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Show DOLLARS INTO DUST 259 project before an era of higher building costs arrived.321 The zero hour had come. When the vote was called for, Rep. Holifield of California asked for the yeas and nays. His request was bluntly refused by the Chair. Thereupon, Rep. Gross of Iowa, a bitter foe of the bill, made a point of order that a quorum was not present. This made it mandatory that the members present be counted. Only 172 were on the floor, which was not a quorum. The Speaker had no alternative but to order the doors closed and the roll called. The attempt of the crsp supporters to get the bill passed by a quick voice vote, without recording the yeas and nays, had failed only because of Rep. Gross's point of order. So the name of each member was called. When the clerk announced the final vote it stood: 321 For: 256 Against: 136. An analysis of the voting showed: 136 Democrats and 120 Republicans for the bill. 63 Democrats and 73 Republicans against it 40 members did not vote; one voted "present;" and two House seats were vacant. The Senate conferees were Anderson, Watkins, Jack- son, O'Mahoney and Millikin, and the House was repre- sented by Engle, Aspinall, O'Brien, Dawson and Saylor. The first joint meeting was held on March 8. Watkins died hard. He sought to persuade Engle and Aspinall to forget their promise to keep Echo Park Dam out of the bill. If they had capitulated, a majority of the con- ferees would have voted to retain the controversial dam. Engle and Aspinall stood firm, and supporting them were Saylor, O'Brien, and Senator Anderson, who also |