San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1924-03-30
Lawmakers Almost Come
to Blows Over Unim-
portant Questions.
TIME NEARLY UP
Legislature in Session Thir.
teen Weeks But Has
Done Nothing.
BY NJ. f. HENNESSY.

by M. r.. HENNESSl.
Copyright. 1924. by Consol. Press Assn.
Providence, II. l., March 29.-After
being in session for thirteen weeks,
the Senate of Rhode Island is exact
ly where it started. Its calendar has
not been touched and no progress
whatever has been made by this Re
publican-controlled body toward en-
acting the various reforms suggested
by the Democratic governor, William
s. Flynn.
The Senate is presided over BY the
Democratic lieutenant governor, Felix
Toupin, who is the storm center of
the fight, and while the Democrats
are in the minority, they have the adj
vantage of the power and influence Of
the presiding officer. Toupin declared
today that he is as determined as ever
to force the Republicans to bring out
from the committees the measures
sponsored by the Democrats and Re-
publicans indicated that they are
equally determined to let them die
there.
Only day or two ago, Lieutenant
Governor Toupin ordered the sheriff
to eject from the floor of the Senate
the Republican floor leader, Senator
Sanderson, because the latter refused
to take his seat. Senator Sanderson
had asked unanimous consent to Sc
cure immediate consideration of the
annual appropriation bill but Senator
Barry, the Democratic floor leader, OBJ
jected.
Fight Almost Started.
Senator Sanderson removed his
glasses and proceeded to take off his
coat. 1t appeared for a time that
there would be a free-for-all fight.
Spectators in the gallery joined in the
proceedings and somebody shouted,
soak him in the eye!"
Fortunately Senator SanderSen took
his seat and order was restored.
Almost daily there are threats of
physical encounters between Demo-
cratic and Republican senator's on the
floor of the Senate. On one occa-
sion there was so much disorder that
Senator McGrane of Providence, a
Democrat, denounced the conduct of
senators as "disgraceful" and said
they presented "humiliating specta-
Gle and an example or dow nright Boil
shevism."
Democrats Are Determined.
The last day for committee reports
will be next Tuesday, when the crux,
of the situation will be reached ana il
is expected that the first break in the
deadlock will occur. The situation is
similar to that which existed last year
when the Democrats tried to force the
Republican majority to report out
from committee provision callihs Ii
constitutional convention, another TO
abolish property qualification for vot-
ing for local offices, another to reform
senatorial representation and another
providing for n 4S-hour law for in
dustrial establishments.
As the annual appropriation bill
for the state government has not yet
been passed, state employees and ,ffi-
Gals may soon find themselves in the
same position they occupied last year
when they were weeks without re-
ceiving their pay.
The Democrats say, that they are
willing to remain in session until the
snow flies next fall if necessary to
force the Republicans to act on these
and other measures and they are will
ing to go before the people in next
falls elections on the issues invoryru.
Work Cor Nothing.
Governor Flynn is sitting tight and
is insisting that the Democratic pro-
gram of reform shall be carried out.
So far the senators have received S22.-
776 in salaries with nothing to show
for it except their attendance. I'm
less the deadlock is broken and the
session Of the Legislature ended By
April 10, they will be working for
nothing after that date, as the Con-
stitution provides that they shall re-
ceive no compensation beyond the lin
tied date.
The Senate devoted one entire week
to discussing nothing more important
than bill increasing the salary of the
Lieutenant governor from $500 to
$4,000 and another for broadcasting
the Senate proceedings by radio.
What the Republicans had to say
about the proposal to increase the sal
ary of the lieutenant governor would
have burned w the air IL their
speeches on the subject had been
broadcast.
As usual, the net result Of all the
talk was nothing