Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1911-02-04
CONGRESSIONAL.

CONGRESSIONAL.
The feature OF the Senate yesterday
was the speech OF Senator Elihu Root,
Of New York, in which he declared that.
Senator William Lorimcr, of Illinois,
should be excluded from his seat he
cause of corruption by which his
election was brought about. Senator
Root spoke for more than two hours,
and his speech made a profound i'm
preston on the Senate.
Following the conclusion OF Mr..
Roots speech, Senators Bailey. Hey
burn. and Payntcr defended the report
OF the committee on privileges and
elections, OF which they are members,
and declared that the testimony before
the committe showed that Senator Lori
mer was entitled to his seat. Senator
Bailey replied that if Mr.. Lorimcr was
to be excluded on account OF general
corrupt conditions in Illinois politics,
then his colleague, Senator Culiom,
would probably be subject TO the same
process OF elimination, for it could
probably be shown that the legislature
which elected him was also corrupt,
Mr.. Bailcy'S remark WIS called out
by an observation OF Senator Hale that
the testimony in the Lorimcr ease
showed y shocking condition OF cor
ruption in the Illinois legislature.
All the conclusion Of the l.orlmcr
matter the controversy which arose
Thursday over the legislative right Of
way was resumed. Senator Nelson, Of
Minnesota. moved that the senate pro-
cecd to the consideration OF the bill
authorizing 4 leasing Of coal lands in
Alaska. Senator Borah, OF Idaho,
moved to lay tho motion on tie table,
but his motion was defeated on j roll
call
The Senate took up the consideration
Of the Alaska bill, but before ii had
proceeded far Senator Warren. moved
that when the Senate adjourned for the
day it be to meet on Monday. On =
roll call this motion WAS defeated by 4
vote OF 40 TO Sc, the democrats and in
surgcntS and some Of the regular repub-
icaus voting with Senator Borah III
opposition to Senator Warren S motion.
1t vas evident that the democrats and
insurgcnt republicans had al object III
voting down the motion to adjourn
over, for Immediately after the result
was announced Scuator B0rah moved
to proceed Immediately TO the considcra-
ton Of resolution providing for the
election Of United States senator's by
popular vote. The effect of the adop-
ton Of this motion would have been
to displace the Alaskan coal lands bill
as the unfinished business Of the Senate
and to give to the resolution relating to
popular election of senators the Icgis-
la:ivc right Of way over all other
matters.
Before Senator Borah 5 motion could
be put Senator Penrose, submitted a
privileged question in motion to pro-
coed to executive session. On this
roll call was demanded, and the strug-
gle between the regular republicans, on
one hand, and the democrats and in
surgcnt republicans, Oh the other, was
renewed. There was considerable in
tercst rs the roll call progressed, but 1t
WIS soon evident that the Senate was
unwilling to go into executive session,
ana that the insurgents and democrats
were IN control. Senator Penrosc'S
motion was voted down by q vote of
40 to SO.
Then the question required on Sen
ator Borah's motion to take up the
question OF popular election of sena-
tors. At this point Senator Hale,
came forward with 4 suggestion that
it was evident that the Senate was in
n mood to displace the Alaskan coal land
bill and make the resolution providing
for the popular election OF senators the
unfinished business. He asked Scna-
tor Borah to assure him that ample
time would be given to speeches on the
question, and Senator Borah acccded.
Then at the suggestion of Mr.. Hale,
The roll call was dispensed with, with
the consent OF Senator Borah. and the
Senate by 4 viva yoce vote displaced the
Alaskan bill and made the popular
election OF senators the unfinished
business.
The Senate then agreed to adjourn
over until Monday, after brief exc
cutiye session.
The day was given over in the House
10 private bills and war claims, 4
number OF such measures were passed,
none OF them OF general interest, It
was tic expectation that before ad-
tournament the bill retiring Civil En-
gineer Pcary with the rank OF a rear
admiral would be passed upon, but it
was not reached,
The House adjourned to meet at
noon Monday.