The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1905-03-19

T INTO GOVernOr-SenatOr Robert
II. La Toilette of Wisconsin
savagely- because he proposes to re
main in Wisconsin and continue GOV
ernor long enough to accomplish GER
tain legislation which he deems for the
public good. This will preclude his at
tendance on the extraordinary session
Of the senate The Dispatch could find a
text nearer home. The Junior Pennsyl-
vania senator, Hon. Philander c.. Knox,
is willing the time away playing golf
at Palm Beach. The esteemed Dis
patch has probably heard Of the an
cient saying that what is sauce for
the goose is sauce for the gander; also
Of the one which declares that those
who live in glass houses should not
throw stones.
If the Dispatch had made its assault
on senatorial absenteeism general it
would have been doing Il public serv-
ice. Indeed, it might have extended
it's criticism with advantage to both
houses Of congress, though the senate
is the worse sinner in that regard
There have been some notable in
stances. After Representative Brooks
Of South Dakota caned Senator Sumner
of Massachusetts the latter spent two
years in Europe, holding his commits
sion as senator meanwhile. Senator
Sharon of Nevada was the most noted
absentee in his time, spending more
than half his senatorial years away
from Washington. David Bennett Hill
when elected to the senate was govern
or Of New York, and because he was at
loggerheads with the lieutenant gov
he pays the freight
held on to the gubernatorial Office for
nearly year after his senatorial term
began, but as it was the long vacation
he did not actually lose much time
from the senate. John Sherman raised
some objection to his being sworn in
as senator, or threatened to do so, but
the senators thought the objection IN
tenable, and it was dropped. Don
Cameron and Matthew Stanley Quay
both took long and frequent vacations
while the senate was in session. In
the article referred to the Dispatch
notes the fact that Senator Aldrich of
Rhode Island-the car Of the senate
Is now travelling in Europe, though it
does not criticise him for it, devoting
Its criticism wholly to poor La Fol-
lette, with whose opinions it evidently
Is not enamored.
At least one representative in con-
sress never set foot in Washington at
the late short session, but he was not
l marker to a representative from New
York a decade ago who served precise
y two days in two years. 1t Is said
hat on the first day Of that congress.
when he was sworn in, he was smooth
'haven and that before he put in his
appearance again he had grown a full
beard of such proportions that the door
Keeper did not recognize him and
would not let him into the house until
Re was identified by colleague. Such
:ases are of course rare, but there is
much absenteeism, greatly to the detri-
nent of the public service. Time and
tme again business has been brought
o complete standstill by reason
hereof, the point Of no quorum be-
ng raised. In the Fifty-third con-
'ress the Democrats passed resolu-
ion to dock the members of their |
wages for absence except in cases of
etc. The scheme did not work
veil. Hon. Thomas Bracket Reed
n or ,1o4.
t has been adopted by no succeeding
ongress and probably will be heard of |
% more. When Democratic leader of |
he house, Senator Joseph Weldon Bal
~ Of Texas insisted that the country |
Ias better off when Republican con-
ress spent it's time without legislating
this theory is true, then absentee
'm in Republican congress to the ex-
ent of breaking a quorum is a good !
hing, but unfortunately much legisla-
on is accomplished by less than q
uorum, for from the roll call on the
rst day of session, which is had to
scertain If quorum is present, it is
ways presumed to be present except
hen a roll call for some other purpose
evelops absence of a quorum or when
'me member raises the point of no
forum. When roll call shows lack
quorum or when, the point being
Used, it Is ascertained that no quo
I'm is present, all legislation ceases
ntil quorum is shown to be present
: until the point of no quorum is
ithdrawn, for the constitution re-
hires the presence Of quorum. ma
rity Of all members. to transact the
lblic business. OF course the pre-
lmption that a quorum is present al
avs except as above stated is vio-
Mt one, known to be untrue, for fire.
lently mere handful Of members,
'metines less than dozen, pass bills,
1t the impossibility Of keeping a quo
I'M present has been accepted as q
stification for such course
Another Trust Uncovered.
One of the most valuable members
ho have served in the house in recent
ears is Hon. Willard D. Vandiver of
issouri, who after eight years Of ca
khIo faithful natriofio onru;o<, x,,l,,,