Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-06-29
Delays He Aids Makes
Passage by July |
Impossible.
QUORUM COMES LATE
Then the Scant Half Hour Left
to Advance the Bill Is
Frittered Away.

Springfield. Ill, June 29.-DeadlocK-
ed on either recess or adjournment by
one faction in the waterway fight and
prevented from transacting any bust
ness by the others breaking quorum
the house after a night of turmoil at
this morning agreed to stand at ease
until called to order by the speaker,
which the speaker said would be at IL
this morning.
sUsPENDs RULES.
By vote of &c ayes to 46 nays, not
two-thirds, the house voted to suspend
the rules for the purpose OF advanc-
ing the waterways bill to second resd-
ing without reference to committee.
The speaker referred the bill to the
waterway committee and arbitrarily
announced the appointment of an addi-
tonal member on the committee, and
refused to entertain an appeal.
STILL FULL OF FIGHT.
The house will meet again late this
afternoon when an effort will be
made to expunge all reference to the
continuance of Wednesdays session
beyond midnight.
KILLS WATERWAY BILL.
Speaker Adkins ruling last night
that the legislative day ended at
midnight with the calendar day, It
is said, has made 1t impossible to
pass any waterway bill which can
become effective July 1. The SEN
ate bill was on the speakers table
when the gavel fell.
RUSHED TO THE HOUSE.
Upwards Of score of house
members, who arrived on THE Hum
mer" from Chicago and northern
points in the state Just before mid
night, were whirled to the hall of
representatives in automobiles that
had been provided In advance.
Although the house had recessed
until 1880 p. m, in order to give
the waterway propagandists oppor-
tunity to get their forces present, It
was ten minutes past the hour for
convening before the late arrivals
came into the house.
Promptly at 1880 p. m, Speaker
Adkins called the house to order
without waiting the arrival OF the
absent members who were aboard
the late train and for whom conven-
ience the recess was taken at 4
o'clock.
QUESTION OF QUORUM.
Representative Chiperfield raised
the point of no quorum and demand
49,
dab, leading the waterway forces, de-
manded that the doors be closed to
prevent members from leaving the
hall of representatives, and the door
keeper was instructed to allow no
member to leave. The roll call dis
closed that a quorum was present
and the clerk was ordered to read
the journal without announcing ths
exact number present. The arrivals
arrived Just in time to answer q
their names on the call OF the roll
to determine question OF a quorum.
THE FIGHT STARTS.
The fight started with the arrival
of the message from the senate re-
porting the passage OF the water
ways bill by the upper body earlier
in the day.
Representative Chiperfeld pre-
sented a protest, signed by Ia mem
bers OF the house, objectlng TO the
house receiving the bill, alleging
that 1t was illegally passed by the
senate and that the joint rules had
been violated when the senate recon
vened on Monday after being ad-
journed by Lieutenant Governor
Oglesby.
PANDEMONIUM BREAKS.
Pandemonium broke loose at once
a dozen members clamored for rec
ognition. Others cried Point OF
order" with half the membership
Of the house upon their feet clam
1ring for recognition. Speaker Ad-
kins pounded vociferously for or
Ter, declaring no business would be
until the house was I'm
'rder The demonstration lasted 10
SUPPORTERS SUSPICIOUS.
Above the din and noise several
waterway supporters made their
heard that the disor6erIy
ictions of members were only a part
II a scheme TO delay the business
until the arrival Of the hour OF mid
light
The arrival Of the midnight hour
proved their suspicious to be cor
ect. With the clerk laboriously
eading the long protest, Represen-
ative Holiday OF DanviIle, inter
upted and was recognized to move
hat "the hour of midnight having
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