Evening star., 1911-05-30
WITH RAPS OF GAVEL.
Senate Presiding Officer Re-
proves Davis of Arkansas.
UNDER RULES OF DEBATE
Alleged Use Of Unparliamentary
Language Toward Colleague.

A second INVESTIGATION Of the Lorimer
case by . subcommittee Of the Senate
committee on privileges and elections, to
be composed Of the eight senators-four
democrats and four republicans. four pro-
Lorimer and four ant1-Lorimer-has been
virtually agreed upon between the regu-
lar republicans and regular democrats.
and their combined strength Is sufficient
to carry the plan through. Action Is to
be taken at the next meeting Of the
Senate. which will be Thursday.
While this plan was being worked out
yesterday afternoon after the democratic
caucus had adjourned there was a steady
gain In the number Of supporters for the
La Toilette modified resolution. providing
for an investigation by q select committee
Of fve new senators to be selected by the
Senate. Progressive republicans. num-
bering over q dozen, were known to be
in favor Of the plan, and yesterday after
noon dozen or more democrats declared
themselves in favor OF 1t as insuring the
most non-partisan and fairest inquiry.
Among the democrats who are expect
ed to support the La Toilette resolution
are Senators Chamberlain Of Oregon,
shiveiy and Kern OF Indiana, Hitchcock
Of Nebraska, Lea of Tennessee, Pomerene
of Ohio. MARITIME of New Jersey. Davis
Of Arkansas, Owen and Gore Of Okla
homa and Newlands OF Nevada
Probable Composition Of Committee.
II the plan for q subcommittee Of eight
senators Is put through, as seems proba-
BILE, the subcommittee will be composed
Of Senators Dillingham; and Gamble. re-
pubncans, and Fletcher and Johnston.
democrats, pro-Lorimer, and of Senators
Clapp and Kenyon. republicans. and Kern
and Lea, democrats, anti-Lortmer.
Senator Martins resolution, providing
for an investigation by the Senate COM
mittee on privileges and elections. was
the object Of vigorous attacks In the
,yss + a t prsae r tine tine
fairest investigation possible.
Senator Cummins objected to the Mar
tin plan for an investigation by the COM
mittee on privileges and elections. ex-
had disqualified itself by reason Of the
manner in which it had conducted the
previous inquiry.
I'm my judgment" Mr.. Cummins said.
itself by the manner in which the former
Investigation was carried forward, not
disqualified itself by reason Of any want
Of desire on the part OF the committee to
reach the truth, not disqualified itself by
reason of any desire upon the part Of the
committee to present to the Senate fairly
and impartially the result Of its investiga-
ton and Its deliberations. but 1t has dis
the views which the members Of that
committee held apparently with regard
to the scope Of the powers Of an investi-
eating committee and because Of the
rules of law which the members Of the
committee feel ought to control such
body Of men In making an investigation
OF this character.
E~n1oi~o Hie
But an opinion with respect to the
guilt or the innocence-and 1 am speak
ing now of guilt and innocence as
synonymous with the validity Of his seat
In this body-is one thing. Entirely aside
from that, If find a senatGr here who
holds a certain view of the law, who
holds certain view with regard to the
scope and functions of an investigating
committee, that does not correspond with
my own, an opinion which believe, IL
carried into execution, will not result in
q full and comprehensive and complete
investigation, then I do not want that
cause he Is dishonest. not because he Is
not intelligent or patriotic. not because
he has not all the attributes which we
love to find in American citizens, but be-
cause he has adopted false view Of the
law.
This subcommittee, composed OF most
Intelligent men, and men who are just
as wholly dedicated and devoted to the
public service as any of the senators Of
this body, met in the city Of Chicago,
and the subcommittee organized itself
into court-a court not Of Investigation,
but a court Of trial-and 1t proceeded to
try suit in ejectment brought by the
Chicago Tribune against William Lori
mer. 1t sought for no testimony that
was not produced by the plaintiff. It
sought for no testimony that was not
brought forward by the defendant, and
1t measured the competency Of all the
testimony offered with all the rigor and
the technicalities Of the common law with
respect Of the admission of testimony"
Hot Talk by Senator Davis.
Senator Davis Of Arkansas objected
to an inquiry by the privilege and
elections committee. because a big ma
jority of the committee-nine Of the
fifteen members-voted In favor Of Mr.
Lorimer last session.
Now. in the very nature Of things"
asked Ma. Davis, do you think that
this matter ought to be Investigated
by that committee again?'
In the course Of his remarks. Senator
Davis twice called forth the admoni-
ton Of the presiding officer Senator
Hepburn, that he should keep within
the rule. which specifies that no SEN
ator on the moor may fmpute to an
other senator motives unworthy or un-
becoming Of a senator.
once he remarked that his mind was
made up on the case. and that 1t would
take "a whole parcel OF testimony" to
convince him that Mr.. Lorimer himself
did not personally know all about the
corrupt practices In his election
He Is either the biggest ass that ever
disgraced the Senate. or the biggest knave
that ever disgraced the Senate" he con-
tinued. "A man. In the light of this testi-
mOny, would have been the biggest fool-I|
withdraw that phrase the biggest fool
and will say that. in the light OF this
testimony, man would have been q fool
not to have known what was going on at
Springfield during that election"
Senator Hepburn, In the chair, pounded
with his gavel. He reminded the senator
senators. Mr.. Davis promptly withdrew
the language.
Again the Gavel Sounds.
At another time. Mr.. Davis remarked
that he felt sorry for Mr.. Lorimer.
He has been garroted-is that what you
cali it?-that il ship term: scuttled. in
other words" continued the Arkansas
senator. HE il gone. ana IL does not
make any difference how you get at nj
Once more Senator Hepburn called at
tention to the rule. with pounds OF his
gavel.
the SENATOR" replied Mr.. Davis but al
accept the ruling of the CHAIR. Let uAI