Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-09-19
SENATORS FIGHT
ALL NIGHT OVER
'PORK BAR'L" BILL
Burton Leads Filibuster and
Continuous Session Is Held.
President Said to Favor
Cut.

WASHINGTON. Sept. 19--In a desper-
ate effort to break down the opponents OF
the rivers and harbors bill carrying an
appropriation Of $4,000, 900, the Senate
Democrats forced an all-night session.
Champions of the bill, led by Senator'S
Sheppard, of Texas Bryan, Of Florida;
Robinson, of Arkansas, and simmons, of
North Carolina, are endeavoring to pre-
vent the compromise on a $50, 100000 lump
appropriation, which is under discussion
in tho Commerce Committee.
a report that the President has indi-
Gated "A desire for n bill not to exceed
100000 to Sl5OCO,OOO was bomb shell
among friends of the measure in the
Senate today. Worn out by their long
vigil they expressed disbelief that the
President would have taken such n de-
cided stand without consulting Senators
on the committee.
IL do not believe that the President
would take such action without consulting
me-" said Senator Simmons.
One prominent Senator, who has played
large part in fighting for the bill, de-
clared that the President would have to
veto the bill or sign 1t as passed by the
Senate, and that any effort which the
towards shaping the bill came too late to
be effective.
BCRToN's DETERMINED FIGHT.
Senator Burton had the floor from 5:55
Friday night until sos this morning. In
that period of 12 hours and 10 minutes
four hours and a half were consumed
In rollcalls and various Interruptions.
Shortly after this morning Senator
Kenyon took the floor and held 1t with
Interruptions for quorum calls until
9:4O. At that hour there was a call for
quorum and about 10 o'clock Senator
Burton. who had had an hours sleep
and breakfast, resumed He seemed in
good form. though his voice was husky.
The whole Senate was in a bad tenn
per. The advocates of the bill were still
bent on holding the Senate in session
until a vote could be forced and motions
to adjourn were repeatedly voted down.
Whenever 1t was possible during the
long and eXhausting session the filibus-
ters demanded a quorum call and tho
speakers enjoyed brief rests. Several
times calls for a quorum failed to de-
velop a sufficient number of Senator'S
and a squad of deputy serGeant-at-arms
bearing wrlts of arrest were sent out in
taNicabs to bring in the absentees. SEN
ator James Hamilton Lewis, the Demo-
cratic whip of the Senate, was hauled
from his bed at the Army and Navy
Club by a deputy, after the latter haG
threatened to arrest servants at the club
because they refused to disturb Senator
Lewis
Senator Burton spoke slowly during the
long hours of the night, evidently saving
his strength He soon discarded his
frock coat ana got into an alpaca jacket.
and replaced his shoes for bedroom Slip
n 10 I1, v,1n tod u,,I
down, pointer in hand, before a number
Of maps 10 which he now and then re-
ferred
The determined effort to wear Burton
and his friends out was best illustrated
Just after Burton surrendered the floor
temporarily at 6 o'clock this morning He
was attempting to get over to his Office
for a nap when arrested by n deputy
and hailed before the |
Senate to help constitute quorum. He
had enjoyed one little nap, however. in |
the Presidents room during one of the |
quorum calls last night. After short |
nap this morning he went to the Senate
restaurant for breakfast
SENATOR WILLIAMS WHISTLES.
In the intervals between the call for a |
quorum and the completion of the call, |
the chamber was practically deserted. !
Senator Ashurst, who occupied the chair,
was forced at one time to call Senator
Williams 10 order because he whisted
"Iiow Dry ! am in the chamber.
Senator Burton forced vote on a mo-
tion TO recomntt the bill with inStruc-
tions to strike out many of the items.
The vote showed a to against the mo-
tion to rccommit.
After Senator Kenyon took the floor
this morning, he forced n call for
quorum and during the wait Senator
Ransdell proposed that the Sergeant-at-
arms be directed 10 request the attend
ance Of all Senators now out OF the
city, as the earlier orders had applied only /
10 those in the city, senator Kenyon en-
ieavored 10 have an amendment Inserted
excepting those Senators who are en-
gagged in political campaigns. The Rams
iell motion was agreed TO- however, with
put the Kenyon amendment,
SENATORIAL ENDURANCE TEST
The dght was actually an endurance
with Burton as the leading foe
ii tine Democrats who forced the all
night session in an effort 10 break the
iibuster through ph"sica. exhaustion Of
Burton is leader of the opposition,
Democratic Senators took shifts" in
oresitiu- They spelled" each other as
president Of the Senate, working in re-
ays 10 avoid fatigue.
The au-nsht HliUust-r was the first
continuous night session since the "just-
icatior" resolution last spring when the
,leXicaU situation was before the Sem
tie, BuTron's ElbustDr rivaIed In length
ana tenICity the famous l7-hour speech
II Senator La Toilette several years ago.