The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-11-18
Senator GaIMnger's Charge.

The historical accuracy Of those de.
tale OF the statement made by Sena-
o JACOB II. GALLrNGER Of New lIamp-
shire with regard to the passage OF
the seamen's law by the Senate.
which are capable Of proof In the
ofhcial report Of the proceedings OF
the Congress-, Is fully established by
the Congressional Record OF February
"a. 1915. The conference report was
agreed to by the Senate February ~.
On the following day. the Military
Academy appropriation being under
confederation. Senator SMITH OF Geor-
Ea interrupted the debate in IN effort
to obtain reconsideration Of the vote
b. which the conference report on the
MEASURE had been accepted.
Mr.. SMITH's explanation OF his rea.
con for this motion was in words
amilar to those used by Mr.. GAL
LIN0ER In his statement. The Senator
from Georgia believed the advocates
Of the measure were to consume some
tAAuC al 4 uVAVi'Vs iIN iVit Nv iiti
Der to attend TO other business. On
his return he learned that debate had
ceased and the vote had been taken.
His understanding Of the intention
held BY the proponents Of the measure
vas shared by Senator STONE. who in
the course Of the debate on Mr..
SNITH's motion to reconsider de-
clared that this conference report
was agreed to under very peculiar
circumstances" and:
Personally. I think advantage was
taken Of their 1.-THE opponents OF the re-
peril temporary absence, and that ough,
not 10 be-"
Mr.. GALLISoER's assertion that 1.-THE
report was agreed to by the Senate
under circumstances that are not at
all creditabie to its promoters ap'
pears to be completely justified by the
ofhcial journal of that body's pro
ceedings.
Another declaration made 10y Mr..
0ALLINGER Is not ~ present suscepti-
BILE Of exact confirmation. 1t Is pos
sble that there exists no official docu'
ment by which It's truthfulness may
b established. For the honor of the
nation we may eyen hope that no such
confrmatory evidence can he produced.
We have in mind this astonishing
statement:
ITO my knowledge certain senator,
'oted for the adoption Of the conference
report upon the ground that they had
ssoeived assurances that the bill would
- vetoed by the President.
'The precise nature OF the assurances
nat they received I am Unable to state,
Sut h tina argument was used as a
reason why the report might safely be
agreed to is beyond doubt but, as has
usually happened during this Admins
tration. the assurances that had been
given that the President would exercise
he veto came to %naught,"
In order that the full significance
Of this carefully formulated charge
may he cOm%prehended, 1t is necessary
that certain circumstances affecting
the seamen's law be horne in mind.
When the Administrations currency
lhll was introduced in 1913 the Dem
ocratic majority in the Senate was too
small TO insure that measures adop.
don, and as Its provisions Ia many
particulars ran contrary Ia the oIin-
ions held by senator Ia TOILETTE, it
was reasonably believed that the bene-
ficiary OF Isaac STIPIrNsoN's gencr-
ONty would endeayor to defeat ii. He
did not. ON the other hand. Mr.. la
TOILETTE. on being permitted To i'm
nose on the currency bill certain OF
his own notions, accepted 1t, and con
tributed nightly to its success, Fol
lowing this n sufficient number of
Democrats were induced To support
the seau,en $ bill, which Mr.. Ia Fol.
I.ErTE had been for years trying to
get through Congress, 10 bring about
its approval in the Senate, and agree.
ment to the conference report under
conditions described ny Mr.. GALLINGER,
Mr.. SMITH and Mr.. STONE.
1t Is now charged by Mr.. GALLINGER.
not as II matter of hearsay, or Of
common rumor, hut ns Il fact Of his
Own knowledge, that certain Senators
gave their affirmative votes 10 the
conference report upon the ground
that they had received assurances that
the bill would be vetoed by the Presi-
dent" From this it appears that
members Of the Presidents party en-
titled 10 his confidence cast their votes
In the Senate under the belief that
the evil consequences OF their support
Of a vicious piece OF legislation would
be rendered Impossible through tn.
intervention Of The President. OF their
conduct, and their betrayal Of tho
trust reposed in them by their con-
s%tituents, IL IL not necessary now to
speak; their derelictions are sufi.