The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1919-01-20
Never Did Come OF Vote in
Senate the Last ses7
sion.
BHANGESARE BETTERNOW
Some Of Measures Most
Earnest Foes Did Not
Come Back.

+ Especial Dispatch to West Virginian.l
4 CHARLESTON Jan. 20-With the
approach Of the GATE set for hearings
On the Steptoe has bill, which would
prohibit the expectation OF natural gas
TO points without the state until the
|Sneeds Of West Virginia domestic and
Industrial consumers have been sup.
piled, interest attaches to the manner
lin which the measure was downed in
the Senate two vars ago.
Contrary to the belief held my
many. the bill itself has never been
voted upon in the Senate. The oft-re-
peated statement that the measure
lost out by only one vote has reference
TO q preliminary vote as to whether
the bill should be taken up for consid.
Grafton. However. this vote is be-
lieved to have been fair test, for all
senators who voted IN favor OF imme.
date consideration are known to have
favored the Steptce bill.
Il AS matter OF fact, the vote on i'm.
4 mediate. consideration was tied-four.
teen to fourteen When the president
of the Senate announced that the vote
was tie, Senator Benjamin L. Rosen.
bloom, of Ohio county, who favored
and voted for INN ediate consideration,
)tchangec his voted in order that he
might be IN position to move re.
consideration Of the Senate's action
The next day. .enate rules provide
hat motion tor reconsideration
must come from senator who votet
t,n "the prevailing side" of question.
n The Steptoe bill originated in the
douse, where 1t was introduced Feb.
}uary IL, 1917. ny Delegate Septimus
Hall, Of Wetzel county. 1t was re-
terred to the committee on judiciary,
which made favorable report on it
the following day. The measure went
through the House with a whoop, only
q few scattering votes being cast
II against it.
Y The session Of the legislature was
Ythen nearing close. and the Senate
khad adopted rule-Rule which
4 prohibited consideration OF any new
Legislation in the .ast five days of the
session, except the appropriation bill
/ and any other measures which were
4 deemed to be necessary to meet ar
emergency. This five.day rule was in
\ sffect when the Steptoe bill reached
The Senate.
On February u Senator NJ. K. Duty,
I Of Richie county, moved a suspension
Of rule 80 and the immediate consid-
Grafton of the Steptoe measure, the ii.
tie OF which was "a bill in relation to
persons engaged in furnishing natural
gas for public use within this state, to
provide for and regulate the furnishing
thereof to the public of this state. to
4 provide remedies Tor the enforcement
\ Of this act and penalties and punish
ment for violations thereof and to ex.
lend the Jurisdiction Of the public ser.
rice commission and of the courts of
his state with respect thereto"
Y Senator Fox, oil Bra4ton county, de-
4 handed the ayes and noes on Senator
Duty's motion TO. suspension Of the
ule: The vote resulted as follows:
b Ayes Beckwith, Carter, Cobun.
Soalter, DUTY, Fox. Frazier, Gregory.
Hawley, Hcugh, Lowe. Montgomery.
Morton. Parrish, Rosenb.oom, Sinsel,
Talbot and vincill--1S.
Il Noes Goodyko5ntz. Billings, Bur.
I Eess Dodson. Godbey, Gribble. Hogg.
Luther, McAboy and Miller-10.
A two.thirds vote being required for
he suspension OF rule. Senator.
Duty's motion was lost by the narrow
margin of one vote. OF those who
lined up against the Steptoe bill on
Ibis preliminary vote, only four are
now members o fthe Senate. They are.
Messrs. Burgess, Dodson, Gribble and
Luther. Senator McAboy's successor
IS Senator F1oydIS. Chapman. OF Hunt.
ngton, who, It is believed, will sup:
Dort the Steptoe bill. Although Mr..
chapman has not announced his stand,