Page:History of Oregon Literature.djvu/148

 found there was such a thing in parliamentary usage as "the previous question."

I had a bill then pending to cut off the southern end of Yamhill and to establish the county of Polk, which measure had violent opposition in the body. One morning, while most of the opponents of my bill were amusing themselves at "horse billiards" in Lee's ten-pin alley, I called up my bill, and, after making the best argument I could in its favor, I concluded with, "And now, Mr. Speaker, upon this bill I move the previous question." Newell looked confused, and I was satisfied he had no conception of what I meant; but he rallied, and, looking wise and severe (I have since seen presiding officers at Washington do the same thing), said: "Sit down, sir! Resume your seat! Do you intend to trifle with the Chair, when you know that we passed the previous question two weeks ago? It was the first thing we done!"

I got a vote, however, before the "horse billiard" players returned, and Polk County has a legal existence today, not withstanding the adverse ruling upon a question of parliamentary usage.

Genial, kind-hearted Newell! How many of you recollect his good qualities, and how heartily have you laughed around the camp-fire at his favorite song, "Love and Sassingers." I can hear the lugubrious refrain describing how his dulcinea was captured by the butcher's boy.

He has folded his robe about him and lain down to rest among the mountains he loved so well and which have so often echoed the merry tones of his voice.

Matthew P. Deady was an eminent Oregon judge and constructive citizen, whose services to the state were "great and arduouous."