The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-05-29

~ uIlnS IN the Seante mem mDerSn1p
and the second call proceeded It
brought in SO senator's Mr.. Culber-
son read from the report of the Sec
retary OF the treasury a statement of
annual receipts and expenditures
from 1903, and said he would like
10 conclude his remarks without in
terruptlon. Mr.. La Toilette remarked
that the statement was evidently ad-
dressed to him, but announced that
ne would be constrained to insist upon
keeping a quorum in the senate. The
senator from Texas had not long pro-
ceeded when Mr.. La Toilette again
arose.
call attention to tn absence Of a
Quorum" he said. 1.-The senator de-
clines to YIELD" stated the vice presi-
oent- The senator from Wisconsin then
made point of order, suggesting that
under rule of the senate it was man
datory on the part of the presiding
ofncer to call the roll whenever the
absence OF a quorum should be sug-
gested. regardless of the fact that an
otner senator held the floor. Being
overruled, Mr.. LaFollette appealed
from the decision of the chair and pro-
ceeded to assail the decision. It was
evident that the threatened filibuster
OF the Wisconsin senator had arrived
and there was a well founded rumor
tnat Senator Stone was prepared to
JOIN him in his efforts to defeat the
passage of the bill. Failing to secure
a roll call, Mr.. LaFollette with deter
mined countenance and speaking in re-
sounding tones, argued that a danger
Gus precedent was being made by which
the presiding officer, a senator on the
floor and another senator might con-
tlnue the senate in session and put
anything they pleased in the record.
La Toilette Defeated.
Showing the DISQUALIFICATION he re-
sorted to every expedient to carry his
point by various motions, but was
obliged to abide by vote of 80 to IA
to lay his appeal on the table.
Mr.. Gore insisted that the vote show
ed one less than quorum and the vice
president announced that a quorum
was present in spite of the vote.
Does the presiding officer intend to
establish precedent of counting a
quorum?" inquired Mr.. LaFollette,
suggesting that that action might come
back ito plague the senate.'
Vice President Fairbanks in the
chair read from a decision by Allan G.
Thurman, June 10, 1879, when he an
nounced that there was quorum pres
ent although not shown by vote.
During the colloquy Mr.. Aldrich was
on his feet, approving the ruling and g.
large number of senators were present
on the Republican side. Mr.. Culberson
then continued the reading of his state
ment of receipts and expenditures.
During six years of the Roosevelt ad-
ministration.'' said he, there has been
created 99,319 offices.
And this" he continued, docs not
include any commissions he may have
created"
ceding administrations had created
fewer offices than those of the past
six years. Mr. Culberson dwelt upon
deficits in the revenues compared with
the receipts since 1903. He reviewed
each expenditure in various branches
of the government.
The expenditures for the military
establishment for the last six years
exceeded those of the preceding six
years, he said, to the extent of $416,-
21e,132, or over 1877 per cent and
for the naval establishment to the ex-
tent of 42S million or over 235 per
cent The combined. expenditures for
these two branches of the service dur
ing the six years were $844,379,825 or
over 175 per cent in excess OF the
previous six years while in that time
there had been no corresponding in
crease in population.
He concluded by declaring that
these figures should startle the peo-
pie of the country and indicate that
the nation was pursuing course of
militarism.
He Makes Them Stay.
Before Mr.. La Toilette took the
floor and was recognized there was a
demand that the question of adopting
the report be put to the senate.
Mr.. Kean On. j. called for a vote.
"Is the senator from New Jersey in
a hurry?" inquired Mr.. La Toilette
and then adding that having the floor
he presumed he had a right to call
for quorum, he forthwith demanded
a roll call. After 55 members re-
sponded to roll call Mr.. La
Toilette proceeded with his remarks
on the currency bill reported by the
conferees. The railroad bond fea-
ture as brought back in the confer
ence report was the chief object of
his remarks. On the Democratic side
a score of senators remained in their
places and gave careful attention.
On the Republican side not more than
half a dozen of the senators who re-
mained in the chamber appeared to
pay attention to the Wisconsin sena-
tor. Before he had spoken half an
hour Mr.. La Toilette had made two
demands for a roll call.