Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-05-29
VOTE DELAYED ON
THE CURRENCY BILL
Continued from First Page.)


sisted.
Il call attention to the absence Of a
quorum" he said.
The senator declines to yield" stated
the Vice President.
The senator from Wisconsin had no in
tention to desist in his insistence for
quorum. Taking his seat. he reached for
the Senate manual, and after studying 1t
of order suggesting that under a rule OF
the Senate 1t was mandatory on the part
of the presiding officer to call the TOLL
whenever the absence of quorum should
be suggested. regardless OF the fact that
another senator held the floor.
Being overruled. Mr. La Toilette APP
pealed from the decision Of the chair and
proceeded at length to assail the decision.
1t was evident that the threatened nli-
buster of the u isconsin senator had ar
rived, aand there was a we'll founded ru-
more that Senator Stone was prepared to
join him in his efforts to defeat the pas
sage Of the bill
Failing to secure a roll call. Mr.. La Fol-
lette. with determined countenance and
speaking In resounding tones. argued that
dangerous precedent was being made by
which the presiding officer. senator. on
the floor and another senator might con-
tinue the Senate in session and put any
thing they pleased In the Record
Showing the greatest indignation. he re-
sorted to every expedent to carry his
point by various motions. but was Obliged
to abide by vote Of thirty-two to four
teen to lay his appeal on the table.
Vice President Counts Quorum.
Mr.. Gore insisted that the vote showed
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 es-
tablish a precedent here Of counting q
Quorum" inquired Mr.. La Toilette, sug-
costing that that action might come back
Ito plague the Senate.
Vice President Fairbanks In the chair
read from decision by Allen G. Thur
man June 10. 1879, when he announced
that there was quorum present although
not shown by the vote.
During the colloquy Mr.. Aldrich was on
his feet approving the ruling. and a large
number of senators were present on the
republican side
Mr.. Culberson then continued the read
ing OF his statement of receipts and ex-
During six years Of the Roosevelt adj
ministration. said he. there had been
| created 99,3l9 offices.
And this he continued, docs not in
clude any commissions he may have Gre
ated" He quoted figures showing that
preceding administrations had created
fewer officers than those Of the past six
years
Mr.. Culberson dwelt upon deficits in the
1908. He reviewed expenditures In va
rious branches Of the government, and
dwelt upon the increases in the naval and
military establishments.
The expenditures for the military es-
Establishment for the last six years exceed
ed those of the preceding six years, he
said. to the extent Of 1922. 1872. or over
137 per cent, and for the naval establish
235 per cent. The combined expenditures
for these, two branches Of the service dur
ing six years were $S44. 379,Sg or over ITS
per cent, In excess OF the previous six
years. while in that time there had been
no corresponding increase In the popula-
ton.
He concluded by declaring that these fig
ures should startle the people of the coun-
try, and indicate that the nation was pur-
suing course of miitarism.
Demand for q Vote.
During short interval after the conclu-
sion Of Mr.. Culberson's remarks and be-
fore Mr.. La Toilette took the floor there
was a demand that the question of adopt
ing the report be put to the Senate.
The Wisconsin senator, very deliberate
ly securing recognition. walked from the
rear Of the chamber where he was stand
Ing to his seat.
Mr.. Kean Of New Jersey 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 pre-
sumed he had a right to call Tor a
quorum. he forthwith demanded that the
roll be called.
La Toilette Discusses the Bill.
After fifty-seven senators had re-
sponded to the roll call Mr.. La
toilette proceeded with his remarks
on the currency bill reported by
the conferees. saying he would conserve
his strength as much as possible as ne
was just recovering from protracted
illness. He had a small pile Of docu-
ments and several books on the desk be-
fore him. Folding his arms. and support
| ing his weight on the arm OF his chair.
| he spoke slowly.
| The railroad bond feature of the bill.
| as brought back In the conference report.
was the chief object Of his remarks. He
| reviewed in great detail just how the rail,
road bond feature had been In the bill
and later withdrawn. On the democratic
side a score Of senator's remained IN
their places and gave careful attention
| to his remarks.
| On the republican side most of the
senators who remained in the chamber
occupied themselves In various ways. not
more than half dozen OF them appear
ing to pay much attention to the words
Of the senator from Wisconsin
| Before he had spoken for half an hour
| Mr. La Toilette had made two demands
for a roll call
| Senator Stone. upon whom the WIS.,
! consin senator depended as his only as
| sistant in the f1libuster. was present In
the chamber for only few minutes dur
| ing the early part of the session, and 1t
was understood that he was absent pre-
pairing a speech against the bill
Questioning Mr.. Aldrich.
| Mr.. La Toilette in mild tones and with
great show of politeness. suggested that
he would like to have the senator from
Rhode Island hear what he had to say,
and that il he could not hear him he
could draw nigh.
| Every time the attention Of Senator Al
drich was diverted for a moment the Wis
consin senator waited patiently or COM
planned, and insisted that the Rhode Is
| land senator should keep his eyes fixed
| upon him. -
| He asked whether railroad stock, as well
as bonds. could be used to secure emer-
eency currency, to which question Mr..
| Aldrich replied that any security that
! could legally be held by a national bank
| could be so used, but. he said. he did not
believe railroad or other stocks would be
utilized in that way. The answer was
| not entirely to the satisfaction of Mr..
La Toilette. and he said so.
the chamber, and during his absence the
blind senator from Oklahoma. Mr.. Gore,
arose and. apparently looking over the
| chamber said there appeared to be no
quorum present. He asked for roll call,
hut when Mr.. Aldrich returned he ap-
healed to the Vice President to suspend
the call.