Weekly journal-miner., 1917-02-28
BUDGET BILL IS SAVED; DEMOS
 IN CAUCUS
UNHEARD OF PROCEDURE ON APPROPRIATIONS IS TAKEN BY MAJORITY CAMPBELL'S FIRST VETO
 ON HOWELL EXEMPTION

PHOENIX, Feb. 24.-In the sem ate the veto of Governor Campbell of a bill exempting from taxation the
 Lowell observatory at Flagstaff is being considered with the discussion taking wide range.
 Following the action of the house
 before adjournment on Wednesday of virtually killing the appropriation bill as reported from committee a resolution was introduced to restore the original bill to the calender. This forced an adjournment for the pur- pose of caucusing. There seems lit tie prospect of the present appropri- ation bill becoming a law.
 Four Republican members of the ihousc were excluded from the cham Der, along with all attaches, the press and the spectators. None of the mi nority members can explain just how the exclusion was worked. There was no announcement that their presence was not desired. It simply seemed to be the sense of the meeting that none but Democrats were de rigour on the foor
 For three days an effort had been made to send the appropriation bill to the enrolling and expressing com mitte to be dressed for its passage to the senate. But a majority refused to let go of it. After the morning business had been transacted, Dr. Davis of Pinal arose and said: "I believe, to use a phrase in common parlancc, we arc up against 1t. The appropriation bill is in deadlock, and there arc only two ways to get it out. We may send it back to the ap- propriation committee but at this late day there is not time for such a pro- ccdure. We may reconsider our ac- ton in refusing to send the bill to the committee on enrolled and cngrosscd bills and let it go to the senate" There were other brief remarks but none of them furnished a suggestion for extricating the bill from the morass into which 1t had fallen. A motion was then made for a l5-inin- ute recess and at the end of it the speaker announced that there would be a conference, caucus, an exccu-
 
 would be excluded.
 Just what took place within the sc- cret conclave is not known but an agreement was reached and the Re publicans were permitted to return and vote on what had been agreed upon. At the conclusion of the Scs- sion, when 1t was about to adjourn, Mir Green, Republican, rose to inquire whether he and his three colleagues would be permitted to resume their seats today.
 But somehow, the appropriation bill was cxtricatcd and sent to the com- mittec on enrolled and cngrossed bills and will be in the possession of the senate in day or two. It appeared that the controversy ragged mainly about the item carrying Sl,OO0,O00 am nually for the common schools The proponents of State taxation for the schools wanted to be assured that in some way the schools would be cared for. The Lines measure, house bill 26, would accomplish that but it was not sure that would go through the senate. Accordingly a compromise was reached on the item in the gcner- al appropriation bill amounting to an appropriation of S750,000 annually. If chimes bill passes the senate the appropriation bill item will dropped or modified.
 Another matter concerning which there was more or less bitter dis putc was the appropriation for the national guard which had been in creased by the committee of the whole to Sl4O,000. In the subsequent prun- ing in the house that was reduced to S40,000 which djutant-Gcncral liar ITS in communication yesterday said would not be sufficient to hold the guard together. In committee of the whole the appropriation was restored. It Is said, too, that assurance was given that the State Fair would be taken care of. Other minor changes were made and then the house con Sented to release its grip on the bill Campbelrs First Veto. A message was received by the sen ate from Governor Campbell stating his disapproval of the bill cxempting tate of the late Dr. Pcrcival Lowell, consisting of the Lowell observatory at Flagstaff and the fund set aside for 1 its maintenance. A companion bill eXcmpting the same part of the State from the general tax was merely not signed by the governor and as to this he made no comment so that that bill which with its companion was passed by both houses last week under a suspension of the rules, may become 2 law.
 It is understood that the action of : the governor as to the first named bill was taken on a construction by the tax commission that the bill in present form is i'll violation of the constitution. The senate took no ac- ton on the veto but let the matter go over until today. Meanwhile a copy of the will of Dr. Lowell was sent for. HOLD-UP IS CAUGHT