The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-06-27
la TOILETTE WINS
ANOTHER VICTORY
Fights for Two Hours Before
Compelling Senate to Take
Up a Bill.
BY w. w. Jermane.

Washington, June EX-SENATOR La
Toilette won notable victory in the
senate yesterday afternoon, but it was
not until after there had been a pro-
longed flibuster, including some seven
or eight rollcalls. i
There is a bill in the house, now on
the calendar, introduced by Mr.. Esch,
providing that no railway company may
work it's employees longer than sixteen
hours consecutively. In the senate the
same bill has been introduced by Mr..
Dolliver and reported from committee.
Several days ago Mr.. La Toilette an
] nounced that he would move today to
get the bill for consideration and pas
sage. Yesterday he made the trick and
succeeded, but he was almost two hours
at it, the senate during that time go
, ing from one rollcall to another. b.
When the bill was first brought up
Mr.. McCumber of North Dakota made
the point of no quorum. The rollcall
came on Mr.. La Toilette s motion that
the bill be taken up and made the I'M
. finished business Of the senate. This
. motion was not debatable. The rollcall
showed that quorum had not respond
ed to their names, whereupon there was
another call of the senate, disclosing
a quorum. and then another rollcan on
the La Toilette motion to take up the
bill. This second rollcall also showed
that a quorum had not voted. 80.
In this way the senate ran along, for
rol1call after rollcall, consuming valu.
able time and increasing the bitter
feeling on the republican side against
Mr.. La Toilette. ...--
Finally, Mr.. Hall of Maine arose and
suggested that all pairs be broken for
was not one involving any political
7 principle. This suggestion was fol,
! lowed, and then the La Toilette motion
prevailed and the Dolliver bill was
made the unfinished business This
means that it will be debated from now
on until adjournment, or until the Sen
ate is ready for a vote, whenever con
ference reports and other privilege il
the matters ore not up.
Why It Was Done.
It is difficult to determine whethe,
the unwillingness of the senate to YIELD
to La Toilette grew out of his being
persona non grata with his republican
associates, or q determination on thu
part Of the leaders not to pass any more
radical railroad legislation at this ses
sion. It is probable that both consid
erations affected the flibuster, and per
tho in favor Of this legislation. couli
not have forced his own bill to con
sideration on an unwilling majority
without himself losing caste. There
fore, he would not have attempted it
But La Toilette realizes that he ha
nothing to lose in the way Of caste ant
SO he boldly ventured into the arena
picked up the Doliver bill as if it ha>
been his own, and compelled the senat
to make it the unfinished business.
Thus does the Wisconsin senate
score another victory over his republi
r.. can associates and at the same tim,
widen the breach separating him from
them.
On the request which he made for
rollcall on his motion to take the bill
up, the only support he had came from
the democratic side Of the chamber. On
request of this kind, one-ffth Of tn
senate must consent by show of tn
hands. All the democratic hands Wen
); up and not one republican hand except
! ing La; Follette's.