The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1917-02-22
Speaker OConnor Leaves
Chair to Fight for Caucus
Pledge, but Fails.
DEMOCRATS QUIT ON
MOTION OF LUsK
Not Willing to Bring Up Old
Consolidation Bills, So
Defeat Them All.


spondence. )-Calling substitute to
the chair. Speaker O'Connor of the
house OF representatives today took
the floor in defense Of Democratic
caucus measures which consolidated
various of the state boards. In his
first speech of the session the speaker
called upon the representatives not to
repudiate "thc vehicle upon which they
had ridden into office" and asked them
to apply the pulmotor to II. r. 2o3. by
Crowley. which abolished the office Of
dairy commissioner and consolidates
the board with the livestock commits
sion. The bill was placed back on
general orders and finally re-referred
to the dairy committee.
Lusk, Missoula. put the Democrats
on record as being in favor of re-
trenchment. but only just as much Of
1t rs they saw tit to enforce. After
he had lost his fight against reconsid-
Grafton Of the vote whereby the Crow
ley bill was consigned to the incinera-
tor the Missoula county representative
moved that the house reconsider the
bill placing the work OF the deputy
game wardcns in the hands of the
sheriffs OF the various counties and
also the bill consolidating the office of
commissioner Of labor with the depart
ment of agriculture and publicity. AS
1t took a two thirds vote to obtain
this reconsideration. owing to the fact
that more than - hours had elapsed
since the votes had been taken, both
OF his motions lost by virture OF the
fact that the Democrats stood prac-
tically solidly against the Republicans.
Democratic Dissent.
These motions caused little dis.
sent In the Democratic ranks as Cults.
Silver Bow, said that he felt caucus
rules and resolutions only were binding
in so far as they related to the plat
form of the party. He said that all
should be for every measure which ef-
fected a saving, but that it had not
been proved to him that the abolishing
OF the office of dairy commissioner
was going to reduce the expenses OF
the state in any material manner.
Soon after the house convened this
morning Crismas. Carbon, rose and
moved reconsideration Of the vote on
II. B. 203, asking that it be segregated
from the report of the committee of
the whole.
Representative Crowley, Silver Bow,
hurried to the defense Of the reconsid-
Grafton OF his bill consolidating the
dairy board and abolishing the posi-
ton of dairy commissioner. "This
bin was entirely caucus measure"
shouted Mr.. Crowley, and l want
right now to put the Democrats on
record with regard to this bill. Are
they going to live up to their political
pledges? The resolution for this bill
was drafted by the speaker. himself.
and is simply to keep the political
barnacles' from getting their hands
into the treasury. The man who OPP
posed this bill told me last night that
he had to OPPOSE it. I would like to
ask who made him oppose it?"
Lusk Opposes.
Representative I1usk, Missoula, who
had been most prominent in the fight
which led in the killing OF the bill.
jumped to his feet. Not a measure
has come before this house." said Mr..
14usk. ION which have been compelled
to vote either yes or no. Neither has
there been a measure on which have
in any way been swayed from my hon.
est convictions. This matter of abol-
ishing the dairy commissioner is not
one to be settled in the steam heated
apartments OF the Placer hotel. 1t
has far-reaching effect on the dairy
industry--one of the greatest indus
tries in the state. There are other
people to be considered outside of the
speaker. the Henningsen Produce CON-
pany and a Democratic caucus"
we are pledged to work for the
consolidation of these boards" said
Representative White Of Fergus. 1--WE
cannot, as Democrats pass up the Plat
form on which We ran last fall" Tht
Fergus county representative ther
continued with an invective against
the duplication existing in state office.
and claimed that it would be lastint
discredit to the Democratic party i
the condition were not remedied. H,
also referred to the pledges that tn
members OF the equity had made ant
the fate which awaited them in cas-
they did not live up to their pre- cleo
ton promises.
At this point, Speaker O'Conno
called Mason. Missoula, to the chat
and addressed the house.
o'connor's Speech.
Il do not care to leave the chair +
discuss any matter to be acted upo
BY this house." said the speaker. AN
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