Evening star., 1909-02-18
SENATE PLANS UPSET
La Toilette Demands DeIibera-
ton on Appropriations.
MAY MAKE BILLS FAIL
Seeks Adequate Explanation" of
the Measure Reported.
WANTS TIME TO EXAMINE IT
Objects to Omitting the Reading of
the Bill, Which Is Laid Aside
for Speech by Gary.
nay MAKE BILLS FAIL
WANTS TIME TO EXAMINE IT

Il intend to seek and hope I will get
an adequate explanation OF these i'm
portant appropriation bills, declared Sen
ator La Toilette in the Senate today, pro-
testing against the practice of reporting
these bills to the Senate and then asking
for immediate consideration without op-
portunity for senators not members Of the
committee to previously examine COM
mittee amendments.
Senator La Follette's fight for recogni-
tion by the Senate and for reform in the
methods of conducting business that have
grown up there. conducted on behalf Of
himself and the other republican insur-
semblance to joke. Today Mr.. La Fol-
lette began to apply to the post office ap-
preparation bill exactly the same sort of
tactics that he used against the naval ap-
preparation bill, which he held I'D for
three legislative days and forced the Sen
ate to discuss in the greatest detail.
Plans of Leaders Upset.
What is more. 1t is now understood that
Mr.. La Toilette will demand the. same
careful consideration for every one of the
big appropriation bills still to be acted
upon by the Senate for the next fiscal year
beginning July next. This means that the
plans of the leaders of the Senate will be
put to naught and that several of these
highly important measures will probably
be thrown over into the special session
to be called by Mr. Taft Marcf, 15 next.
Under Its present rules the Senate is
absolutely powerless to prevent Mr.. La
Toilette from carrying out his tactics.
Immediately after the close of the morn
ing business today. which was about L. &c
pm, Senator Penrose, chairman of the
committee on post Offices and post roads
asked that the post office appropria ton
bill be laid before the Senate. Mr.. La
Toilette was on the alert.
Asks That Bill Go Over.
He appealed to Senator Penrose to per-
NIT the bill to lie over until tomorrow
before pressing its consideration by the
Senate.
Here is bill,'' continued Mr.. La Fol.
lette, consisting of thirty-odd pages,
carrying $22G cO0,OOO of appropriations
accompanied by report of five lines,
respect to the changes made In the bill
by the Senate committee.
= II protest against this form of pro.
cedure. This bill has been in the posses
post roads twenty days, and 1 think the
Senate should have one day to investi-
gate it,
Mr. Penrose replied that the measure
came from the House on the 2Sth day
Of January and had been acceptable to
every senator every day since that time
The Senate committee, he explained, had
added only $4,000 net to the bill. and all
the changes were recommended by the
Postmaster General
II am glad to have that much expla-
nation" said Mr.. La Toilette. IA hur-
ried examination makes it appear to me
as If the bill carried a larger increase.
l am willing to start earlier tomorrow
morning than the regular time, If the
bill is allowed to go over.
81 will ask the SENATOR said Mr.. Pen
rose. 'if he has tried to find out anything
about this BILL
mo. l will frankly say I have not.
was the reply. Il have not had time
Mr.. PenrOse then said he would explain
the bill as he went along with it. but this
did not satisfy Mr.. La Toilette. He said
his hasty examination of the measure
showed that there were decreases
amounting to sl9S.O0O and increases
amounting to $4,000.
Objects to Consideration.
Il object said the Wisconsin senator,
when the Vice President inquired whether
the Senate would give unanimous consent
to take up the bill
Then ! move to take up the BILL said
Mr.. Penrose testify.
A viva voce vote was overwhelming in
favor of Mr.. Penrose. who then asked
that the first formal reading of the bill
be dispensed with.
Il object announced Mr.. La Toilette,
most emphatically.
Il hope" said Mr.. Penrose. ''the SEN
ator will remain in his seat while the
bill is being read.
TN discharge my duty on this floor, -
Mr.. La Toilette asserted las ] see 1t,
without any suggestion from any other
senator
1t was plain to be seen that Mr.. La
Toilette was angry, and determined to
assert every right to which he was eptitl-
ed as senator.
Gary Speaks on immigration.
Before the first reading of the bill was
begun, however, Mr.. Penrose yielded to
Senator Gary Of South Carolina, to de-