The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1921-02-13
If the Big Wig Didn't Com
nit the Act, Why Did 80
Stalwarts Decide Against
the Measure
MOST SENSATIONAL
DEVELOPMENT OF DAY
REPRESENTATIVE SALTER, OVER
SEAS SOLDIER, OPPOSES PASS
AGE OF ACT; ACRIMONIOUS
DEBATE FOLLOWS
by Special Staff Correspondent,

Oklahoma City, Feb. 12.-Perhaps it
wasn't Jim Harris who killed the sol
diers hospital bill yesterday; perhaps
80 Republican members OF the house
of representatives suddenly and in
dependently decided il should nor
pass. But the fact remains that the
house, after discussing the measurs
all afternoon in committee of the
whole, and adopting it section by set
ton. found itself confronted by q
report from the committee of the
whole that the bill do not pass. That
report was adopted by a vote of 40 to
80, and all but two Of those 40 votes
We're Republican. Frank Gordon OF
Oklahoma City, vice chairman OF the
Oklahoma Legion's legislative commit
tee. said Jim Harris killed the hos
pital bill. And 1t will be difficult to
convince many friends o. the bill that
I'the house Republicans did not bow
the knee TO the invisible government
at the Lawrence hotel" and dance
when Big jim" Harris pulled the
string.
In putting the house Republicans on
record as opposed to the hospital
measure, a few exceptions must be
made. Mrs. Bessie McColgin Of Roger
Mills county voted for the bill. So
| did Bruce l.. keenan, Of Cherokee
county. Clarence Tylee Of Okmulge.
county, j.. II. osle Of Haskell county
and Otto Smith Of Dewey county. III
committee OF the whole keenan, voted
against the bill, but Cor the obvious
purpose OF being one OF the majority
so he could move reconsideration at u
later day. Murray Gibbons OF Nc
Claim county, Democrat and one OF
the measures staunch supporters, did
the same thing in voting on tho
adoption Of the report of the commits
tee Of the whole. The only bona fidc
Democratic vote cast against the bill
was that OF Porter Newman, OF Bry-
an county.
The reason for the opposition was
not made clear. Much was said abou.
tho uncertainty oc the government
leasing the hospital after Il was built.
/ gAN Au was AAAo'AAtA
would prevent the expenditure OF any
money from the appropriation until
n tentative lease with the federal gov
vrnment' had been made II also was
argued that the legislature was act
ing too hastily; that the federal ,gsy.
erumcnt was likely 10 assume the
responsibility Of caring for invalid
world war veterans. Underneath most
Of tho objections seemed 10 be strong
distrust-a fear that someone was
going to get his fiugers on the fat
appropriation aud convert portion
OF Il 10 his own use, or tina, political
advantage would be taken OF the pro-
ieet.
The bill was discussed oni dc.
batcd by the house from o'clock Ia
the afternoon until after G. Spectators
crowded tho gallery most OF tho time
W. o. Pratt Of Pontotoc county, pre-
sided over tho committee OF tho whole.
and had n difflcalt task as tho debate
waxcd hot and personal issues wcro
raised. Tho gavol was welded oftenor.
longer an1 harder, probably, than on
any preceding day OF tho session. In
eIdentally. tho house was In session
longer yesterday than on any pre-
ccdine day; tho voto TO adjourn did
not como until ESQ O'Clock.
Tho bill under consideration was
known al Committees substitute for
House Bill No Ia II soagh. 70 pro-
vide for the construction OF hos-
pitai and vocational training building
at Oklahoma City for honorably dis-
charged United states soldiers. sail-
Continued on PaSo Two)