The Washington herald., 1908-06-01

In the opinion OF some people here who
watched closely the stirring events OF
Friday and Saturday, the United States
Senate is no longer the most deliberate
body in the world
It is true that every effort made by the
Republicans to stop the La Toilette ILL
buster had precedent TO support It. but
the Senate had been chary heretofore OF
enforcing authorized measures which
might seem by inference to curtaT the
utmost freedom Of debate.
There is a widespread belief however,
that the Senate was dangerously near
adopting a cloture rule in order 10 get a
vote on the currency measure. which
Senator La Toilette. with the aid OF Sen
ators Stone and Gore, was trying TO kill
by the favorite means Of talking st TO
death, practice not permitted. it is said.
in any other legislative assemblage.
A hint OF what might come was con-
veyed by Senator Hale Saturday. after
the Senate had been In continuous session
for more than twenty-four hours. Mr..
Hale is one Of the most conservative
wearers Of the toga and a sticl1ler for
| the traditions Of the Senate. But his
faith in the virtue OF prolonged delibera-
ton was rudely shaken after one Senator
had talked for three-quarters of a day
and another apparently was making on
attempt to exceed that record.
Hale Gives Gentle Warning.
The second Senator was Mr.. Stone, Of
Missouri, and 10 him Mr.. Hale gave these
words Of fatherly advice:
I wish the Senator would bear in mind
what has helped heretofore TO contribute
to the discussion. He has Joined with
me in opposing every effort 10 curtail the
proper privileges Of the Senate, or 10 en-
body in our rules any form OF cloture.
He and have heretofore stood here fac
ing each other, and making the same dec
laraticn. that the beauty OF the rules of
the Senate is that the Senate can always
get a vote after reasonable debate.
| That is what saves the Senate from
the attempt that at any time may be
made TO throttle US and our proceedings
by putting cloture rule upon US. It is
such things as have happened in the last
twenty-four hours that gives rise 10 sp-
prehension. that some day some party in
power may resort to cloture. and throttle
the right Of speech in the Senate"
Kept Democrats Quiet.
Some Of the Democrats took this as 4
hint that there might be a resort TO clo-
time there was talk Of a Democratic rally
around La Follette's standard Of Obstruc-
ton, but 1t came to nothing. Gossip had
it that the Democrats were convinced that
II they became part Of the flibuster the
Republicans would call up the bill pro-
viding for publicity OF election expenses
and pass II, with the House amendments,
INTENDED TO lay the foundation for reduc-
ing Southern representation in Congress
on account Of the suppression OF the negro
vote. 1t was rumored that a cloture rule
would be adopted to prevent prolonged
debate on this measure.
Whether they were Influenced or not by
these reports. the Democrats. with the
exception of Stone and Gore, gave La
Toilette no material assistance, although
at times they seemed TO be on the brink
Of joining him.
Democrats privately denounced as revo-
lutionary Vice President Fairbanks rul-
ing. when there WIS a call Of the Senate
TO determine the presence Of a quorum.
that Senators present who refused TO an
swer 10 their names could be counted 70
,,olra h.rf ToF~ ,rro
showed that a similar ruling had been
made in 1879 by a Democratic presiding
officer Of the Senate. Allen G. Thurman.
the "Old Roman" of Ohio.
This was the subsequent Tom" Reed
rule. which caused an outbreak In the
House OF Representatives in the Fifty
first Congress, and was denounced as
revolutionary and arbitrary. Mr.. Fair
banks decision was the outcome Of a
vote which showed on its face that
forty-siX Senators. or one less than q
quorum. were present. This debate fol-
lowed:
Mr.. Gore-Mr. President, submit that
the division discloses that there is not the
presence of a quorum.
Rules Quorum Is Present.
The Vice President-The division dis
closed the existence Of a quorum.
Mr Gore-I should like TO say that there
are ninety-two members Of this body.
Half of that number is forty-six. A divi-
sion disclosed the presence Of forty-six.
As / understand it takes more than half
to constitute d quorum.
The Vice President-There was present
a Senator who did not vote. A quoram IS
present in the opinion Of the chair
Mr. La Follette-Mr. President. may
make a parliamentary inquiry? II is this:
Whether the decision of the President OF
the Senate at this time establishes the
precedent in this body OF counting a quo
rum when the vote discloses that no quo
rum is present.
Mr.. Fairbanks then read the Thurman
decision in part as follows: NO quorum
has voted. The chair has counted the
Senate. There is a quorum present. but
no quorum voting"
shuts on Roll Calls.
A little later on there was a vote on a
point Of order raised BY Mr.. Aldrith that
a quorum having been obtained by a call
of the Senate. no further call to obtain a
quorum could be made unless other busi-
ness intervened. That was another eye