DRAINAGE LAW.
Mr. CALKINS, of Fulton, and Mr. McDONALD called for the vote again on the compromise drainage bill, [S. 48] which failed Monday for want of the constitutional majority, and the vote resulted--yeas 74, nays 14, as follows:
YEAS--Messrs. Abbett, Ballenger, Barnaby, Beeler. Biggs,Browning,Butterworth, Calkins of Fulton, Calkins of Porter, Cauthorn, Coggswell, Copner, Cunningham, Curtis, Defrees, Deputy, Devol. Donham, Friedley, Furnas, Goble, Hardin, Hartley, Hawley, Haynes, Heilman, Hendry Hill, Holland, Hooker, Kennedy, King, Kirkpatrick, Knight, Lines, Major, Martin of Wayne. Martin of Putnam, McDonald, McDowell, McFarland, McGowan. Minick, Miles, Millikan, Monroe, Myers, Neff, Netherton, Oakley, Ray, Rawles, Rhodes, Ruddell, Sabin, Sayers, Simpson, Shutt, Snodgrass, Stanley, Stephenson, St. John, Stone, Strickland, Tarlton, Taugbinbaugh, Taylor, Walker, Washburn, Warrum, White, Wilson, Wood, Woodward and Wymer--74.
NAYS--Messrs. Britton, Bruner, Caldwell. Gallentine, Gentry, Guthrie, Henderson, Mitchell, Montgomery, Sansberry, Stephens, Williams, Zenor and Mr. Speaker--14.
Mr. BUTTERWORTH, explaining, said:
MR. SPEAKER : I have very generally been contented with the privilege of explaining my votes to my constituents when called for, but in this instance I desire a word. This house knows I have been earnest and active in getting through it a bill repealing the draining law to which this bill is suplemental and amendatory. As that bill has failed in the Senate, I reluctantly accept this as perhaps it gives some very little additional guarantee to land owners. It is like swapping a devil for a witch. I vote aye.
Mr. HENDERSON. Mr. Speaker: In explanation of my vote I would simply say that I am of opinion that this supplemental bill only sugar-coats the old law and does not remedy its evils. I vote "no."
Mr. WASHBURN. Mr. Speaker: I came here pledged to vote for the unconditional repeal of the law enacted in 1869, known amongst a majority of my constituents as the"Kankakee Draining Swindle," which in the simplicity of my heart I believe to be a swindle indeed. This House by a large and decisive majority, passed a bill repealing that act, but the influences in the Senate have been such that a repeal is now impossible, and the Senate having passed this bill which I believe relieves my constituents to some extent, I therefore vote "aye."
So the bill passed the House of Representatives.
