The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1911-05-23
WHO'S TO HEAR LORTMER CASE?
SENATE FOR AN INQUIRY; III.
vIDED AS To INQCISITORS.

Cart Agree whether II shall Re Con.
Quoted by . special Committee or the
committee on Privileges and Flee.
tiOns -Resoluti ions Before the senate
WASHINGTON. May 22.-That tho Senate
will vote with practical unanimity for a
rcopening OF the 1orimer case was made
clear to-day. but there Is division among
Democrats as we'll as Republicans as to
whether the investigation shall be en-
trusted to the Privileges and Elections
Committee or to a special committee as
provided for In the La Toilette resolution
in the Senate to-day when Senator La
Toilette presented his views as tn why
there should he a reopening Of the case
and an invest CATION by an independent
committee. The Senator did not con-
scllde. but announced his purpose to
continue his remarks tomorrow.
Before Senator La Toilette had ap-
reared on the floor Of the Senate Senator
Dillingham;, chairman of the Committee
on Privileges and ElectionS, offered a
resolution in behalf Of his committee
urging another inquiry into the Lorimer
caae. The resolution provided for the
conduct Of the investigation by the
Privileges and Elections Committee
This move was regarded a. an effort to
forestall Senator La Toilette. who has
pressed his resolution for a new inquiry
into the Lorimer case ny a special COM
mittee whose members had hing to
do with tho previous inquiry which re-
suited in clearing Lorimer.
The general impression ia that the Dill
lingham resolution will be supported gen.
orally by the regular Republicans and old
line Democrats and that the progressive
Democrats and Republicans will line up
solidly for the La Toilette resolution for
an investigation by an independent COM
mittee An effort was made to get all
the Democrats TO support the Dillingham m
resolution. but II 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
Gaze again in the hands Of the Committee
on Privileges and Elections. That COM
mittee a. reorganized contains seven
members Of the committee Of the last
session who reported in favor Of clearing
Lorimer. These Senators are Dillingham;.
Gamble. Hepburn. Bailey. Paynter. John
ston and Fletcher. Senators Bradley and
Oliver, who voted in the Senate to uphold
Lorimer's title 10 his sect. have been
added TO the new committee. so that the
present committee has nine members who
were recorded in favor Of Lorimer in the
last session. as compared with six who
either voted against him or are new men,
bers Of the Senate.
Senator Dillingham; asked that his reso-
luton referring the case to the Privileges
and Elections Committee lie on the table
hut later he gave notice that he would
offer it as substitute 10 the La Toilette
reso luton Of investigation. In this way
the issue over the manner OF the investi-
CATION Of the Lorimer case will be souarely
met. Senator La Toilette made plain to-
day that he will oppose reference Of the
resolution of investigation to the Com
mittee on Privileges and Elections
The resolution Of investigation offered
by Senator Dillingham; recites the resolu- =
tion adopted by the Illinois State Senate
demanding a new investigation Of the
case and then directs that the charges Of
bribery and corruption in the election Of
Senator I.orimer be investigated from
every standpoint. The usual provisions
for examination Of papers to compel the
attendance Of witnesses and giving au-
thority for the committee to sit during
the recess OF Congress are included in the
resolution II is admitted that il the in
vestigation is placed in the hands Of the
Committee on Privileges and Elections a
subcommittee Of five or possibly more
will be authorized TO take the testimony
In the case. There il a feeling among a
number Of Senators that only new mem
bers should he placed on this s,ib-com-
nittee. with the possible exception Of the
chairman.
In his speech in the Senate to-day de-
manding the reopeninR of the T.orimer
case Senator La Toilette addressed him
self particularly to the new members.
He received very close attention. The
Wisconsin Senator irritated some of the
older members by introducing Chau-
tauQua methods in the discussion Of the
case. The thing that seemed to annoy
them was the reading Of the names Of
Senators who at the last session of the
Senate voted on the resolution to declare
vacant the seat Of the junior Senator from
Illinois.
After he had reviewed the testimony
Senator La Toilette said he wished again
to make part Of the record the names OF
the Senators who had voted to vindicate
the Illinois Senator. With dramatic en-
phasis Mr.. La Toilette went over the roll
OF the Senate. first calling the names OF
those Senators who voted with Senator
Lorimer and then those voting aga inst
him. This WAS something new in
Senate debate and some Of the older men,
bers looked shocked
Senator La Toilette severely cens,ired
Senator Lorimer for remaining mute in
the Senate for weeks while the public
prints throughout the United States were
heralding the charges based on the con-
feesions Of members Of the Legislature
that his election resulted from bribery
and corruption. Denouncing Senat orial
courtesy and legislation by the logrolling
system Senator La Toilette said:
we have systSm built up here that
has taken away and alienated men sent