The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1914-04-04
LA TOILETTE is THE
INSURGENT CHIEF
Debate in Executive Session
Said to Have Been One of
the Bitterest in Years;
Secrecy Impossible.


oers Of the senate, headed by Senator
La Toilette, openly revolted against
proceedings behind closed doors to-
night after the executive session, in
which the senate, by vote of So to 81,
confirmed the nomination Of Winthrop
NJ. Daniels of New Jersey to be a. mem
Der of the interstate commerce commits
sion.
Senator La Toilette asserted that he
proposed to defy the rules Of the senate
IN the future and discuss publicly legis-
lation not affecting foreign relations,
and later it was announced that Sena.
tors Bristow, Cummins, Clapp, Kenyon,
Norris, Jones and Gronna, Republicans,
and Poindezter, Progressive, would
maintain the same attitude.
The revolt created sensat ton and
there was much speculation as to the
effect it would have upon future e1ecu-
tive sessions. The general opinion was
that there would be no attempt to take
action against members who disregarded
the rule Of secrecy.
Three-day Fight.
Confirmation of Commissioner Dan
iels closed a three.day fight, marked
by one Of the bitterest debates hoard
at the capitol in years. Mr.. Daniels g
advocates had the support of President
Wilson s well-known desire that his ap-
pointee and personal friend be con-
firmed without delay. Opponents to
the confirmation based their objection
on the ground that Mr. Daniels g views
on the valuation Of public service prop
erty was unsound. AS during the two
preceding days, senators continued to
insist that Mr.. Daniels g ideas, as e1-
pressed in the decision Of the New
Jersey public service commission, of
which he was chairman, IN the Passaic
gas rate case, would make him danger.
GUS as q member Of the interstate COM
merce commission at time when the
commission was fixing valuation on
railroad property.
Split Patched Up.
Senator Hughes Of New Jersey, called
back from congressional fight in his
state, threw his weight into the fight
in favor of his constituent today. He
spoke In support Of Mr.. Daniels, and
was joined by Senators Newlands, chair
man Of the Interstate commerce COM
mittee, Pittman and Williams.
The opposition was nettled by the
patching up Of the split in the Demo
cratic ranks over night.
They had consented to postponement
of vote yesterday, when victory ap.
parently was In sight, in order to allow
Democratic senators to talk with the
president about withdrawing Mr.. Dan.
ieIs's name after the nomination had
been recommitted. They denounced the
determination Of Democratic leaders,
after q visit to the White house, to
force a vote on confirmation as little
short Of bad faith.
Vote in Detail.
The vote resulted az follows:
For firmation-Brandegee Bryan,
Dillingham;, Fall, Gallinger, Gore,
Hughes, James, Johnson, Lee Of Mary
Martin, Myers, Newlands. Oliver. Over:
man, owen, Page, Perkins, Pitman,
Pomerene, Ransdell, Shafroth, Sheppard
Simmons, Smith OF Georgia, Smith OF
Maryland, Swanson, Tillman, Townsend,
Warren, Weeks and Williams.
Against confirmation -Ashurst, Bo-
rah Bristow, Burton, Cntron, Chamber
lain. Clapp, Crawford, Cnmmins. Gronna,
Hitchcock, Hollis, Jones, Kenyon. La
Toilette. Lane, Lea of Tennessee, Nor:
ris, O'Gorman, Poindexter, Smith of
michigan, Smoot. Sterling. Thompson
| Vardaman, Walsh and Works.
THE senate voted down n motion to
romoye the pledge Of secrecy as to the
session and Immediately began eonsid,
Grafton Of another nomination behind
closed doors,
La Follette's Views.
Discussing the matter after adjourn
ment. Senator La Toilette said;
fFi told the senate that l considered
u q mistake to have considered The
nomination behind closed doors, as
So regarded the consideration behind
Closed doors of all matters connected
With legislation. I regarded this nomi'
nation as connected with legislation
az the commission constructs the legis;
iation we pass. I served notice that If
there was a rule Of the senate which
,,revented me from discussing the mat
Ter publicly + could no longer feel my
self bound to observe il and was ready
IN take tho consequences Of my act. -
SENATOR Clapp said that executive
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