The Washington herald., 1908-05-26
SENATE MARKS TINE
Spends the Day Waiting for
House to Catch Up.
sUNDRY CIVIL BILL APPROVED
This Forms Sole Affirmative Action
Of the Senate During Long Days
buster-Beveridge Tries I'm Vain
to Have Bills Considered.

The Senate just marked time yesterday
The only measure that was passed was
the conference report on the sundry civil
appropriation bill. Although the Senate
met at II o'clock. an hour earlier than
usual, the time was taken up in con-
sidering ways and means to prevent con-
structive legislation.
Two measures Of merit for the passage
Of which the President is anxious-she
government employees liability bill and
the inland waterways commission bill-are
waiting action. both having passed the
House. An important Territorial bill is
also pending. Yet. despite efforts on the
part OF the Presidents friends, nothing
was done save to argue the liability bill
10 no purpose.
Two hours were consumed in reading
the Journal Senator Beveridge, who was
trying 10 secure the passage Of several
administration measures. chided Senators
with the statement that the Journal OF
Saturdays proceedings was the longest
in the history OF Congress, and that read
ing it in full had been insisted upon for
the first time in the present session, ex-
cept last Saturday, when a flibuster was
inaugurated.
NewIands Again Turned Down.
Senator Beveridge moved several times
to dispense with the reading Of the Jour
nal, and TO proceed 20 the consideration
Of the bills in which he was interested,
among them being the omnibus bill for
the Territories and the government Habil-
ity bill. Senator Newlands again tried
to get the inland waterways bill before
the Senate.
Each time Senator Kean or some other
Republican Senator promoting the fill
buster to prevent consideration Of new
business at this session objected, and
the monotonous reading continued.
Then the conference report on the
sundry civil bill came over from the
House. Mr. Beveridge thought he saw
ray OF hope. but II was quickly dis
PEELED by Senator Aldrich. who called for
the reading OF each Of the several hundred
items in the bill, and then added 70 that
the request that the report be read.
There was at no time a quorum OF Sen
ators present
The Senate spent some time in the con-
sideration OF the bill. recommended by
the President. giving to government en-
ployes engaged In hazardous employ
ment the right OF recovery for injuries
incurred in the line OF duty.
Liability Bill Is Opposed.
Senator Depew strongly defended the
bill He said II affected 71.O0O persons
Senator William Alden Smith. OF Michi-
gan, condemned Il. He declared that, for
one. he was unwilling 70 yield adherence
to the common law rule regarding fellow
servants. He expressed the opinion that
government employees should be sent 70
the courts for recovery.
Senator ciapp, Of Minnesota. suggested
the advisability OF having the United
States attorney in the district Were the
accident occurred investigate and for
ward the case. with his recommended
tions. 10 the Secretary Of Commerce
and Labor
Senator Foraker condemned the bill as
an extraordinary measure, and Senator
Piles. OF Washington, said he would
vote for Il, II at all. under protest" As
the debate progressed much opposition
developed.
No action had been taken on the bill
when. after a vain effort on the part OF
Senator Beveridge TO prolons the session,
and an equally vain effort on the part OF
the leaders 10 secure an executive ses-
sion. an adjournment was forced by refer
ences on the floor to the absence OF a
quorum.