The Washington herald., 1911-05-23

= That the Senate will vote with
practical unanimity for a reopening
of the Lorimer case was made clear
yesterday, but there is division
among the Democrats, as we'll as
Republicans, as to whether the in
vestigation shall be intrusted to the
Privileges and Elections Commit
tee or to a special committee, as
provided for in the La Toilette res
olution.
TWO RESOLUTIONS PROPOSED.
The case of the Junior Senator from
Illinois. whose election, it is charged.
| resulted from bribery and corruption.
was again brought to life in the Sem
ate yesterday when Senator La Fol-
lette presented his views as to why there
should be a reopening Of the case and
| an investigation by an Independent COM
| mittee. The Senator did not conclude.
but announced his purpose to continue
his remarks to-day.
Before Senator La Toilette had ap-
peared on the floor OF the Senate Sem
ator Dillingham;. chairman of the Com
mittee on Privileges and Elections, Of
fered a resolution. on behalf of his
committee. urging another inquiry into
| the Lorimer case. The resolution pro-
! vided for the investigation conducted by
/ ha priv nd
| This move was regarded as an effort
to foresall Senator La Toilette, who
has pressed his resolution for a new in
quiry into the Lorimer case by a special
committee. whose members had nothing
| to do with the previous inquiry, which
| resulted in clearing Lorimer.
Regular Committee Favors Lorimer.
The general impression is that the
Dillingham; resolution for a new inves-
tigation will be supported generally by
the regular Republicans and old-line
Democrats. while the progressive DEM
ocrats and Republicans will line up SOL
idly for the La Toilette resolution for
an investigation by a special commit
tee.
An effort was made to get all the
Democrats to support the Dillingham;
| resolution. but 1t failed and has been
abandoned. Senators MARITIME. of New
Jersey. and Reed. Of Missouri. along with
other new Democratic members. served
notice on Minority Leader Martin and
members of the Democratic steering
committee that they would never vote
to put the investigation of the Lorimer
case again in the hands OF the Commit
tee on Privileges and Elections.
The committee, as reorganized, con-
tains seven members Of the committee
of the last session who reported in fa-
vor of clearing Lorimer. These Sena-
tors are Dillingham;. Gamble, Hepburn,
Bradley. Paynter, Johnston. and La
Toilette. Senators Bradley and oliver,
who voted in the Senate to uphold Lori
mer's title to his seat have been added
to the new Committee on Privileges and
Elections, so that the present commit
tee has nine members who were record
ed in favor of Lorimer in the last ses-
sion. as compared with six who either
voted against him or are new members
of the Senate.
Issue VIII Be Squnrely Met.
Senator Dillingham; asked that his reso-
luton referring the case to the Commit
tee on Privileges and Elections lie on the
table, but later he gave notice that he
would offer 1t as a substitute to the La
Toilette resolution of investigation. In
this way the issue over the manner Of
the investigation Of the Lorimer case will
be squarely met Senator La Toilette
made plain yesterday that he will oppose
reference Of the resolution of investiga-
ton to the Senate Committee on Privi-
leges and Elections.
In his speech In the Senate yesterday
demanding the reopening Of the Lorimer
case, Senator La Toilette addressed him
self particularly to the new members. He
received very close attention. The Wis
consin Senator surprised some of the
older members by introducing Chautau-
qua methods in the discussion Of the
case.
With dramatic emphasis, Mr.. La Fol-
Iette went over the roll OF the Senate,
first calling the names Of those Senators
who voted with Senator Lorimer and
then those voting against his continued
nresence in the Senate. This was some
thing new in a Senate debate. and some
of the older members looked shocked.
Senator La Toilette severely censured
Senator Lorimerr for remaining mute IN
the Senate for weeks while the public
nrints throughout the entire United States
we're heralding the charges based on the
confessions of members Of the legisla-
ture that his election resulted from brib-
cry and corruption.
Crfticises Senatorial Courtesy.
Denouncing Senatorial courtesy and leg
islation by the log-rolling system. Sem
ator La Toilette said:
I'VE have a system built up here that
has taken away and alienated men sent