The Washington herald., 1908-05-27
Senate Will Discuss Federal
Liability Bill To-day.
BEvERIDGE WARNS LEADERS
Must Take Responsibility for Fail
ure 10 PnSS Desired Legislation.
Against Important Bills and Kean
ReprOves Him for Consuming Time

yesterday which may result I'm the sus-
pension OF the leaders hlibuster for a
sufficient time to-day to allow the pas
sage Of the government liability bill.
which the President is anxious 20 have
enacted at this session OF Congress.
Senator Bevorldge served notice on the
Senate leaders that the measure. which
has been passed by the House. is up to
them, 20 pass or leave on the calendar. as
they choose. and that they can also take
the responsibility If It is not passed
Later In the day Senator Depew. who
Is I'm charge of the bill. apparently to his
own surprise. secured unanimous consent
tc make the bill the special order Of
business Immediately following the rou-
tine morning business to-day. This as
sures consideration Of the bill shortly
after the Senate meets. and unless the
leaders are determined to oppose it, the
measure should be passed before adj
journment.
Put Leaders on Record.
The friends of the President in the
Senate believe however. that Il Is un-
likely that the liability bill. the inland
waterways bill, or any other measure
which the President is advocating will be
allowed by the leaders. who arc OF the
anu-administration stripe, 20 pass at this
session. Mr.. Roosevelt's friends are
working 20 the end Of putting the lead
crs on record as opposed to adminlstra-
ton measures II they cannot be passed
The obstructive tactics adopted by the
Senate leaders since Saturday IN order
10 prevent the consideration OF further
business ~ this session was continued
yesterday, the Journal being read In full.
When the reading had been IN progress
twenty minutes Senator Fulton of Ore
gon. ASKED unanimous consent for the
approval of the Journal without further
reading. but Senator Kean. of New Jer-
sey. who had been left on guard Mcssrs.
Hale and Aldrich being busy with the
currency bin conference objected. re-
marking, with his pleasant smile. that
the reading Of the Journal on the pre-
vious day had been Of great value, since
Il had developed the fact that an error
had been made IN the number of a
statute quoted IN the Record. The read
ing continued upon his objection 10 its
cessation. and the task was finished
at 2:30, half an hour after the Senate
met.
Then Senator Beveridge got the floor.
rising 20 the question Of approving the
Journal. and served his notice on the
filbustering leaders. He declared that
three hours had been consumed in the last
three days in reading the Journal. with
out profit. The Senate had twice had be-
fore it the government liability bill. "a
measure Of great Importance"
Twice have asked" the Senator from
Indiana continued. "that the measure be
taken up and made the unfinished busl-
ness for the following day. Yesterday
! waived the Territories bill. Of which
am Tn charge. so that the bill fer the
compensation Of government employees for
injuries might be considered. and IL was
considered until 3:4O o'clock. There ap-
parently remains time for the passage
OF this bill. II having passed the House
in its present form, and I earnestly trust
that II may pass
Il have not offered any substitute or
amendment. although I had given notice
that / probably should offer a substitute
which Is the legislation demanded by an
immense number Of government employees
and the labOring men affiliated with
them. I do not desire however 10 offer
a substitute that would delay the passage
of the needed legislation I'm some form.
and ! wish 20 say now. in order that the
Senate may have the fact very clearly in
mind in considering whether they will
take up that very necessary legislation
and pass Il. that / shall not offer that
substitute"
GnIIinger Would Amend II.
Senator Gallinger interrupted to say
that there are other Senators quite as
friendly TO the desired legislation as Mr..
Boveridge. but some OF them desire
changes IN the bin, if it can be done
He would. he said. suggest an amend
ment when the bill should come up again.
which he believed to be Important. Nor
would he consent 20 have II passed IN
its present form. II his amendment should
appeal 10 majority OF the Senate.
Mr. Bevertdge replied that he was mere
~ trying 10 remove any objection to its
passage which might confront the bill
Then he offered a petition from the Cen
trGl Labor Union, Of Washington, I'm IA
vor Of the passage of the bill. and. after
son difficulty as to whether It were ger
name 90 the question of the approval OF
Of the journal, had It read TO the Senate
and inserted IN the Record
Then Senator Newlands Of Nevada. who
Is in charge Of another measure the pas
sage Of which the President desires. en-
ceavored to discuss the bin. which pro-
vides for the perpetuation Of the inland
waterways commission. and when the
regular order was demanded. be launched
into an arraignmont of the flibustering
policy adopted by the Senate leaders in
the face of the fact that important busi-
ness Is pending before the Senate
Bar Future Filibusters.
Il suggest that in future sessions Of the
Senate" he concluded, "the consideration
OF important measures. such as the one to
which have referred. shall not be block
ed by these obstructive methods Of ap-
pealing 10 the rules Of the Senate as a
means Of putting the Senate in O legisla-
tive staightjacket"
The slow. teasing smile broke over the
features Of Senator Kean as he arose Ito
q question Of order" Requested by the
Vice President 10 state his question. he
asked blandly If the journal had been ap-
proved.
No" replied the Vice President. "the
question Is on the approval Of the jour-
nal"
Then" said Mr. Kean as II he really
regretted having TO say Il, Il am sorry
that the Senator from Nevada has delay
ed the approval Of the Journal so song"
Without objection remarked the Vice
q .naam Il n