Evening star., 1909-03-02
F|L|BUSTER IN SENATE
Democrats Blocking Action
on Penal Bill.
ACCUSED BY Mr.. HEPBURN
Declares Minority Member Told Him
of Purpose.
SENATORS ASSERT INNOCENCE
At the Same Time They Demand
That Bulky Bill Be Read
in Full.
ACCUSED BY Mr.. HEPBURN
SENATORS ASSERT INNOCENCE

Another we'll organized and persistent
filibuster is on in the Senate. which SO
readily lends itself to that form of legis-
lative delay.
1t reared its head from the mass of
conference reports and appropriation bills
shortly after 10 o'clock this morning, and
bids fair to enliven the proceedings until
the end of the present Congress, with
brief intervals for the final action on
the appropriation bills, which have the
right of way over everything under the
rules.
1t is to prevent the adoption of the con-
ference report on the penal code bill, con-
tanning all of the old Reconstruction
or "ku-klux legislation, enfranchising
the negroes in the south and affording
them federal protection at the polls,
most OF which has long been a dead let
ter on the statute books, that the fill
buster Is under way. 1t is not necessary
to add that the southern democrats are
turning the trick.
The democrats took delight all morn
ing and afternoon in solemnly expressing
their entire ignorance Of what is in the
bill, and demanding that the clerk read
all sorts of documents bearing upon the
SubJect-the longer the better
Senator Hepburn "Riled."
These tactics riled almost beyond en-
durance Senator Heybur of Idaho, who,
as chairman of the committee on the re-
vision of the laws of the United States.
is in charge of the bill. He flashed
back some exceedingly frank replies to
Senator Clark of Arkansas. who is lead
ing the filibusters. though all the time
declaring that he has not the slightest
intention Of "f1libustering."
There is a very strong suspicion that
Senator Aldrich, leader Of the ma jority.
Is not altogether unsympathetic with the
efforts of the democrats to hold up the
bill. and several times since the Senate
convened this morning he has been seen
comforting with Mr.. Clark.
Mr.. Hepburn openly charged the dem
ocrats with opposing the measure on the
construction" or "ku-kluz'' legislation
enacted Immediately following the civil
war to carry out the provisions of the
fourteenth and fifteenth amendments to
the Constitution.
II want the country to understand just
why this measure is being held up he
shouted; that 1t Is simply because the
minority has taken the position that none
unless this legislation regarding the cleo
tive franchise be striken out Of the BILL
He declared this had been stated to
him by democratic member Of his COM
mittee.
Denied by Senator Daniel.
Senator Daniel of Virginia vigorously
denied that this was the case. He was
not aware Of any such objection to the
bill, he said, but believed it was so i'm
portant measure that the Senate should
be fully informed in regard to it. He
didn't think Mr.. Hepburn had any right
to repeat private conversation in the
open Senate.
Il had permission of the senator to re-
peat what he Sai0.' rpfortQd 10 ho
senator
Senator Clark insisted that the entire
House report on the bill be read for the
Information of the Senate This includes
the whole bill, which contains ali of the
criminal laws of the United States. Mr.
Hepburn objected, but the Vice President
ruled that Mr.. Clark had a right to
demand the reading.
So the clerk took up the bulky meas
ure and settled down for several hours
of hard grinding.
Roll Calls Demanded.
In a few minutes Senator Money sug-
gested the absence of a quorum, and the
roll had to be called. Several times dur
ing the afternoon this suggestion was re-
peated, and the proceedings took on the
semblance of a full-fedged filibuster in
every particular
When Mr. Hepburn allowed the penal
'ouC piii III De temporarily ld1Q aside Tor
the making of a conference report on
the rivers and harbors bill the demo-
Gratis made an effort to hold up this
measure just to kill time, and succeeded
in doing so for about half an hour Then
the reading of the penal code was re-
Sumed.
AS the big appropriation bills and con-
terence reports on them have the right
of way, and the republican leaders have
nothing else that they want to do before
March A. thew annear tn no narfacflv will.
ing to allow the democrats to go their
own sweet way, especially as they are
not over anxious themselves to pass the
penal code bill at this session. and have
never looked with extreme favor on the
belligerent tactics of the senator from
Idaho.
1t is very plain that Messrs. Aldrich
and Hale are allowing Mr. Hepburn to
get his medicine" perhaps, to cure him
of the habit of .'butting in" at inoppor-
tune times and spelling nice little plans
of theirs.