Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-12-21
MEMBERS NOT PoLLED
CoMMITTEE CHAIRMAN FAILED
no FOLLOW THE RULE
Why the Senate Voted to Reconsider
the Confirmation Of Panama
Canal Commissioners.

A failure of Senator Willard. chairman OF
the committee on interoceanic canals, to
fellow the custom of polling his committee
or TO take a vote on the nominations of the
canal commission In committee caused an
Interesting hitch in the Senate's proceed
ings In relation to those appointments yes
terday afternoon. The result of this, as
announced in yesterdays Star. was that
the Senate adopted motion requesting the
President to return the notification of the
SeEate's previous action.
Charges Of Railroading Nominations.
Before the decision was reached to recon
slider the vote charges of "railroadfng''
nominations were made by several minority
senators and counter-charges that the pro-
teEtants were proceeding In manner not
prescribed by the rules of the Senate were
made by the republican senators. The dis
cussion developed the fact that there had
been no poll of the canal committee on the
nominations in question, and as a result
objection to reconsideration was withdrawn.
It is generally understood that the purpose
Of minority senator's in asking to have the
nominations returned is to permit a pro-
test against Chairman Theodore p. Shonts
holding position on the commission and
the presidency of the Glover Leaf railroad
at the same time.
The controversy in the Senate resulted
from a motion to take up the nomination
OF y. b. blSnop as MEMBER OF the cofu-
mission. which was sent to the Senate only
yesterday Objection was made and SEN
ator Morgan followed this by moving to
reconsider the action of the Senate in con-
firming members Of the commission.
The Rule Of the Senate.
A rule of the Senate provides that when q
nomination Is confirmed OF rejected any
senator voting in the majority may move
for reconsideration ION the same day on
which the vote was taken, or on either OF
the next two days of actual executive SEES
sion of the Senate"
Senators Teller and Culberson both made
speeches against an alleged disposition to
use undue haste in having nominations dis
posed of, and Senator's Lodge and Spooner
protested that the combinations were IN
accordance with the usual procedure, and
finally that the motion to reconsider was
out of order. 1t was pointed out that q
motion to reconsider could be had only by
unanimous consent. Objection was made
nations were confirmed December 10 and
two executive sessions had since been held.
Senator Morgan taking the hoor again,
said that as a member OF the committee on
interoceanic canals he was entitled to cast
his vote for or against the nominal tons at
some meeting Of the committee or through
q poll taken by the chairman. Several
senators said they supposed that this course
had been followed and Senator Morgan
called upon Senator Millard, chairman OF
the canal committee, to know whether us
had taken poll.
The senator replied that he had not, put
he had been informed that majority OF
the, committee was in favor OF confirming
the nominations and said he thought ne
had authority to call them up. When this
statement was made Senator's Lodge ana
Srooner abandoned their objections and the
melton to reconsider was adopted.