bill reported was a House bill The senate chairman of the committe, began delay and it was well into Junt before the excise committee reports made their appearance. From the 19tl ot June until the very last day of tht session there was a debate of som, character. or some action on an excist report and many hours were spent il debate. Every report of the commit tee was debated at length In the house Members who believed that there hat been tampering with the committee in sisted upon speaking, and the debat continued until the previous question was moved It looked as if the tenn