The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-02-19
LaFOIIGte Takes a Lively WhaCk
 At PenrOse
COMMITTEES CRITICISED
Penrose Resents Attacks of LaFollette and Replies With Vigor In What the Latter Calls a Coarse and
 Vulgar Attack.

Washington, February 1s.-An acrid ex change of words took place today in the Senate between MT. Lafollette. who was cr1tcising the methods of that body in the handling of appropriation bills, and Mr. Penrose, chairman of the committee on postoffices and post roads, who was in charge of the postoffice bill then under discussion. The colloquy was rendered almost tragic by the angry tones and fiery, attitude assumed by the senator from Pennsylvania, as he denounced the senator from Wisconsin, who stood quiet ly at his place, on the other side of the chamber, staring back at his big antag onist.
 The day had begun by MT. Lafollette asking that the postoffice bill be allowed to go over until tomorrow, as 1t had just been reported from the committee, and he had had no time in which to examine It. MT Penrose had resisted this request Later MT. Lafollette severely arraigned the Senate for permitting legislation to accumulate until the last days of the  were rushed through with little or no time for senators to understand them.
 Tt seems to be a part of the system that these most important legislative acts shall have little consideration" said MT, Lafollette. He charged that important legislation was placed on these measures and passed when 1t could not be passed as separate bill.
 IaFoIIette's Criticism.
 He said also that the salary increases for the judiciary, for the high executive officers, and for the vice president and the speaker of the House had been put through In that way and he insisted that committees undulW delay bills which might be reporte& earlier. so that the Senate would hazsb more opportunity to study and understand .AeIn. He declared that if the senator from Pennsylvania had attended the sessions earlier, his commit tee might have made report more promptly. He added that1the important legislation of Congress was in the hands of seven committees, while over 50 sen- ators were not assigned to any commit tee that has business. He took occasion to say that he hoped the tariff bill would not be put through on a 'greased run. way
 Senator Penrose interrupted to ask the senator from Wisconsin whether The was delivering his regular lecture adding that he thought that he had heard it all before.
 MT. Lafollette replied that observations of that sort were not to promote the passage of the bills, and that his re- marks were apt to be still more familiar. He chided the Senate with having put off interstate commerce legislation for nine years, and having delayed tile pure food laws IT years by applying the same methods against which he was contending MT. Penrose arose and with evident anger and glaring across the chamber at the slight form of the senator from Wiscon- sin, said in loud tone:
 Penrose Angry.
 T shall not sit silent in my seat when are made or claptrap states is attempted here. l charge that the senator from Wisconsin has been on the committee on census, and during his service on that committee has failed to attend a single meeting of it. 1 make another statement, without any fear of contradiction, that he is on the impor- every year considers a great appropra- tion bill, and he has seldom, or never rendered useful service on it."
 And 1t has been in the Senate during two years, interposed Senator Gallagher. from his seat.
 There is no senator,' continued Mr Penrose, glaring angrily toward MT. La toilette, "who has a greater record for than he. It ill becomes him to criticise the committees. When he is here it is only to delay the business of the Senate and to embarass those, who, under their oaths of office and in the Geia 1i ab,,. f,ft deavor to enact legislation.
 T shall not sit here, and 1 desire to give such notice to the senator from Wiscon- sin, and listen to arguments that might better be made by vendor of a patent medicine from the tail of a cart in vil- lage of Wisconsin, than from b senator of the United States
 No Contradiction.
 Mr. Lafollette had remained standing while these remarks were directed toward him.
 Tt is of little value,'' he said, ito enter a contradiction here to much that has been said. It would merely put the word of one senator against that of another. have not attended the meetings of some of the committees to which 1 have been assigned. l have been reasonably dili- gent on the committee on Indians af- fairs
 Tt is the unanimous testimony of its members that you have failed to attend those meetings" interposed MT. Penrose angrily
 T would have more confidence in the statement" replied MT. Lafollette, de- liberately, If senators on that committee made that decartion themselves. l was absent from the Senate two months at the last session, being confined to my home in this city by illness. l was absent during the holidays-a week-during this session, when 1 was at my home superin- tending the publication or a magazine in which l am interested, and that seemed necessary to the success of the business at that time."
 Vulgar Assault"
 Then, standing in his place in silence for few seconds, he looked intently toward the senator from Pennsylvania. Framing iSs words with great deliber- ation, he continued:
 Against his coarse and vulgar as- sault l put my record since I have been a member of this body"
 Then looking about the chamber MT. continued:
 You can take no course which will deter me from exercising my right upon this floor, to express my views upon legislation, and upon the orderly conduct of the business of this body If you were better acquainted with me you would know that"
 MT. Lafollette took his seat, and Mr.