The Topeka state journal., 1908-04-03
War FROM NOW ON
Political Battle Begun in the
House Last Night.
Will Be Fought Out to q Finish
1t Is Said.
PERSONAL INTERESTS
Will Be Cast Aside i'm the Strug.
gle for Party Advantage.
Majority May Be Forced to Use
It's Club in the End.


washington, April 3.-Leaders of
the two parties in the house agree that
yesterdays disagreement on the floor
was but a skirmish preliminary to an
extended battle in which the Demo-
cratic minority expects to fight out to
hn1sh its programme of endeavoring
to secure by coercion certain legisla-
ton demanded by them and in part
recommended by the president and the
republican majority will abandon its
defensive attitude and carry the war
across the border.
For the struggle both forces will
strip for action and all such impedi-
ments as private bills and minor leg
1slatlon In general will be cast aside
and trampled under foot. Five of the
big appropriation bills. District of CO.
lumbia, naval, naval academy, sundry
civil and general def1ciency-are vet to
be disposed of, and as the fighting or
der of the minority is to compel action
on selected measures by blocking all
action, neither minor bills nor debates
OF any length must be allowed to con-
sumo the time remaining.
Mr.. Williams, the leader OF the mi
nority, denies that the affray was in
the nature of a flibuster. He declared
today that the Democrats were NOT
filibustering, but "are intent upon
serious and highly commendable effort
to force the Republicans to do one of
two things:
Either pass certain measures which
most of them are personally in favor
of and which Republican president
has urged or suffer themselves to be
recorded openly and individually as
opposed to them. The understanding
publicans are prepared to bear up
against the warfare of the minority
for a limited time without recourse to
"the deadly weapon of the majority
the rules committee" but that the
Democrats will not be permitted to i'm
peril by delay the big appropriation
bills. In other words. recourse will not
be had until the sands Of the session
run low in the glass, to the expedient
of bringing in from the committee on
rules the without Intervention rule,
nor will the speaker invoke the -dila-
tory motion until forced to do so.
There was a slim attendance of
members when the house convened to-
day due to the strenuous session of
yesterday, which ran far into the night
majority and minority leaders, how
ever, were on hand prepared for the
further parliamentary struggle which
soon was again under way. 1t was
precipitated by motion by Mr.. Payne
for the approval of the journal of yes
terday. On that motion usually treat
ed as formality, roll call was forced
by Mr.. Williams. 1t served to bring
out the full strength of both parties.
The partisans on both sides We're evil
IDENTIFY determined to conduct the fight
to a finish.
Having accomplished their purpose
of obstruction, the Democrats joined
the Republicans in voting for the ap-
proval of the journal, the proposition
being carried, yeas, 267; nays. 32.
hn hxy no
speaker an opportunity to make
brief statement in connection with
the supplementary urgent deficiency
bill which Mr.. Tawney, (Minn.) called
up, Mr.. Williams objected to it's con-
sideration, thereby forcing another
the affirmative along with the Re-
publicans. The house agreed to con-
slider the bill, yeas, 266: nays, 1.
In explaining the senate amend
ments Mr.. Tawney said that one of
them was for $4,000 for the trans
other officers of the army.
Does that deficiency arise from
any Of those extraordinary horse
back tests ordered by the president ?'
Mr.. Fitzgerald inquired, amid laugh
ter.
Mr. Tawney admitted that $4,000 of
it was in consequence of what the gen
tleman calls extraordinary tests" A
charge by Mr.. Fitzgerald that the Sec
retary of the navy had not acted in
god faith in that he recently furloughed
many men of the Washington navy
yard in the face of his estimate for a
81, 100000 deficiency which was about to
be granted, brought forth a rejoinder
by Mr.. Tawney. He referred to the
present filibuster and said that the sec
retary who once was member of the
house, being familiar with similar OBJ
structions, no doubt felt that it would
be several months before the money
was obtained.
Tawney moved the previous question
and that general debate close at once.
The yeas and nays were demanded by
Mr.. Williams and the roll accordingly
col1ad for tho third time