The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-05-29
One Is Started by La Toilette
in the Senate
In an Effort to Hold Up the
Currency Bill.
WALK OUT
When Culberson Attempts to
Speak on the Measure.
He Begs That a Quorum Will
Not Be Insisted Upon.


evident soon after the senate conven-
ed today that Senator LaFollette would
do all in his power to obstr,,ct the
passage Of the compromise currency
bill and there was ground for the re-
port that he had succeeded in obtain
ing assurance of help from Senator
Stone (Mo.) who had but inst RETURN
ed from his home. Before O'Clock
Mr. LaFollette had made two demands
for a quorum and when upon the third
demand the vice president refused to
recognize him because Senator Culber-
son had the floor and declined to Weld
he raised a point of order to the ef-
fect that the presiding officer should
have the roll called when there was
a demand for quorum even in the
face of declination by the senator
occupying the floor to yield for the pur-
pose.
the vice president held against the
wisconsin senator and the latter an
nounced his intention to appeal from
the cha1r's decision. He then entered
upon an argument in support of his
contention and it was evident that the
fihbuster, small though it be in num-
berS was on.
When the senate convened today and
undertook to enter upon the consider
alton of the conference report on the
currency bill there were evidences of a
disposition to obstruct consideration.
Inquiries were made about other bills
Senator Culberson threw himself into
the. breach when the vice president un-
-dertook to put the question as to
whether the conference report should
be adopted, frequent demands for a
quorum were made and Senator La
Toilette was very, busy in looking for
Senator Stone (MoO, who had just ar
rived after haSty summons from his
r, l1n Missouri
senator lay his only hope of a filibus-
ter.
Other Matters Crowd In.
Immediately after the senate met
Mr.. Aldrich moved to dispense with
the reading of the journal and then
agreed to motion by Mr.. Depew to
take up the government employees liza
bility bill. but Mr.. McLaurin insisted
that it be considered after the confer
ence report on the currency should
have been disposed Of. -fe7- -
Mr.. Aldrich seemed willing to have
some other business disposed of be-
fore taking up the currency measure
and Mr.. Beveridge (Ind.) attempted
to obtain an agreement to vote on the
bill for the publicity of campaign
contribution. In making this request,
Mr. Beveridge- referred to the failure
| of the committee on privileges and
elections to report the resolution and
in so doing called out sharp rebuke
from Senator Burrows, who is chair
man of that committee. When
ultimately the currency report was
taken up and Vice President Fair
the report, there was a chorus of
affirmative votes from the Republican
side, but before the noes could be
called for, Mr.. Culberson was on his
feet to discuss the report
The Texas senator proceeded to
oh q inrifV nartV with long
delay in enacting financial legislation
which had begun, he said, six months
ago. But" he added, "a political
exigency has apparently decreed that
the bill shall become law and it Is
not surprising that it has not found
a defender in this chamber.
THAT, at least he continued, "is
a tribute to the intellectual integrity
of this body which is gratifying to
me-
He declared that the bill was in the
interest of the gambling interests of
that the usual subterfuge of the
general welfare has not been sug-
gested." Mr. Culbersen then
launched into political speech on
the expenditures of the government
during the administration of Presi-
dent Roosevelt, which he said. was
fortunately drawing to close.
Senators Would Not Listen.
An exodus from the chamber hav-
ing begun Mr.. La Toilette interrupted
Mr. Culberson to point out the fact
that there was not a quorum present.
Mr. Culberson had only begun on his
statement of government expendi-
lures after 4S senators had come in,
in response to a roll call, when they
gradually disappeared from the
chamber and Mr.. La Toilette, looking
about keenly as he leaned forward in
his pIace. again called attention to
the absence of a quorum Although
the senator from Texas appealed to
him not to insist upon another roll
call. he declared that he would have