The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-05-30
THE LOR|MER CASE GOES ID COMMITTEE Senator Johnston of Ala bama Is Member-Jeff
 Davis on LOrimer

|
 | Washington, May 2s.-A virtual
 agreement to refer the Lorimer case tc
 the Senate committee on privileges and
 elections with the understanding thai
 that committee shall entrust the pro-
 posed inquiry to a bipartisan and "bi-
 Ilorimer" b-committee of eight, was effected in the Senate today. | The agreement was the result of a
 conference of democratic ssenators al which a previous decision to support
 the Martin resolution was rescinded and
 all democratic senators were released l from caucus obligations. | The bipartisan idea was suggested | by Senator Stone and while no vote
 was taken it was generally accepted
 as satisfactory compromise. | In general terms 1t meets the de-
 rnands of the democrats. Their sugges-
 ton is for the selection of sub b-com- | mittee to be composed of two repub- | lican members who voted for Lorimer | in the last Senate and two who did | not and of two democrats who voted
 for him and two who did not, with the
 understanding in case of tie vote on
 the admission of testimony 1t will be admitted.
 | The caucus release of democrats iron, | the obligation to vote for the Martin resolution will augment the strength ! favorable 10 the LaF'olIettc psoNixte,l
 by about de2en democratic votes. | It Is understood that the sub com
 mittee on investigation will consist of Senators Dillingham; and Gamble, re- | publicans, and Fletcher and Johnston, democrats, pro-Lorimer, and of Sena- tors Clapp and Kenyon, republicans, and Kern and Lea, democrats, anti Lorimer
 l The final disposition of this matter | by the Senate was postponed until the
 next meeting on Thursday The Sem ate spent five hours discussing the question of reference without mention | ing this programme. In this debate Senator Martin advocated action by the regular committee and Senators Cum mins, Poindexter. Hitchcock, Newlands
 and Davis by special committee. | Advocating a re-inquiry Senator Jeff Davis of Arkansas so expressed himself as to call down two rebukes from Senator Hepburn. who occupied the chair. He
 admitted his prejudice against MT. Lori
 mer, saying a whole passal' of testi- mony would be necessary to change his at titude, and declaring T am here to shell
 down the corn. He contended that MT.
 Lorimer knew his election was brought
 about as result of bribery. If he did not know he is the biggest ass that ever disgraced the country; he is the
 biggest ass or the biggest knave that ever
 came into the Senate A man would have been a fool not to have known what was
 going on." Here the gavel descended and the Arkansas senator was informed he
 had violated the rules regulating refer
 ence to other senators.
 MT. Davis recalled his words, ac- knowledging they had been unwisely
 chosen. But a little later after saying that an inquiry was to be had, whatever
 the form of the resolution adopted he exclaimed:
 Poor old Lorimer; he has been gar rotted-his ship has been scutted. He's gone.''
 | The rule was again invoked. | Lets take another term,'' said the Arkansan. Poor old Lorimer has been
 marooned. He's out on an island and the ship has passed on."
 | Expressing an intention to vote with | the insurgents on this proposition, he | said to his democratic colleagues: | T don't like to leave you fellows and l go with that crowd over there, but I'm afraid I'll have to do it.