The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1909-04-01
PROHIBITION IS
LAID ON TABLE
iASTY ACTION TAKEN BY THE
SENATE COMMITTEES.
'DRYs" NOT DISCOURAGED
Senator Proudfoot VIII Begin Fight
Immediately To Get the Reso-
luton Up For Decisive
Vote.

Dcs Moines, March 31.--In a meet
ing of less than five minutes duration
yesterday afternoon the senate com
lmittee on constitutional amendments
laid the Meredith prohibition resolu-
ton on the table.
There was no discussion, no eIabo-
rate preliminaries. A simple motion
Iby Senator Gilliland. seconded by
Senator Bennett, did the business. A
viva voce vote was taken.
This action by the committee was
distinct surprise to everyone not
member of that body, and experienced
legislators say it is most unusual ac-
ton. Nothing could more effectively
indicate the sentiment of the com
mittee upon the resolution, however.
and there can be no charge that the
resolution has not received attention.
Had the committee voted for indefi-
|ni-e postponement of the resolution, it
would have been necessary to bring
the measure upon the floor Of the SEN
ate for discussion and vote. This
is not desired by great many OF the
members OF the senate A vote would
have been necessary had any report
been made either for passage or with
out recommendation.
Proudfoot Not Through.
Senator Proudfoot, who assumed
Icharge of the resolution when it was
first messaged to the senate from the
house, declared after the result OF the
committees work had been announced
that he win soon begin his fight to get
the resolution before the senate for a
decisive vote. Senator Clarkson is
enlisted in the cause also, and the two
held a conference last evening 10 out
line their plan of campaign.
Just what is the status Of resolu-
| tion when tabled by a COMMITTEES Offer
| ed o fruitful subject for discussion
among legislators last night. Former
representative M. L. Temple, for
years member of the house, declared
that it will be necessary to have a
two-thirds vote of the senate In order
to get the resolution before that body
for action. Senator Proudfoot says
that Cushing's Manual, under which
the Iowa senate works, has a provis-
ion by which he will be able to show
Lieutenant Governor Clarke that a
majority of the senators voting upon
motion to recall measure from a
committee can force the committee to
surrender it.
Other senators have different views,
and the lieutenant governor will be
called upon to make a decision on the
point whenever Senator Proudfoot
makes his motion. He stated last
night that he did not know when he
would begin the fight for the recall
Of the resolution and intimated that
he would take no action of that kind
today. fst"
rcs@a Need Two-Thirds Vote,
The contention that a twothirds
vote will be necessary in order to re-
call the resolution from the committee
is on the theory that it was committed
under rule of the senate and re-
call would be a suspension of the rule.
1t is necessary to. secure the votes OF
two-thirds of the senate to suspend a
rule and hence the opponents OF the
resolution believe that the chair will
rule in their favor when the point Is
raised.
Lieutenant Governor Clarke will re-
serve his decision on the point until
the occasion arises. Meanwhile the
friends and opponents OF the resoiu-
ton are preparing for the battle over
the promised motion by Senator Proud
foot. Although there is still the opin-
ion among the senators that the Mer-
edith resolution, il it ever comes be-
fore the senate for straight vote,
will be adopted. there is little uneasi-
ness among its opponents. The dis
position to abide by the decisions OF
committee in the senate is strong
one, and the feeling among many sem
ators who would vote for the resoin-
ton on straight issue is that they
prefer to leave with the committee
the voice as to the fate OF the bill.
so YEARS I'M ONE PARiSH.