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Show j ' 1 LEGISLATORS ON THEIR MARROW BONES. While every one in Utah, except the fellow on the inside, was fl ' ir-pecting to hear that the governor had signed the liquor bill which fl ' rassed both branches of the Utah legislature this week, the startling M " r -nouncement was made that the governor had brought down his B ' ," nd on the executive desk with resounding force and immediate- fl J y the legislators, quailing in the presence of executive wrath, had fl rffered to surrender their legislative prerogatives, go back to their H closks and pass whatever the governor deemed best for the future H welfare of the governor, the party and the "bunch." ' We always have recognized in the governor a strong personality. H His individuality has been pronounced. But not for a moment did M we accord to him the force of character, the persuasiveness, the M power to dominate an entire legislative body as he did on Thursday HT night, an account of which is reproduced from the Salt Lake Tribune, H as follows: H "All of the amendments to the senate liquor bill which had pre- H 1 1 viously been rejected were adopted and made a part of the bill at H a stormy caucus of the Republican members of the state legislature B held in the house chamber at 7:30 o'clock Thursday night. The H amendments adopted to the senate bill make it practically an entire- H ' , ly new bill and materially change the effect of the measure. H ( "The action of the caucus means that with the alterations and B amendments made in the senate bill the legislature is passing the 'federal bunch' bill which was introduced in thet house. The H , 'bunch' bill was not given any consideration by the legislature, but H j under the pressure of the administration steam roller which was H, I brought into play at the caucus, the members of the legislature have f ' incorporated into the senate bill the very features to which they most H objected in the house bill. H "Governor William Spry was in the saddle at the caucus and H j despite the strenuous efforts of some of the more refractory mem- H ,, bers he was never unseated. Every amendment proposed by the H governor was accepted more or less meekly by the caucus. On some H ; " points several of the members were almost violent in their opposition, H but the opposition never succeeded. Several times the dissenting H members raised their voices so loudly in protest that they could be H ' heard throughout the building. Once several members bolted for H j the door, loudly declaring that they refused to be bound by the cau- H cus. But they did not go, and with the exception of a few mem. H i bers, it is understood that those who attended the caucus will be bound by its action. H ' "Two of the governor's amendments created more than ordinary H j opposition. They were the amendments giving the courts the licens- H 1 1 ing power and requiring a majority of the votes cast at the last pre- H i l ceding general election to decide an election on the liquor question. H It was freely charged that the amendment giving courts the power H , to issue licenses was made in order to take the power of granting H r! licenses away from the American city council and to give it to the H I " Republican district judges, that it was merely a political play. It H ' ' was declared that under the amendment requiring a majority of the H t , I votes cast at the last preceding general election to decide a liquor H i election it was practically impossible for the prohibitionists to carry H an election except in districts where the sentiment was overwhelm- H ' ' i ingly in favor of prohibition. M I "There were thirteen of the eighteen members of the senate and H I . thirty-four of the forty-five members of the lower house. Of, those H I j all save one or two of the senators and perhaps half a dozen mem- j I I bers of the house are regarded bound by the action of the caucus. M j j . k The absent senators were Olson and Funk, Democrats and Kelly, H Hyde and Booth, Republicans." l H ! J Alid so the governor halted the disgruntled legislators who H I were attempting to break out of the caucus and commanded them M ' to be seated. That is something new in legislating, but the lifting of H a recalcitrant legislator by the nape of the neck and slamming him H 4 down in seat should have the effect of driving home to all pres- H ( j;1 ent the conviction that to be humble in the presence of a superior is 1 ' l the part of wisdom. H j . J, MteT the governor had established control of the caucus and had H commanded the proper degree of awe, he proceeded, so we are told, ,l t0 have the legislators subscribe to the following amendments to the j liquor bill they had just passed: M Licensing power is to be taken from councils in cities of the H ' fir and second classes and placed in the hands of district courts .1 ' A majority of all the votes cast at the last preceding general J l . i election is necessary in order to have prohibition in cities and towns If i of the state. Olubs are to bo permitted to sell liquor in cities of the third class aa well as in cities of the first and socond classes. ' A club entitled to a liquor license is one which owns property (j valued at not less than $5000 and which requires membership dues of 1 1 not less than $12 per year. , Tne license for clubs to be changed, makine: tho minimum $400 H 3 'and the maximum $2000. The bill at present makes th0 minimum H j ! $200 and the maximum $1000. H cluDs are not permitted to sell liquor between the hours of 12 HU - 'midnight and 6 a. m. M ) Hotcla and public dining rooms are permitted to serve intoxicants H j - with meals. M' ' 2Jw le of liquor without a licenjje-is to be made a misdemeanor ' Whatever we may think of the governor's liquor bill we are WI constrained to say that the governor himself is to be admired for the ability he has shown in whipping down all opposition to his mandates and making an entire legislature do his bidding. There are few parallels to this act of mastery as executed by Utah's chief executive. |
