Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-02-19
Some Question as to Extent Of
Obstructional Efforts of In
surgents in Congress
Not Opposed to Naval Ex-
pansion and Other important Meas
ures, But Wish to Know the Inside
of the Legislation - Too Much
Mystery.
Especial Correspondence

loPCSidl
Washington, Feb. 19.-"ls there go
ing to be systematic filibuster
against the appropriation bills in the
last days Of the session Of congress ~
This is the question on all lips at
the capitol, since the senate insurrec-
tionaries started in with their discus
sion Of the naval bill. On behalf of
some of the leaders among the insurg-
ents, it is said that they have not been
iilibustering. They have been trying to
get consideration OF the appropriation
bills in such fasion as will make 1t
possible to vote intelligently on them.
One senator who has taken prom
inent part in the effort to develop facts
about the appropriation measures said:
II don't want to be misunderstood
about this matter. 1 have voted for the
26.00o-ton battleships, when it came
to the test, while the chairman Of the
committee voted against them. I am
decidedly for the naval expansion pro-
gram, and am sure that almost every
body else in the republican majority
of the senate is Of the same mind. 1t
should be thoroughly understood that
opposition to the navy is not the mo-
tive Of this effort to secure a discus
sion of the naval bill. The navy is
about the most popular thing i'll this
country, and for good reasons.
Not Enemies Of the Navy.
Those Of us who have been con-
Quoting this investigation of the naval
bill are in fact such good friends of the
navy that we want to know more about
it. We have read and heard great
deal of criticism of it and it's manage
ment. We wanted to know whether
this criticism was justified. There
have been differences in the naval
committee and in the department. The
president has believed the department
needed some measure of reorganiZa-
ton. 1t has been our efforts to secure
q discussion of these matters.
.sThe truth is that the navy critics
have had most of the publicity for
long time, and they have made some
impression. l believe it has been
most excellent thing to draw out the
other side Of the question, and know
that to me it has been very illumin-
ating."
Attitude Same Toward Other Bills.
That is fairly typical of the attitude
of most Of the men who have been
accounted filibusters because of their
insistence on a discussion of the navy
20, hot al titn1a r1 ut her
measures, 1t is stated not
to be materially different. They want
a chance to know something about
these supply bills. and are disposed to
insist on getting 1t. Moreover. they
say most positively that their foray is
not casual incident of the close OF
this session; they expect to do the
same thing every year until they shall
have wrought some improvements in
the business methods of the senate.
Too Much Mystery.
1t is complained that the appropria-
ton bills are deep mysteries to peo-
pie not on the committees that make
them up: that the committee reports
commonly tell very little about the
subject matter, which can be made the
basis OF serious OlSCuSSlOu lllS iliCi
it's The habit of getting the appro-
priation bills into the last days Of the
session, so that they must be passed
under the gavel, Is especially objec-
tionable to these reformers. They want
less time devoted to talk in the first
two thirds Of the congressional ses-
sion, on subjects like Brownsville, and
more devoted to the business of rails
ing and distributing the revenues.
There has been report that the in
surgents would continue to discuss
the appropriation bills at their own
good pleasure, and were quite willing
that noon of March 4 should come
without these bills passed. AS to this,
the insurgents say they have no horror
of considering some Of the appropria-
ton measures at the extra session;
ard they are answered by some of
the authoritative leaders of the senate
who insist that they, also,
are willing that the appropriation bills
or some of them, should go over for
more detailed consideration at the eX-
ira session. Indeed, it looks now as
if a friendly arrangement might be
made between the regulars and the in
surgents to carry out just such a pro-
gram as this.