The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-06-11

purpose the restoration of our mer-
chant marine. I can complacently
endure the charge that I am lined up
| with Wall street when I voted Tor
| these shipping bills, and am not
ASHAMED of the company which L keep
with those who are equally guilty with
| myself; for, If I was with Wall street
when I voted for the bill. similar
charge can be made against President
Roosevelt when he recommended 1t.
leave to Mr.. White and Mr.. Brfstow'
who claim to be devoted followers
and supporters of President Roose-
/ welt. the pleasant duty of explaining
/ why they are so much opposed to this
| great policy of this administration.
Railroad Employers Liability Bill
! This is the charge:
| "On page 1921, volume 40, part D
| of the Record, Senator Longs vote
stands against giving relief to railroad
employes killed or injured in the SER
vice"
My vote on page 1921 was on a pro
/ posed amendment to the Hepburn
rate bill The amendment was e o1er-
ed by Senator LaFollette (page oSlZ).
AS stated by a number of senators on
| pages 682O-21, this same provision
had been incorporated into the en-
ployers liability bill, which was then
about to be reported to the sena.e.
L
that it properly belonged to the en-
/ blowers liability bill and did not be-
| long to the rate bill. AS an amend
ment to the rate bill this propos1tio-'
was defeated by vote OF 20 yeas 70
| as nays. I voted against 1t. I voted
| for the same proposition IN the GIN
ployers liability bill.
This bill was carelessly drawn
however, and was later decided TO De
unconstitutional by the suprems
court. The congress just ad1ourneo
re-enacted the measure after el1mlnat-
ing from it the Objectionable features
designated in the opinion of the SUI
nreTne court. 1 voted for 1t again at
the last session.
Hide and Seek Game.
The charge is as follows:
"Aeain. when attempt was made TO
limit the hours of service OF railroad
enployes and thereby save human
lives, Long voted no on page SLos,
volume 40. part 10. Wall street mas
figured human slaughter as a fixed
charge and Long voted to let that
charge remain the same.
''Then a queer play began. When
the bill was up for conslderation
again, Long is recorded on page 9IoV
as not voting, and in the same page
when a quorum was called he is
quoted as being present; again the
motion was put on the bill to prevent
killing American citizens by working
railroad men overtime, and Long IS
hidden in the cloak room, and does
not dare vote; again a quorum is
called and again the bill is put up and
again Long ran to the cloak room.
Again the roll was called on the next
mage of the Record and Senator Long
was dragged in by the scruff OF the
neck by his conscience and pubic
sentiment and voted for the bill. All
ffoy r,f nf
street and save his face continued.
If Long would serve Kansas as faith
fully as he served Wall street, what
a tower Of strength he would be-"
If this charge is true it would be
most disreputable performance Tor
any representative to be guilty of. II
I had been guilty of this charge l
would resign from the senate and
never seek any further honors at the
hands of the people Of Kansas. I am
surprised that Mr.. White and Mr..
Bristow should make this charge. In
other portions of the article I am
credited with having personal in
! tegrity and with being a man of hon
or; as not afraid to take a position on
any public question even though it
| might at the time be unpopular.
There is absolutely no foundation
| for this charge and it shows how in
accurate the whole article, Is SO far
as having any foundation in fact.
Senator LaFollette moved to proceed
| to the consideration of senate bill
| 5133, to promote the safety of en-
| ployes and travellers on railroads, by
| limiting the hours of service. There
| was a roll call (page 9259) for the
sole purpose of determining the pres
| ence Of quorum; 1 was present and
| my name Is recorded there. When
the vote was taken on Senator La
Follett's motion to take up the bill
| (page 9260) I am recorded as not
voting. I was not in the cloak room;
I was sitting in my seat in the SEN
| ate. Why did 1 not vote? The
| Record shows the reason. When. my
| name was called, I said:
ST have a general pair with the
senior senator from Idaho (Mr. Du-
bois). In his absence withhold my
| vote"
! When a senator has a general pair
with another senator, he cannot vote
| unless the senator with whom he Is
paired is present. Senator Dubois was
absent and so, while I could answer
to my name on a roll call to ascertain
the presence of quorum, when a
vote was taken I of course could not
| vote, and Mr.. White and Mr.. Bris-
| tow knew this when they made this
charge. There are eight roll calls
recorded on pages $3.50 and 9261; four
| of them are on Senator LaFollette's
motion to take up the bill. I did not
vote on any of these motions except
the last. Just before that vote was
| taken an arrangement was made with
Senator Mallory of Florida, who was
| paired with Senator Proctor of Yer
mont. The Record contains the fol-
lowing:
Mr.. Mallory: I am paired with the
senior senator from Vermont (Mr
Proctor) and the senior senator from
Kansas (Mr. Long, is paired with the
senator from Idaho (Mr. Dubois).
understand that the senator from
Kansas is willing to make a transfer,
and transfer my pair to the senator
from Idaho (Mr. Dubois) and will
vote. I vote YEA"
The Record also contains this stat to