The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1912-08-25
Executive session and Recess.

Executive session and Recess.
In second Senator PoiudeX;er was on
the floor asking for unanimous consent
for vote. senator Martin. "A Democrat.
of Virginia, was calling on the other side
Of the chamber for an executive. session,
An executive session motion takes prece
dence over anv other, There was a chorus
OF noes against Senator PoindeXter =
request for unanimous consent and the
Senate Immediately went into executive
session. II was apparent that the sup
port Of the resolution providing for the
sweeping investigation was only half
hearted in the Senate by Republicans of
all compilations and by Democrats aS well,
The Senate was in executive session only
"A few minutes and then u recess was
taken
When the Senate met after the recess
AZ $50 o'clock Senator La Toilette arose
and asked unanimous consent that o
vote be taken on the Penros" resolution.
In was the first time La Toilette had
shown an activ. interest in the present
situation. He said that the public had "A
right To know all the details of these 1904
contributions. He urged the Senate to
consent. If it did not, he said the rcsolu-
ton would be on the calendar.
Again Senator Heyburn was on his feet
with an objection. The resolution was
too broad, he said, aud the inquiry would
develop into a mere dragnet, This nbjec-
dion again prevented n vote on the resolu-
ton. Then Senator Smoot arose and
moved that the Senate take up the bills
on the calendar that had not been OBJ
jected to. This motion, If adopted. would
have sidetracked the Penrose resolution
and killed the inquiry. The motion was
lost by vote OF to y.
This vote was the first test Of
strength between those who favor the
proposed inquiry and its opponents, but
tho nt SbnNynl TINT only thirt y -fiva
members were present, which il thirteen
less than a required quorum. Hence the
vote was without effect Senator Gal
linger Of New Hampshire. the presiding
officer, ordered that the roll of absentees
ba called 1t was apparent that IL a quo
rum could not be mustered the resolution
, would fail
senator LA Toilette again urged Sem
ator Hepburn to Withdraw his objection
and permit the passage Of the resolution.
1T IL inappropriate at this or any other
| time" replied Senator Hepburn so enter
upon sensational Investigation OF events
that occurred In a campaign years ago. ]
! feel that no useful purpose can he served
by this proposed inquiry and would de-
| piore the extension of scope Of the present
| Investigation IL liz better that the coun-
| try should be given a rest from this agita =
| tion. The attention Of the people had
| better be directed to the fitness Of the
men nominated and the principles IN
volved. The contest for the nomination
il closed and it had better remain closed
] insist upon my objection To the consider
alton of the resolution
A call of the roll showed forty eight
Senators present This was Just a
quorum of the Senate. but not voting
quorum, as several Of them were paired
with absentees
Senator Smoot made second motion
to take up the unobjected bills on the
calendar The vote Wns n ayas IN M NOE,
This vote discloses the absence Of q
Quorum" announced Senator Gallinger
the presiding officer .Sh"The sergeaht-at.