Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1908-01-31
HEPBURN ATTEMPTS
TO ENFORE GAG
RULE IN SENATE
BREACH OF SENATORIAL
COURTESY RESENTED
Time Honofed Custom of Al
lowing Members to Talk
as Long as They Please
Treasured Right of SoIonS,

Washington, d. c., Jan. 2S.-There
occurred the other day in the senate
an incident which escaped general at
tention bur which is regarded by SEN
ators as one of the most significant
happenings of several years. 1t involv-
ed the senatorial right of unlimited
debate and demonstrated that a sem
ator cannot be prevented from talk
ing even when an attempt is made to
shut him off
The right of the senator, after hav-
ing once secured the floor. to talk as
long as he pleased has been honore J
time out OF mind. 1t was a part Of
the Senatorial courtesy" about which
so much is heard, and until the Incl
dent OF the other day no senator of
late years ever had attempted to gag"
another. This right of unlimited de-
bate has often proved a formidable
weapon in parliamentary conflicts, as,
for instance, when Senator "Tom"
Carter of Montana, talked the river
and harbOr bin to death. Montana
has no navigable waters and Carter
was not in favor of spending the peo-
pies money to improve rivers and
harbors. When the end of the ses-
sion was only twenty-four hours away
he secured the floor and talked and
talked, until, In order to pass the sup
ply bills before adjournment the lead
ers had to agree to kill the rivers and
harbor bill.
After such thick and thin recogni-
ton of a senator's right to speak,
there was amazement and even con-
sternation when Senator Hepburn, of
Idaho attempted to stop Senator
Stone, of Missouri, i'm the middle Of a
speech in order to take up unfinished
business. Such a thing had not hap
pened before within the memory OF
the oldest senator, and republicans
and democrats alike pleaded with Sen
ator Hepburn not to insist upon en-
forcement Of the rules. Hepburn was
obdurate at first, but finally he saw
the light and asked that the senator
from Missouri be allowed to proceed.
BY this time Senator Stones feelings
and dignity were considerably ruffled
and he refused to accept the privilege
be found a way to conclude his speech
Senator Stone earlier in the week,
had introduced a resolution instruct
ing the senate's finance committee to
inquire whether, during the recent
financial panic, the public funds de-
posted in banks by the secretary of
the treasury had been equtably dis
tributed among the several states. IN
addressing himself to this resolution
Senator Stone had some rather drastic
things to say about the administration.
He had spoken more than an hour
when the vice president announced
that, the hour of o'clock having ar
rived, under the rules it was his duty
to lay before the senate the unfinish-
ed bus ness TIL unfinished business
for that day happened to be the bill
codifying and revising the penal laws,
OF which measure Senator Hepburn
had charge.
Now the long -accepted procedure
when unfinished business interrupts a
senator's speech is for some one to
ask that the business be temporarily
laid aside in order that the speaker
might conclude his remarks. Senator
OVerman, of North Carolina, perform
ed this function for Senator Stone, but
10 the amazement of everyone pres
ent Senator Hepburn objected.
When the vice president announced
that objection had been made Senator
Stone seemed unable to believe his
ears, and he inquired who had made
objection. Senator Hepburn explain
81 10
as he hoped to finish consideration of
the criminal code bill that day.
II hope" Senator Stone, that the
senator will let me conclude"
After Senators Bevcridge and Gull
berson had pleaded with Hepburn
that there should be no violation OF
the courtesy usually extended a sem
ator, the senator from Idaho relented
to the extent of inquiring of Senator
Stone how much time the senator
from Missouri desired to consume,
This was only pouring oil on the
flames. Stone refused TO place a limit
on himself. He said with asperity
that he was approaching a conclusion
when the attempt was made to take
him off the floor but that now he
might want to enlarge his remarks.
Other senator's pleaded that Stone
be allowed to proceed, and finally
Hepburn said: Il can consider the
proposition of yielding for only brief
time; but if the senator has no idea
OF the length of time he will re-
Quire---"
This made Stone mad all the way
through. II ask no favors of the
senator" he declared CURLY. Pro
coed with your bill
The clerk began the reading OF the
bill. but when Senator Culberson rails
ed the question of a quorum Senator
Hepburn saw that he was I'm bad,
and that obstruction by stones friends
was likely to cause him serious trou-
bic Recognizing that retreat was III
order, he asked unanimous consent
that the bin be laid aside and that
Senator Stone be allowed to proceed
with his remarks.
Senator Stone, however, didn't pro
pose to accept a courtesy that hao
been so ungraciously accorded. Il OBJ
ject," he shouted.
There was only one thing for the
vice president TO do. so he ordered
that the reading of the bill proceed
When the reading Of the first section
had been concluded Senator stone
moved that it bestricken out Ana
having thus secured time under the