The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1909-02-19
IA TOILETTE WON
Be GAGGED BY
PENR0SE
SENATORS CLASH OVER coksip-
GRAFTON OF PosroFFIcE BILL
Ia TOILETTE ARRAloNs SEN.
ATE FOR pILAToRY METHODS.


was an unusual scene In the senate
Yesterday when Senator Penrose. OF
Pennsylvania, who controls the most
thoroughly organized political ma
chine" In the United States. sharply
accused Senator La Toilette, who has
warred against the machine politi'
clans. OF obstructing legislation and OF
using language which better becomes
the vendor OF q patent medicine than
q senator OF the United States"
La Toilette had asked that the post
office bill be allowed TO go over until
today, as II had just been reported
from committee and he had no time
N which to examine II. Penrose NOV
ed that the bin be taken up and II was
laid before the senate. La Toilette
arraigned the senate for permitting ap-
preparation bills TO accumulate until
che last days OF the session.
1T seems To be part OF the system
that these most important legislative
acts shall have little consideration"
he said Riders are placed on these
measures and passed when they would
stand no show as separate bill. Salary
increases for the judiciary, for the
high executive offices and for the vice
president and the speaker OF the house
have been put through that way.
Committees unduly delay bills
which might be reported earlier. so
that the senate would have more OPP
portunity 10 study and understand
.hem. Ii Senator Penrose had attend
cd the sessions earlier his committee
might have made a report more
promptly. | hope the tariff bill won't
be put through on creased runway"
Penrose 10 Annoyed.
At this point Penrose interrupted TO
ask the senator from Wisconsin
whether The was delivering his regular
lecture" adding that he thought he
had heard II all before.
La Toilette replied that observations
of that sort would not promote the
passage Of the bill and said his re-
marks might become still more famil-
lar. The senate put of Interstate com
mere legislation for nine years and
delayed the pure food law II years by
applying the same methods against
which he was eontending.
Penrose broke In with: Il shall not
sit silent when misstatements are
made or claptrap craftsmanship In at
. tempted here.
There Is no senator who has a
| greater record for absenteeism than
Mr. La Toilette. 1t Ill becomes him
To criticise these committees. When
| he Is here II Is only to delay the bust
ness Of the senate, TO hold up the
transaction OF public business and TO
embarrass those who endeavor TO en-
act legislation | shall not sit here
and listen TO arguments that might
better be made by a vendor OF patent
medicine from the tail door OF cart
in village of Wisconsin than from a
senator OF the United States
La Toilette remained standing while
these remarks were directed toward
him.
1t is of little use To contradict much
that has been said" he said Ii would
merely put the word Of one senator
against the other
Terms II Coarse Assault.
Then. standing In his place In ST
lence for a few seconds. he looked in
tently toward the senator from Penn
slyvanla. Framing his words with
great deliberation he continued:
Against his coarse and vulgar as
sault | put my record since | have
been a member of this body"
Then looking at the chamber. La
Toilette continued:
You can take no course which will
deter me from exercising my rights
upon this floor to express my views
upon legislation and the orderly con-
duct OF the business OF this body. IT
you we're better acquainted with me
YOU would know that"
La Toilette took his seat and Pen
rose referred TO the next amendment
in the postoffice bill. La Toilette at
almost the same time addressing Vice
President Fairbanks to make an in
uuiry concerning the amendment.
Mr.. President-Mr. President"
called Penrose loudly.
For q moment the senators from
pennsylvania and from Wisconsin and
the president were all talking at the
same time. Finally Penrose's voice
was heard declaring that he had the
privilege OF the floor.
THE chair" said the president calm
~. rs undertaking to answer very
proper inquiry by the senator from
Wisconsin"
II did not understand" said Pen
rose. II thought had the floor and
no one had a right 10 interrupt me
without my consent"
The senate then lapsed into the or
binary business OF hearing additional
amendments.