The Washington herald., 1908-05-28
ARGURLIABILITYBILL
Senators Occupy Part of Day
in It's Discussion.
MEASURE CONSIDERED DEAD
Little Chance that IL VIII BE Con-
sidcred Again This SessIOn-Anti-
administration Leaders Determined
to Bury It-FOrnISer Approves PrIn-
cipIe, but Desires Changes.

Several hours were given to considera-
ton Of the government liability bill IN
the Senate yesterday, but II was not
voted on. and Senators on both sides OF
the chamber agree that the bill viii not
pass at this session.
The bill is one Of those the enactment
Of which the President strongly desires.
and the anti-administration Senators, so
the Presidents friends declare, have made
up their minds that It shall be made an
object lesson. along with the inland wa
terways bill and other administration
measures
Secretary Taft made little journey to
the Capitol yesterday, and then visited
the White House 20 tell the result Of his
errand. The Capitol visit was for the
purpose Of talking with Senator Aldrich
and other Senate leaders about the La
biIty bill
Il do not interfere with any OF the
prerogatives Of the legislative branch"
said Mr.. Taft after leaving the Capitol.
but want TO use my personal influence
In favor Of this bill / am especially in
|
ernment employees affected by the bill.
4OCCO are under the Jurisdiction OF the
War Department"
This is the bill concerning which the
President remarked Tuesday 10 Senator
Depew that the Senate amendments were
intended 10 kin IT,
The Senate had the bin under cOnsldera-
ton during mos, Of the day. but little
UrOgreCg vgne fY,ada ffr,y, it C.-ot,- D..
eridge endeavored 10 get unanimous con-
sent for a vote before the close Of the
day. but Senator Teller objected.
Senator Foraker condemned the bill. He
said II impressed him as an unconstltu-
uonal measure. because II lugged in the
question Of negligence" The determi-
nation OF that question was a judicial
function which Congress could not confer
upon the Secretary Of Commerce and La
Dor, as was proposed IN the bill
Foraker Resents Imputation.
Senator Gall!nger showed some inpa-
tience with the constitutional LAWYERS"
IN the Senate. who were disposed. he said
TO discuss the bill forever
If the Senate means 10 rebuke me-
| replied Mr.. Foraker. with some feeling.
1 resent il. I do not accept the rebuke
with humility"
Mr. Foraker said he was In favor OF dis
cussing tho bin sufficiently 10 frame an
/ intelligent measure.l Il never saw a hin
mat Is open 10 as many objections as this
one is. said the Senator from Ohio Mr.
Foraker closed by saying ne would vote
ior the Dill II he could get IL perfected.
/ because he was anxious to do something
! 70 relieve government employees injured.
] No HrfH r.H.
ment employ.
! senator Fulton, OF Oregon, assured Mr..
/ Foraker that the c0nstitutionalitv OF the
| bill could not be successfully attacked.
| senator Clark. Of Wyoming. offered 10
/ amend the bin by making the law effect
/ I've on August ], 1905. He explained that
/ the department. could not get the ma
| chinery In working order before that
/ date
What IS to become Of employees in
/ jured between now and August u" in
/ quirec Senator Knox. Mr.. Clark's
amendment was adopted. however.
Galiinger's Reply Is Tart.
Senator Ganinger took the floor 70 saw
that he had reflected upon what Mr.
! Foraker had said about ''resenting' what
he Nlr. Galllnger) had said about con
! stituuonal lawyers" The Senator from
| New Hampshire tartly observed that II
he had replied to Mr. Foraker nj the
time he would have said that 1t made no
| difference whether he resented 1t or not. "
The debate became attenuated after
I that, and dragged on until late In the
afternoon, when Il was interrupted by
the appearance OF a conference report
on an omnibus land bill When that had
been disposed Of. following another long
debate the currency bin report was al
hand, and the liability bill was not again
| taken up
Mr.. Depew. IN charge Of the measure.
| tried to secure its further consideration
and vote, but Senator Teller's objec-
I ton sent Il over. Mr.. Depew gave notice
that he would call II up at "the earliest
! opportunity" but. as adjournment will
shortly follow the passage OF the cur
rency bill. there IS little likelihood that
| the liability bill will again come up at
/ this session