Evening star., 1909-02-16
HOUSE REMOVES BAR TO KNOX
PASSES ELIGIBILITY BILL AFT
Err LIVELY DEBATE.
Final Vote Taken Under a Specia,
Rule After Bill Had Been
Once Defeated.

After failing of passage under suspen-
sion of the rules, when a two-thirds vote
is required the Senate bill removing the
bar to the eligibility of Senator Knox
for the Office of Secretary Of State was
passed'by the House yesterday afternoon.
The final vote was 173 to III.
Some of the republicans in favor of the
bill were inclined to criticise. after the
affair was all over. what they called the
bad management of the measure. They
think it should never have been attempted
to put the bill through under suspension.
AS 1t was. when the bill was defeated a
meeting of the committee on rules was
hurriedly called and a resolution reported
to the House, less than two hours after
the defeat of the Gaines substitute, for
consideration of the Senate bill, un-
amended, and under conditions which
would permit of passage by a majority
vote. On each occasion there was only
every minute of this was used up, and all
the constitutional lawyers of the House,
and many who make no particular pre-
tense in that direction, discussed the
merits of the proposition.
When the eligibility bill. as it was called
throughout the day. came up for the sec
ond time the opponents of it did not
cease their antagonism. which previously
nad DrOuSnl out numerous SndFp Crlt1-
cisms, but Immediately demanded roll
call on the previous question on the adOp-
ton of the rule. This call consumed
twenty-five minutes, and after the rule
had been adopted the debate was re-
Sumed.
Some Arguments Advanced.
Representative Olmsted of Pennsylvania
contended that the bill does not accom-
plish an evasion of the Constitution.
Among several other precedents Mr.. Ohm
sted cited the case of Senator Morrill, of
Vermont. who was appointed Secretary
of the Treasury.
In the opinion of Representative Will
liams of Mississippi, who opposed the bill.
that was the only reputable authority
alluded to. Senator Morrill,. he said. had
been confirmed through senatorial cour-
tesy. which, he said. ..oyerrides all bars
constitutional and otherwise" The bill.
he declared. was "a clear, plain. palpa-
BILE obvious and manifest case of di-
rect and expressed constitutional inhi-
bitiOn''
Representative Clark of Missouri for
the second time during the day. took the
floor in opposition to the bill and said
laughing stock of every intelligent man
on the face of Gods green earth"
He referred to a famous expression by
the late Tim Campbell of New York, who
had said What's the Constitution be-
tween friends?" and said that II the bill
under discussion should pass Mr.. Camp
bell would stand justified as constitu-
tional lawyer.
In adding his voice against the bill
Representative Caulf1eld Of Missouri de-
clared that 1t was a case Of cOnstitu-
t1onal jugglery or legislative favoritism
The debate was brought to a close by
Representative De Almond of Missouri
who argued for the passage of the bill.
On yea and nay vote the bill was
passed. 173 to III. There was no demon
stration of any kind when the announce
ment was made.
Analysis of the Vote.
Republicans. who voted against the bill
on its final passage. were: Representa-
tives Caulield tMoD. Cook tCoID, Dar-
ragh CMichD. DENLY (Mich), kuester-
man (Wis.). Lindbergh tMinn.) Mccall
(Mass), McCreary Pa), Mann UlL).
Marshall On. d., Miller tKan), Murdock
(Kan.). Nelson (Wis). Nye tMinn), Prince
0ll). Roberts (Mass.). Stafford (Wis),
Stevens (MinnD, Waldo On. y. and
Wheeler tPa.).
The democrats who voted for the bill
were: Representatives Adair und). Bart
lett (Nev.) Broussard uaD. Clayton
Dr. Armond (Mo.). Fitzgerald (N. ".
Goldfogle IN. ". Griggs (Ga). Hackney
(Mo), Hammond (Minn). Howard (Ga5,
John KyD. Jones lVa). kipp Pa),
Lassiter (Va>. Lee tGa,. Lever Is. Co.
McHenry (Pa), Maynard. tVa). Moon
(TennD. Padgett Crenn.D. Peters (MassD.
Richardson tAla). Robinson (Ark)
Spight (MissD. Suzer IN. y. Taylor
tAlal. Tou yelle tohio>. Watkins Ga.D
and Wilson tPa.).
The bill passed by the House is the one
which had been previously passed by the
Senate 1t was not amended, and 1t will
not therefore. be necessary for it to go
to conference. The measure requires
only the signature of the President to