Rock Island Argus., 1911-10-26
WATERWAY BILL
KILLED IN HOUSE
Twenty seven Members Alb
sent or Fail to Vote When
Roll Is Called.
DENEEN REVIEWS FIGHT
Action. He Claims. Creates CompIica-
tions in Plan for Lakes to the
Gulf Channel.

Dpi i4At LCIbs AAA.r Ctl- Gu L hC utl-
ministration's deep waterway bill
went to its death, so far as the pres
ent extraordinary session of the leg
islature is concerned, yesterday af-
ternoon. There were 80 votes in its
favor and 60 in opposition The bill
needed II votes for passage.
The missing / 8 could have been
obtained. mathematically. from the
- representatives who were either
absent or who sat in their seats and
refused to vote.
OF these ! were republicans and
3 democrats.
Immediately thereafter the house
adopted a joint resolution introduc-
ed by Representative Shanahan call
ing for a recess today until Wednes-
day, Nov. S. at o'clock p. IN, for
the ostensible purpose Of acting on
three appropriation bills which are
10 be passed in the senate today un-
less something peculiar happens.
MAY CALL ANOTHER SESSION.
II may be stated as a political GER
tainty, considering the temper of all
concerned, that if the senate refuses
to accept the Shanahan resolution,
Governor Deneen will prorogue the
general assembly and summon anoth-
or extra session, which Will be called
upon to consider the waterway ques-
ton, congressional and senatorial
apportionment and some serious
questions concerning important
measures which were passed in the
regular session and are supposed to
ha in fTTl nf
is the automobile law.
The following statement was
made by Governor Deneen:
The action of the general assem-
bly, today places our state in a pc
culiar position, and, so far as l
know, an unprecedented position. In
1908 the people of our state voted !
for a constitutional amendment by
an overwhelming majority whereby
the water power in the Des PLANES
and Illinois rivers was TO be utilized
TO pay for the digging of a waterway /
between Lockport and Utica.
Il have endeavored during my
term of Office TO place the state in a
position where It could utilize this +
water power so that the plain pur-
pose of the constitutional amend ,
ment could be realized and the con-
struction of the waterway undertake
en- without cost 10 the people Of the .
state. The opposition has claimed .
that the work could not be done
without federal aid.
TAFT WOULD AID COMMISSION.
Il interviewed the president and
in April last addressed a letter TO
him in reference 10 the creation of
a federal waterway commission tC
negotiate with the state regarding
cooperation by the federal govefn-
ment in the construction Of the pro
posed waterway and deepening OF
the channel OF the Illinois river from
Utica TO the Mississippi river. The
president in "A letter addressed to me
said that in his message to congress
he would recommend the creation Of 4
such d commission.
The action Of the house today
prevents our state from having an
agency through which tc
deal with the federal government.
The state, therefore, IS without pow
er 70 act and the power in the con
amendment lies dormant
which are interested in the acquisi-
ton Of this water power are aggTes-
sive and vigilsnt and should they
Dc able before another general as
sembiy meets 70 acquire the power
sites necessary for water power dc 6
reIop11eut the state will be forever ,
IebaTred from carrying out the pur- :
pose Of the constitutional amend =
nent to make the water power pay :
or the waterway :
MANY LOSE VALUABLE ASSET. (
Through rhe passage Of the con
amendment in 1903. our n
tate assumed the leadership in the +
conservation movement. II now steps Is
Jack 10 the rear and unless succeed
ng legislatures take q different view e
rom the present one, one Of ifs most Il
resources. worth -, 500, ,00C n