The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-02-27
LEGISLATORS HArlRUN AWAY ss&e Tennessee to Help
 Gov. Patterson. SERGEANT-AT-ARMS PURSUES Governor Now Enabled to Call
 Special Session. No Quorum in Present Session Defeats Purposes of Recent Election
 Laws Passed Over Ills
 Veto.
SERGEANT-AT-ARMS PURSUES

Nashville, Tenn. Feb. 26.-That thir- teen members of the State Senate have
 fled the State in order to defeat the purpose of the recent election laws passed over Governor Patterson's veto. Is believed in well-informed circles here tonight.
 The thirteen members were this af- ternoon declared in contempt of the senate. by that body, and the sergeant at-arms was instructed to go in pur- suit of the absentees.
 If the members remain away until the end of the regular session, as Is declared to be their purpose. 1t would be necessary for the Governor to call special session to enact appropria- ton laws and elect Treasurer and Comptroller. The special session would be prevented under the con- stitution, from considering any mat ters not specially mentioned in the call for the extra session, and, of course, the Governor Is not expected to refer in his call to election mat ters.
 At the afternoon session of the Sen ate, which convened at 4:15 o'clock. a motion was adopted declaring the thir- teen absent members In contempt of the Senate and providing for the ap- pointment of assistant sergeant-at- arms to go in pursuit of the absentees. Sergeant-at-ar Boatwright and his assistants at once started out on the hunt. and as nothing else could be done withou a quorum. the Senate ad- journed until S:30 o'clock tomorrow morning.
 It Is said tonight that all the ab sent members are outside the States bor- ders and cannot be brought back. It is further said they will remain away during the remaining twenty two days of the legislation session. The Governor had vetoed the joint resolutions providing for a joint leg islativo convention tomorrow for the purpose of electing cle members of the State Election Boards, Comptroller and Treasurer. and another reason for the flight is that the Senators wished to break the quorum and thus avoid final adoption of this resolution over the objections of the Chief Executive to the contrary notwithstanding. That the resolution would have been adopt ed over his veto is certain. Tho vote would have been IT to 16, In all prob- ability.
 The quorum was broken by 6 ma jorIty of those Democrats who have so vigorously opposed the three elec- tion bills which were recently passed in both houses of the Tennessee Gen eral Assembly and were later passed over the veto of the Governor and now the laws of the State. Ever since the introduction of these bills, rumors have been heard of threats to break Sem ate quorum for the purpose of defeat ing the proposed election laws. In this same connection. 1t was reported for several days that twelve of the Democratic Senators would positively resign. No resignations developed. but the reports were continually heard from day to day that a quorum would be broken. No such tactics were at tempted. however, during the original consideration of these bills and the subsequent consideration of the same measures when they were returned to the Senate with the veto of the Gov ernor.
 It was not until last night that any definite rumor gained circulation of a possible attempt to break Senate quorum for the purpose Of preventing action on the joint resolution provid- ing for a joint legislative convention for the purpose of electing the Eloc- ton Boards provided fer in the election acts mentioned. Although no roll call was had when the Senate met this morning, 1t was seen that no quorum was present and hence the recess un- til o'clock this afternoon. It also became known that the Governors veto of the joint convention resolu- ton was ready for transmission to the Senate as soon as that body met.
 Shipping Bill Rejected.
 Nashville, Tenn. Feb. 26-In the lower House of the Legislature today, acting on MT. Burbages bill. making the delivery of c. O. D. liquor ship ments from outside the State privi- lege and assessing an annual tax or s5,00O, was postponed indefinitely, which means rejection.