Perth Amboy evening news., 1906-11-26
SENATOR R. M.
La TOILETTE
Why the Senator from WiscOn.
sin Has Most of His CO|Iea.
cues Against Him.

! During his first four months in the
United States senate Robert M. La
Toilette exposed and stopped the sale
and leasing of coal and asphalt lands
in Indian territory.
He led the fight which kept the
records open until there can be a full
investigation of alleged gratis IA IN
dian territory.
He delivered the most exhaustive
speech that was made on the railway
rate bill.
He forced the passage of an en-
ployers' liability act. He forced the
passage of a resolution authorizing
the interstate commerce commission
to investigate railway and elevator
companies for the purpose of dis
covering whether a combination OK
lists between them by which the farm
err is robbed.
He forced the senate to consider
his resolution reducing the hours of
labor on railroads in the interest of
public safety.
He introduced bills providing FOR
the block system on all railways of
the country.
Senator La Toilette is a true EN-
bodiment of the popular spirit of dis
approval which has been aroused
against the body of which he is u
new member.
He hangs on the TANKS of his col
leagues and watches for opportunities
to raid. He surprises the enemy and
catches them in awkward situations.
That is what happened in the case
of the employers liability bill. Tnc
cnn,fopsnI n m, ~ uro e cnxynn Eftt n IN RON oh
the narrow and dangerous defle of
the five-minute-rule debate on the
railway rate bill when La Foiiatte
flashed upon the tanks and offered
the liability bill as an amendment. 1t
was germape, in order, and II had
been knocking for consideration for
exactly twenty years. The eyes OF
the country We're on the senate
chamber.
La Toilette demanded a roll-call
vote. He said he would not argue.
He wanted only a vote. They could
vote for or against III as they pleased,
but vote they would or they should
not advance another step.
Aldrich, Elkins and Kean, (mem-
bers of the Interstate Commerce conf
miittee, where the bill was being
smothered), grabbed a white flag and
rushed out to make terms. They
promised anything. Withdraw the
amendment, and they would report
the liability bill next Fgiday.-any
old time!
Their promises We're recorded in
the Record" and La toilette had
won his fight. The twenty years
campaign was ended, and a bill hard
ly less important than the rate bill
had been added to the national stat
utes.
Again in the closing hours OF the
session La Toilette fell on the CO.
horts of the regulars. He demanded
consideration for the bill to limit the
hours of railway employees. In the
congestion oil business, when little
could go forward without unanimous
consent, he stationed himself in the
middle of the legislative road and
drew his oratorical sword vote he
demanded. "Vote to take up this
bill and make it the unfinished bust
ness. Otherwise | obstruct!' The
senatorial army halted. There We're
nine roll calls. Each new call on
the motion showed the absence OF a
quorum; but each call for a quorum
showed a quorum present.
What did this mean? Simply that
senators We're skulking. They were
failing to respond to their names
when the roll was called, for the rea