Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-05-22
DELAY DRY BILLS
VOTE TWO WEEKS
"Wets" Victors 10 Test of
Strength Between Two Ri
val Factions.
HOPE OF DECISION SLIM
Order of Recount in Boardman-Henne.
bry Contest Forecasts Result
of Later Clash.

Springfield, H., May 22.-"Dry" leg
islation was given what may prove its
death blow as far as the present ses-
sion is concerned yesterday when the
house voted, so to 20. to postpone con-
sideration of wet" and dry" meas
ures for two weeks. County option
and other "dry" bills and a number
OF wet" measures had been made a
special order Of business for yes
terday.
The impression prevailed last night
that the delay of two weeks would
mean that it would be practically
impossible to get either the dry"
or wet bills through both houses.
There is no prospect of action of any
kind in the senate unless the bills are
passed first by the house.
The vote on the motion to postpone
consideration for two weeks was a
test of strength between the "wets"
and "drys." The "wets" favored the
postponement, while the "drys" op-
posed it.
RECOUNT IN JOLIET CASE.
Earlier in the day the "drys" suf-
} fered another defeat when the house
adopted a minority report from the
elections committee referring the
/ Boardman-Hennebry contest back to
the committee with instructions to re-
count all the ballots cast at the spe-
cial election in the Joliet district.
The "drys" sought the adoption of
the majority report, which would
have seated George Boardman, dry
progressive, in place OF Representative
/ Michael Hennebry, a wet" democrat
The majority report was tabled by a
vote of SO 10 65.
If Boardman had been seated the
"drys" would have been able to make
a slightly better showing in the later
vote.
The Boardman-Hennebry committee
reports occupied considerable par
OF the morning session of the house
After disposing of the matter the
house adjourned until 4:30 o'clock ii
the afternoon, when the consideration
of wet" and dry" bills was to be be
tsun.
SHURTLEFF ASKS DELAY.
Representative Shurtleff offered the
motion for a postponement of con
sideration. Under his motion the bill
were set for consideration as a spe
cial order for Wednesday, June 4. Thu
legislature is expected to take fina
adjournment within about two week
after that date, which will mean tha
it will be difficult to get action in botl
houses.
The "drys" really favored the post
ponement of consideration, but di,
not wish to delay of more than on
week. There was no vote, however
on anything but the two weeks posi-
ponement.
Because of the absence of thre
"drys" the local option leaders ad
mitted they would have been defeat
ed if any of the measures had com
up yesterday. They had planned t
call up only two or three of their bill
over which there was not so much COZ
e flict as over the county option bill.
The 'drys' say their real strengt
e in the house is greater than was il
e Dictated on yesterdays roll call The
!. assert that four of the so who vote
e for the two weeks postponement wi
vote for dry" bills but are not anxiou
to commit themselves unless nece
sary. Counting these four and tn
three dry" absentees the line-u
would be II "drys" and rs VETS"
, margin of one vote in favor of tn
. "drys."
. WANTS CONTEST SETTLED.
In urging favorable action upon hi
motion Representative Shurtleff sal
he believed the wet" and dry bill
should not be voted upon until til
Boardman-Hennebry contest was Sc
tied finally.
at is current talk that the result {
4 this contest might decide the fate
J. some of these bills, the vote is s
h close" said Mr.. Shurtleff. 81 thin
that inasmuch as the house has sci
Il this contest back to the elections cor
l. mittee this special order should /
e postponed"
@ Mr. Shurtleff declared the senat
I. ought to act on the bills first.
u understand that the senator