The Washington herald., 1909-03-03
FILIBUSTER Anglers
SENATOR HEPBURN
Penal Code Bill Nay Be
Buried To-day.
LAWS OBNOXIOUS TO SOUTH
Senate Consumes Seven Hours in
DiIatOry Tactics. and the Idaho
Senator, in Several Outbreaks,
Openly Accuses Leaders-CIarke,
Teller, and Money Offenders.

CHARACTERIZED as q model example of
the old-fashioned flibuster, the dilatory
tactics OF the Democratic Senators yes
terday were instrumental in delaying con
SideTatiOn on the conference report on
the penal code reform bill
Despite the fact that Senator Hepburn,
in charge of the bill. has been publicly
commended for his untiring efforts. last
ing several years, in revising the crimI-
nal laws Of the United States. his pet
measure was prevented from reaching g
vote
SO well organized vas the Democratic
opposition that discussion did not make
any headway. and the Senate adjourned
without having passed a single clause in
the bill
Contains Reconstruction Laws.
When it is understood that the measure
contains al the old reconstruction
legislation, eufranchising negroes end af-
fording them protection az the polls. It Is
readily seen why the Southern members
are so persistent in their fllbuster.
Immediately after the bill was taken up.
at 10 o'clock, Senator Clarke, Of Arkan-
sas, assumed the leadership OF the fill
buster, and from that time on a number
Of roll calls were demanded by Demo
Gratis. and the enforced reading Of docu-
ments germane 10 the bill helped to con-
sumo the time.
Evidently feeling that the tagging pro-
ceedings needed a little bracing, Senator
Teller obtained the floor at o'clock. and.
with the acquiesenoe OF several Republi-
cans, spoke for more than an hour on the
Panama Canal
When ne had finished his TRADE on the
engineers who had been sent to the
isthmus BY the President to bolster UT
public opinion in favor Of the lock level
type" the Colorado member gave way "a
Mr.. Hale, who consumed two more hours
with the consideration OF the deficiency
biz.
Senator Hepburn viii make s. last ef-
fort to obtain consideration OF the bill
this morning.
While ne was forced to submit TO these
delays. It must not be thought that Mr.
Hepburn sat idly by and consented. II
was in spirit Of earnest protest that
he arose against the action Of the mi.
nOrity and openly charged Senator Clarke
with leading the fllibuster.
Charged Democrats Publicly.
He asserted that the Democrats were
opposing the bin on the ground that II
! included the so-caIled ''Ku-klux' Iezisla-
ton enacted Immediately after the civil
war to carry out the provisions Of the
fourteenth and fifteenth amendments tc
the Constitution.
The contention OF the minority Is
that Congress shall recede from all leg
islation dealing with offenses against the
elective franchise" shouted the Senator
from Idaho.
He added further that the Democrats
had served notice on the majority Of the
Codihcation Committee that the report
should not be adopted unless the legisla-
ton affecting the elective franchise shoult
be stricken out,
Senator Daniel, Of Virginia, declared in
vigorous terms that he had never heard
OF such a proposition, and ehided Mr.
lCJlALu A4L EtRtdAiiS kAe TcUldEkS mace
TO him by another Senator in private con-
veTsatiOn.
At this Juncture Senator Clarke de-
manded that the report Of the committee
be read IN It's entirety for the informa-
ton Of the Senate. This includes the
bin and the whole list Of criminal laws
OF the U2ited States.
Roll Calls Ordered.
After several hours' hard grinding by
the clerk. Mr.. Hepburn was about TO have
hope for success, but Senator Money. OF
Mississippi. suggested the absence OF :
quorum. and another roll had TO be called
Several times during the Afternoon
this suggestion was repeated.
/ It IS plain that Senators Aldrlch and
Hale are IN sympathy with the Demo
cratic fiibuster. inasmuch as there Is III.
tie desire on the Republican side to euacI
! this reform