Evening star., 1909-05-28
Senator Bacon criticises Clerk
for Promptness IN Calling Roll.
SAYS IT MEANS CLoTURE
Declares It Has Been Often Employ
ed to End Debate.
PRESIDING OFFICER EXPLAINS
Announces That He Had Directed
the Roll Call-Georgia Senator
Suggests Innovation.

In the Senate today Senator Bacon
charged that by collusion between the
clerks Of that body and republican sena-
tors cloture had been effected In the Sen
ate and the rules Of the Senate nullified
The sugar schedule had been taken up
and the Senate was about to vote on an
amendment offered by Mr.. Gore reducing
the rate on refined sugar to 1 cent per
pound.
Call the roll. the chair directed,
whereupon one of the clerks Immediately
started to obey.
Mr.. Bacon at once ordered a halt, and
declaring that he had addressed the chair
| before the call had begun, Immediately
entered upon protest against what he
declared was coming to be the practice
| of the clerk in so promptly beginning his
| call as to cut off senator's who had gained
recognition from the privilege of being
heard. He declared that such a practice
was becoming frequent and asserted that
| the clerk was not there as the represent
| ative of any party or of any senator. but
is here TO do his duty and is not entitled
to so manipulate the roll call as to pre-
| vent senators being heard
Shutting OF Debate.
| Mr. Bacon declared that other senators
that frequently it had been resorted to
for the purpose Of effecting cloture.
| And" he continued. Il have good rea-
| son to believe that 1t was done with the
knowledge that such was the purpose"
He then referred to the ll-night session
| of the last Congress when the Aldrich-
Vreeland currency bill was under discus
sion, when he declared that by the
clerks precipitancy discussion of the con-
| ference report on that measure had been
| brought to an end.
THE name of the senator from Rhode
! Island heads the senatorial list" he said
| 'and by answering promptly he can have
| the roll call under way with very little
| delay"
This statement brought the Rhode Is
| land senator to his feet with promptness
and he made the declaration that he pro.
posed TO exercise his constitutional pre-
rogative of answering to his name when
called without consulting the senator
from Georgia"
Something Unrevealed.
| Mr.. Bacon promptly responded that
while he conceded such a right, he die
not propose that Mr.. Aldrich and the
clerk combined could deprive him of his
Fright to debate. He added significantly
Il have not told all that | know about
this practice. including the incident OF
last session. and l won't tell 1t all unless
| / am forced.
Senator stone, who had been one of the
speakers of the last session, in mos
persuasive tones appealed to Mr.. Bacor
| to tell the full story.
II will not press the senator" said Mr.
Stone, .'but I would be delighted IL ht
would speak out" :.
! But the Georgia senator was obdurate
He was not TO be prevailed upon by mere
persuasion from the democratic side. :.
will not tell all" he said. unless tn,
other side press me. Ii they do press M
| will tell Mr. Bacon closed with tn,
declaration that what had been done il
the previous Congress had been done in
tentionaily and with the purpose of clos
| ing debate. He appealed for decent ans