Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1914-04-04
JOIN IA TOILETTE IN REVOLT
AGAINST RULE OF SECRECY
IN UPPER HOUSE.
THREATS OF EXPULSION
FAIL TO BRIGHTEN SOLoNS
firmation Of Wilson Appointee to
Commerce Board Causes Storniest
Executive Session Ever Hetd-Say
Appointment Is Surrender.

aters from the middle west, headed oy
LaFollette, prociaiming that they no
longer will be bounded by the rdle OF
secrecy and defying the senate to ex-
Pei them, the stormiest executive ses-
sion in the history of the upper house
of congress ended last evening in the
confirmation by vote of sc to 27 of
the appointment of Prof. Winthrop
Moore Daniels. of New Jersey, TO the
interstate commerce commission.
Characterizing the appointment OF
Z Daniels as scandal which he intends
to air in public, Senator LaFollette, OF
i Wisconsin, elected a threat OF eXpul-
sion from Senator John Sharp VIII
liams for violation Of the rules Of the
executive session. Senator Williams
read the rule.
Thereupon Senator LaFollette defied
the senate to expel him and was i'm
mediately joined in this stand by Sena-
tors Cummins and Kenyon Of Iowa,
Br.stow of Kansas, and Clapp Of Min
nesota.
Senators Norris Of Nebraska. Jones
OF Washington. Gronna Of North Da-
kota, and PoindeNter Of Washington
indicated that they, too, would dis
cuss publicly legislation that did not
effect the foreign relations of the
United States.
Will Fight to End Secret Sessions.
Senator Kenyon served notice that
he will move the abolition of executive
sessions for all purposes save the con-
Liberation Of treaties. and there is
ample ground for the belief that this
movement will succeed.
II -,
Daniels appointment has been raging
in the senate behind closed doors. The
selection of Daniels has been opposed
for several weeks by the progressive
members OF all parties on the ground
that the New Jersey man is a reac-
tiorary.
He was attacked particularly because
Of decision as chairman of the New
Jersey public utilities commission,
which. 1t is alleged, allowed an inflated
valuation of gas company's property
as the basis Of regulation Of its rates.
It was argued that it would be dam
serous 70 place a man Of such views
upon the commission which is now
valuing the railroads Of the country.
Surrender to Special Interests.
In the closing hour OF the struggle
Senator LaFollette reviewed the work
Of Professor Daniels on the New Jer-
sey utilities commission and pro-
nornced the appointment a surrender
to special interests.
Then he launched into denunctatioS
Of the practice of the senate in con-
Quoting the discussion Of appointments
behind closed doors and on imposing
upon senators the prohibition of d.
Tuiging the proceedings. He said that
the debate On the confirmation of the
appointment Of a man to a position in
which he will have a hand in con-
strung the interstate commerce law
is OF such vital importance TO the pub
lie that It ought 70 be conducted in the
open senate.
Then Mr.. La Toilette announced that
for one he did not propose to be bound
by the rule OF secrecy in a matter in
which the interests of the public were
SO deeply involved. He said he in
tended to make the whole affair public
IN the next issue Of his magazine.
Does Not Fear Expulsion.
It was at this point that Senator
Williams confronted Mr.. La Toilette
a-ith the latest revised edition Of the
senate rules and Jeferson'e manuel
held menacingIy aloft. Mr. Williams
proceeded with great so1emnity to read
the rule Of secrecy for violation Of
which a senator may be expelled.
This move did not daunt Senator La
Toilette. He said that he believed il
lis duty to acquaint the public with
the facts IN the Daniels case and that
If he should be expelled therefor he
would accept it as the penalty Of dis
charging his duty as a, senator.
While Mr.. La Toilette vas making
these remarks Senator Curnmins, Ken
yon, Clapp. and Bristow arose and one
after another declared themselves in
sympathy with the attitude of the Wis
consin sena tor. They asserted they
would not be bound by the rule Of
secrecy and deded the senate to ex-
pei them.
Senator Kenyon said the confrnla-
tionof the Daniels appointment neve.
would have been voted in open session
Senator Asherst, democrat, said the APP
pointment Is a surrender to the rail
roads
It transpired that the democratic
leaders Thursday night counseled the
withdrawal of the appointment. but
President Wilson insisted on confrma-
zion.