Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1909-02-19
VOALlL DILL AOOLD
Measure Carrying Two Hundred Thir-
ty-Two Million p IS Senate.
La TOILETTE 4 Z. Qsr TILT
Wisconsin Senator O. e Bus
mess is PurposelS
BLAME COMMITTEE ORG IN
Says Legislation is Pushed ough
in Rush Of Finish.
RESPONSE IN ANGRY TONES
rennsyIyanisn Charges that Man from
H-dEer state Does Not Attend
teetinEs of Committees He
II Now Member OF.

MAkHlk3ION. feD. Is ne pObtoIllC0
bill. carrying appropriations of 1892, 2,0o0.-
900, was passed by the senate today after
stormy debate during which Senator
Penrose. In charge of the measure. made
an angry assault upon Senator la Toilette,
who had entered into a general criticism
OF the senate committees because Of
what he termed their unwarranted delay
in reporting great appropriation bills.
Mr.. la Toilette declared the senate ad
permitted a glut OF important legislation
to be disposed of in haste during the last
days of congress, and had suggested that
II would be no calamity II these bills
could be acted upon In the regular ses-
sion, saying that reorganization Of
committees would allow the special ses-
sion 20 consider them and other important
legislation.
Responding in angry tones, Mr.. PEN
rose declared Mr.. La Follettes criticisms
sounded more like the arguments made
by a vendor of a patent medicine from
the tall door of cart in village of
Wisconsin, than those of a senator of the
United States.
La Toilette and PenrOse.
The colloduy was rendered almost tragic
by the angry tones and fiery attitude as
sumed by the senator from Pennsylvania
as he denounced the senator from Wis
consin, who stood quietly at his place
on the other side of the chamber staring
back at his big antagonist
The day had begun by Mr.. La Toilette
asking tha& the postoffice bill be allowed
to go overAuntil tomorrow as It had just
been reportAt from the committee and he
had no time in which to examine IT. MT
Penrose had resisted this request. saying
he would explain all amendments wnicn
- I'd ttNo
Penrose had moved that the bill be taken
up and Il was laid before the senate, the
senator from Wisconsin demanding the full
reading of the text OF the bill. Later Mr.
La Toilette severely arraigned the senate
for permitting legislation TO accumulate
until the last few days OF the session, when,
he declared. bills were rushed through with
liitle or no time for senators 20 understand
them. No.,
Charge. Delay of Business.
my observation IL that these appropria-
ton bills get In here about as late for the
long session as they do for the short ses-
SION" said Mr.. La Toilette. 1T seems to
be part OF the system that these most Inn
portant executive acts shall have little con-
alteration He charged that important
legislation was PLACED in the measure ana
passed when It could not pass as separate
bill. He said also that the salary increase
for the judiciary for the high executive Off
GERS and for the vice president and the
speaker Of the house had been put through
in that way and insisted that committees
unduly delayed bills which might be re-
ported earlier so that the senate would have
more opportunity to study and understand
them. lie declared he hoped the tariff bill
would not be put through on CREASED
runway"
II do not see," he continued, that it
would be such terrible calamity to the
country II the discussion OF these bills
should carry some of them over to an extra
session. l know that II appropriation bills
are disposed of at this time there will not
be any reorganization OF committees at this
time and various important legislation out
side OF appropriation bills ought 20 go over
70 another session OF congress"
Senator Penrose interrupted to ask the
senator from Wisconsin whether "he was
delivering his regular lecture" adding that
he thought he had heard II all before.
Mr. La Toilette replied that observations
of that sort would not promote the passage
Of the bill and said that his remarks were
apt to be stln more familiar He chided
the senate with having put Off interstate
commerce legislation for nine years and
having delayed the pure food law for seven
teen by applying the same methods against
which he was contending.
sharp RetOrt from PenrOse.
AZ this point Mr. Penrose arose and with
Violent anger, and glaring across the cham
ber at the slight form OF the senator from
Wisconsin, said:
II shall not sit silent on my seat when
misstatements are made or claptrap states
manshp rs attempted here. l charge that
the senator from Wisconsin has been on the
committee on census. and during his service
on that committee had failed to attend a
single meeting OF II. l make that charge
without fear OF contradiction. He 10 on the
committee on claims. and has only attended
its meetings once or twice In all his service
and that attendance was only to bring up
some trivial claim. l make this statement
without fear OF contradiction that he Is
on the committee on pensions. which
has one OF the largest appropriation bills
pending before congress every year, and he
has hardly ever been present at its meet
ings. according 10 the unanimous testimony
OF nearly ali OF his colleagues on that COM
mittee. He is on the important committee
OF Indian affairs. which every year con-
siders a great appropriation bill and he
has seldom or never rendered any service
on IL
And he has been IN the senate during
two years" interrupted Senator dallinger
from his seat
There is no senator" continued Mr.. PEN
rose. who has a greater record for absen-
tseism than he. IL ill becomes him to criti-
cise these committees When he is here Il
is only 10 delay the business of the senate
20 hold up the transaction OF public busi-
ness and 20 embarrass those who. under
their oaths Of office and In the conscien-
tious discharge Of their duties, endeavoF to
enact legislation. l shall not sit here and
aud ] desire 10 give such notice TO the sen
ator from Wisconsin. and listen 10 argu-
menta that rniahf batter ha v,,.a. -