The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1909-02-26
washington, D. c. Especially Z

Washington, D. C. Especially =
An acrid exchange of words tool
place in the Senate between MIR
Lafollette, who was criticising meth
DDS of that body in the handling CT
appropriation bills, and Mr.. PenrOse
chairman of the Committee on Post
Offices and Post Roads, who was in
charge of the Postofice Bill, then I'M
der discussion The colloQuy was
rendered almost tragic by the angry
tones and fiery attitude assumed by
the Senator from Pennsylvania as ne
denounced the Senator from Wiscon-
sin, who stood quietly at his place on
the other side of the chamber star,
ing back at his big antagonist.
The day had begun by LafOllette
asking that the Postoffice Bill be al
lowed to go over, as it had just been
reported from the committee and he
had had no time in which to examine
l.. Mr. Penrose had resisted this re-
quest by saying that he would ex-
plain all amendments which had been
suggested by his committee. Mr..
Penrose had moved that the bill be
taken up and it was laid before the
Senate, the Senator from Wisconsin
demanding the full reading of the
text of the bill. Later Mr.. LafOllette.
addressing himself at length to the
measure and severely arraigning the
Senate for permitting legislation te
accumulate until the last days Of the
session, when, he declared, important
bills were rushed through with little
or no time for Senators to under.
stand them
''My observation is that these ap-
preparation. bills get in here about
as late for the long session as they
do for the short session." said Mr.
Lafollette 1T seems to be part
of the system that these most I'M
portant legislative acts shall have
little consideration. He charged
that important legislat on was placed
on these measures and passed when
it could not pass as separate bill.
He said, alsoS that the salary in
creases for the judiciary, for the high
executive offices and for the Vice
President and the Speaker of the
House had been put through in that
way, and he insisie ed that committees
unduly delayed bills which m ght be
reported earlier, so that the Senate
would have more opportunity TO
study and understand them. He de-
clared that if the Senator from Penn
sylvania had attended the sessions
earlier his committee might have
made report more promptly. He
added that the important legislation
of Congress was in the hands of
seven committees, while over so
Senators were not assigned to any
committees that have business. He
took occasion to say that he hoped
the tariff bill would not be put
through on a CREASED runway"
81 do not see,' he continued, that
it would be such terrible calamity
to the country if the discussion OF
these bills should carry some of them
over to an extra session. l know
that if appropriation bills are dis
posed of at this time there will not
be any reorganization of committees
at this time, and various important
legislation outside of appropriation
bills must go over to another SEES
sion of Congress" In the midst of
his speech Senator Penrose interrupt
ed to ask the Senator from Wisconsin
whether che was delivering his reg
ular lecture adding that he thought
he had heard it all before.