The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1914-04-04
REVOLT ON Sci RE-
SESSIONSlED BY
lAFOLlETIE
Trouble Arises Over Confirm
alton OF Daniels
EIGHT SENATORS WITH HIM
Wisconsin Progressive Refuses TO Be
Longer Bound by Rule Of
Secrecy

Washington. April Mime mem
bers OF the Senate. headed By Sena-
tor La Toilette OF Wisconsin. open
~ reyolted against proceedings be
hind closed doors al Washington last
night after an executive session az.
ter the Senate by a vote OF SO 20 %
confirmed the nomination OF Win.
throp NJ Daniels OF New Jersey 10
be member OF the interstate com.
merce commission. Senator la Fol
lette declared on the door that be
proposed 10 defy the rules OF the Sen
ate in the future and discuss publicly
legislation not Affecting foreign rela.
tons and later IL was announced that
Senator Bristow Of Kansas, Cummins
OF Iowa. Clapp Of Minnesota. Kenyon
OF Iowa. Norris OF Nebraska. Jones
Of Washington and Gronna OF North
Dakota. republicans. and PoindexteI
Of Washington, progressive. would
maintain the same attitude.
The revol; created something OF a
sensation and there was much specu-
alton as to the effect 1t wouid have
on future executive sessions. The
| general opinion was that there would
be no attempt 10 take action against
members who dlsregarded the rule Of
secrecy. Confirmation OF Commlss.
| Toner Daniels closed n three days
fight. marked by one OF the bltterest
debates heard at the capitol in years
Both sides contested determinedly
Mr.. Daniels advocates having the
support of President Wilson'S well
known desire that his appointee and
personal friend be confirmed withou,
| delay.
Opponents to the confirmation
based their objection on the ground
that Mr.. Daniels views on the valu.
alton OF public service property were
unsound. AS during the two proceed
ing days. senators continued to in
sist that Mr.. Daniels ideas as ex.
pressed in the decision OF the New
Jersey public service commission. Of
| which he was chairman. in the Pas
sale gas rate case. would make him
dangerous as a member of the inter
state commerce commission at n time
| when the commission was fixing a
valuation on railroad property.
The Senate voted down a motion to
remove the pledge Of secrecy as to
the session and Immediately began
consideration of another nomination
behind closed doors. Discussing the
matter after adjournment. Senator
La Toilette said. Il told the Senate
that considered 1t mistake to have
considered the nomination behind
closed doors. as | regarded the con.
sideratlon behind closed doors of all
matters connected with legislation
| regarded this nomination as con
nected with legislation because the
commission CONSTITUTES the legislation
we pass. | serve notice that If there
was rule OF the Senate which pre-
vented me from discussing the mat
ter publicly, | could not longer fee
myself bound to observe it, and was
ready to take the consequences of my
act.
Senator Clapp said that executive
sessions, except to consider matters
of great public danger. were certain
to be abolished before very long
in great crisis there would be n,
trouble in keeping the proceeding!
secret" he added. but in matter
such as nominations the public is en-
titled to know what goes on and tn,
public will know If some of us hav,
our way about it,