The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-02-19

The Honorable Boies Penrose. senior
Senator from Pennsylvania, is one Of the
silent men Of the Senate. He seldom
makes g speech
He made one yesterday. however. which
was brief. and much to the point. It
had 70 90 with Senator La Toilette. and
was addressed directly at that statesman
It created g good deal OF q sensation
in the Senate. where such plain language
as that used by BGr. Penrose is not heard
often.
Air. la Toilette hss been critieising the
Senate leaders for hogging the important
committee assignments he has said
plainly they held back the big sppropria-
tion bills until the last moment, and gave
the Senate but a gew hours TO consider
them
Ran Counter OF PenrOSe.
He ran counter Of Mr.. Penrose because
the latter Is chairman Of the Committee
on Post-ofices and Post Roads, and
had charge Of the post-ofice appropriation
bin, which vas being debated
Mr Ia Toilette said Mr.. Penrose had
unnecessarily held the bill IN committee
since January .. and it seemed q fair
inference from his remarks that he
charged Mr. Penrose with neglecting his
business For Senator 20 neglect COM
rnittee work was q gTisvous sin. II Mr..
Ia Fonettss view was construed cor
recuy.
Mr. Penrose listened 70 talk Of this kind
for nearly sn hour without appearing TO
pay much attention 70 Il Then he rose
in his wrath. and what ne said 10 Mr..
Ia Toilette was not said half-heaTtedly.
He accused the Wisconsin Senator q
making misstatements. and declared that
Mr.. La toilette paid 10 attention TO his
committee work, and was a frequent
absentee from his legislative duties Here
IS what he said
'.8Ir President. I shan not sit silent in
my seat while misstatements are made.
The Committee on Post-Oflces and Post
Roads has been criticised by the Senator
from Wisconsin. and the method OF Sc
iecting committees has likewise been
criticised by him I make the statement.
without fear OF contradiction, that he has
been on the Committee on the Census
during his service in this Senate. and has
failed 10 attend a single meeting Of that
committee ! make the statement with
out fear Of contradiction that he is on the
Committee on Claims and has only al
tended once or twice in all his service a
meeting OF that committee, and that At
tendance was only to bring Up some
trivial claims BILL
Did Not Fear Contradiction.
7 make the statement without fear Of
contradiction that he has been. until re-
Gently. on the Committee on Pensions. a
committee holding and considering one
OF the largest appropriation bills pending
before Congress every year. and that. ac-
Cording TO the unanimous testimony OF
all his colleagues on that committee, re-
gardless OF party. he has hardly ever at
tended a session Of that committee
7 make TIE statement without fear OF
contradiction from him or any other Sen
ator, because the statement is confirmed
by the testimony Of every member Of the
committee, regardless OF party. that on
the important Committee on Indian At
fairs considering every year a most I'm
portant appropriation bin, important to
his constituents and TO the great Western
country. he has seldom been present. and
has never rendered useful service there
on. and while ne indicates this craving
for future committee assignments. he IS al
ready on two committees with appropria-
ton bills and pays no attention to either
Of them.
And he has been in the Senate two
years. interrupted Nj GaIiinger. This
was an error. MT- La Toilette has been
in the Senate three years.
He has been IL the Senate two years.
and there IS no member OF this body,
and I cite the records Of tre Senate as my
proof, who has a larger record for ab-
senteeisn than himself" continued Mr..
Penrose.
1t fl becomes him to criticise other
Senators OF any. committee for negligence.
inattention, or absenteeism.
7 further make the statement" Mr..
Penrose went on. that when he Is here
It Is but TO delay the business of the
Senate and to hold I'D the transaction
or the public business and 10 embarrass
those who under their oath OF Office and
in the conscientious discharge Of their
duties are endeavoring TO carry out the
burdens OF the Senatorial Office
Ia Toilette Is Warned.
Those sentiments, I believe. my COL
leagues viii voice. and I shall not sit
here-and desire 10 give notice 10 the
Senator from Wisconsin-and listen to
arguments that better become the vendor
OF a patent medicine from the tail end
OF cart in a remote village OF Wisconsin
than they do the deliberation and the
dignity Of the Senate Of the United
States
There was much laughter and applause
ct this, the applause coming from the
galleries.
Mr.. La Toilette came back at Mr.. Pen
rose. At times his voice rose high an6
he shook his head Vigorously
He said that he was in Wisconsin after
the holiday recess for a week. and during
that time the Indian bin had been re-
Continued on Page 4, Column 3.
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