Norwich bulletin., 1911-06-16

ftdEilrro, June la.-I ne banks Dlii for n public utilities commission. drawn by Daniel Davenport and intro dueed by Mir Banks of Fairfield as an amendment to the Judson bill which passed the senate last week by d vote Of 70 to 9. was passed by the house this evening. 123 to f06
 Amendment Accepted. 11s to 1ts. Prior to this. after the close of de- bate which began at 11.30 this morn ing and did not conclude until after five o'clock, the house had voted 119 Co HIS Co accept the amendment to the minority report.
 Speaker Broke the Tie.
 This tic was broken by Speaker Scott after he had stated that he. believed in a public utilities commission. but did not believe the minority report. or Judson Dill. was constitutional The result was greeted with cheers by the members who had voted for the Banks bill
 Amended Bill Passed, 123 to 1o6. Ns soon as quiet was restored. Mir Banks moved the previous question, which was ordered. 143 to 97 and pas sage of the amended bill and on this the roll call was 133 to I06, many members having left to catch trains, ss it was then after six o'clock. The house adjourned until Tuesday. Prediction of No Commission LegisIa-
 ton.
 The prediction was freely made that there would be no public utilities com mission legislation this session. Veted for Bill Without Reading It. Members who had voted for the Banks bill, freely said that they did so to bring about disagreeing action with the senate Members said they nd1 not read the Banks bill Some of those who were for the minority re- port declared that the Banks biil was absolutely worthless that t was hy- percri-icel. and that tine senate would never pass it.
 Sor1e Angry CoIIoquies. As the members went out into the corridors after seven hours contin- H9us session, there was much debate some angry and some of a jolly na- ture. Scores of legislative agents who ftf spent the day in the galleries rushed down go congratulate members who had voted one way or the other.
 Doors Closed to Spectators.
 While the scene was not outwardly as exciting as two years ago when tho commission bill was under debate. the feeling was even more intense Ey a vote of the house the doors were closed to all who had no right there except that many ladies were admit ted.
 Smoking Allowed in House.
 During the afternoon the bar against smoking was raised. as it was found that members were going into the lob bies 10 stretch their legs and have a smoke. As the capitol restaurant ran cut of food. quite a few of the mem- bers went hungry. the minority bill advocates resisting attempts to have recess.
 Analogous to Two Years Ago.
 The situation tonight as regards public utilities legislation is anala- eous to that of two years ago. when the senate passed the Barntm bill and the house rejected it. and finally voted indefinite pOstponement Of the matter From another point of view. however the situation is altered.
 Banks Makes a Pledge.
 Representative Banks. who closed the debste after the previous ques- tion had been ordered, in his final plea promised several times that if the house would pass the Banks bill and send it to the senate and if the sen ate would not pass it and would again send 10 the, house the minority, or Judson bill. fhe would vote for the passage of the minority bill.
 Proposition to Table Minority Report lie prefaced hts promise by appeal ing to Speaker Scott for a ruling if it would not be possible for the house to table the minority report which had not passed so that the house could keep this bill in its possession until it was seen what the senate would do snd if the Banks bill was rejected then the house could take the minority re- port off the table and he would do everything he could to aid it's pas sage.
 Speaker scstt's Ruling.
 Speaker Scott ruled that the house by vote could keep the minority bill in its possession. although it was the cvstom 70 dispose Of a measure that had been rejected by passage of an other measure.
 Banks Pledge a Vote Catcher. it was the claim afterwards of many of those fsvoring the minority report that the wavering ones were influ- en-ed by Representative Banks offer and promise. Mir. Banks in his ar- sument had devoted much time to at lacking the constitutiOnality of the minority bill. Most of those speaking or that side of the question used this argument.
 The Vote by Counties.
 The vote on the adoption of the
 
 Yes. No. Hartford county. .......... II 32 New Haven county. .... IS IT New London county 16 10 Jarheld county ........ g Wfndharn county .... 20 24 LItchffeid county ....... 24 14 Niddlesex county ... ' Holland county ... ii il
 
 Tie dissolved by speaker voting yea.
 33 Democrats for Banks Bill
 Along party lines there was a split up of the vote Et had been predict ed that under the lead of Represent tative T.ngier of the judiciary com Uiftee and the democrats who stood vith Senator JudsOn. that the demo- crsts would vote almost soildly for the Ju6Son bill. The roll call showed that 1s democrats voted for tho Banks