The Washington times., 1911-02-28
Senate Fber Still On With Prospects for Another Agh Session

the people. He assailed Taft for the
gents. The speech excited the NOR more
comment as 1t had not been many
months since Bourne and Taft were
playing golf together. So pointed were
his remarks as to the President that
Senators gravely discussed raising a
point Of order.
Mr.. Bourne's Speech.
Senator Bourne said:
II have as much respect for the ward
heeler who buys a vote with money as
/ have for the President who uses his
Federal patronage to influence the ac-
tion Of members of Congress on pend
ing legislation.
THE Beverly letter issued last year,
IL We are to consider 1t authentic, con-
fessed that Federal patronage had been
given to those Senators and members
who acted in accordance with the Presi-
dents desires, and was withheld from
those who did follow the President s
desires in matters Of legislation.
Every President who takes the oath
Of office swears to uphold that Consti-
tuition, and the Prasidtnt who. in face of
such oath, uses the patronage in an at.
oath Of office.
ITO bribe a member of Congress with
patronage Is no less a crime than to
brtbe him with money or other valuable
consideration. The crime is really more
lnsidious because of the respect for the
gentillty not characteristic of ward
politics.
The misuse of the patronage In this
way Is too base to be called a crime.
II was SO far below the conception Of
crime by the lawmakers that no statute
has ever been framed to meet such a
case. 1t would indeed be a most hu-
initiating confession of the weakness Of
representative government If legislation
were proposed to stop the use by the
President of Federal patronage to con-
troll the action of Senators and Repre-
sentatives in matters of legislation.
The President, through the power he
wields with his Offices, is the head of
the biggest political machine In the
world, and this is true whether he di-
rects it himself or delegates the power
to others. 1t is pernicious in either
case"
Galleries Crowded.
Throughout the evening, up to mid
night, the galleries were crowded with
spectators. Many handsomely gowned
women were among those looking on.
A number of members Of the Diplomatic
Corps were present After midnight, the
crowd in the galleries thinned out, and
when the recess of the Senate was taken
at $40 today, the scene presented in the
chamber. in the gray light of the morn
ing. with a small number Of tired.
sleepy-looking Senators holding grimly
to their seats and with the desks litter
ed with papers and everything in con-
fusion. was one to be remembered.
1t told the long ard weary battle of
the night, and on all hands there was
wonderment what would happen If the
struggle were to be protracted through
the four and half days still left Of
the life of this Congress.
A striking feature OF Senator stones
sDeech was his assertion that 1t was
the duty of Lorimer. If he were inno-
cent, to appear before the committee
and be examined under oath.
He should have taken the stand and
bravely stated all he knew" said Sena-
tor Stone. and submitted himself to
the most rigid Interrogation. He made
no attempt to- defend himself under
the sanCtity of an oath, but preferred
tot remain silent while the investigation
was in progress and come here to de-
fend himself in a speech before the
Senate.
Sworn Testimony Alone Counts.
''E4sl should not havea~afted to make
his defense as an orator or advocate
pleading his own cause before the
forum which is trying him. His ad-
dress was, indeed, replete with elo-
quenCe and pathos, but the Senate is
obligated to Judge the case solely on
facts developed by the testimony de-
livered under oath. 1t was meet and
proper for him TO address the Senate,
but that was not the opportune occa-
sion. nor that the most convincing wav
for him to offer his testimony. Judg-
ing this case by the testimony sub
mitted. I am driven by the irresistible
force of my conviction. to say that I do
not believe Mr. Lorimer is entitled to
the seat he holds"
Senator Stone took sharp issue with
Senator Bailey in a number of matters.
He held the Holtslaw deposit slip, about
which so much has been said, was not a
forgery.
In summing up, Senator Stone said:
In the face of what Beckemeyer.