Evening star., 1917-03-05

HE EV ENlNU SIAh,
a list Of names of two senators upon
| it "who might be recognized before I
! could be recognized. The names of those
two senators were Senators Owen and
Hitchcock. I then asked to be placed
on the list to be recognized next" Sena :
| tor La Toilette said that he recognized
! that 1t had been a custom to make lists
of senator's for recognition, but that he
had been told Saturday by the Vice
President that all such lists had been
discarded and senators would be recog-
nized as they addressed the chair.
Robinson and La Toilette Clash.
'Now. I simply want to know" he
said. what the practice of the Senate
is to be for the remainder of the ses-
sion. All I want to know is whether
the list that lies upon the desk before
the president pro tempore is to be OBJ
served. My name has been entered
upon it after the name of Senator
Hitchcock"
II make the point of order that the
senator did not state parliamentary
inquiry" shouted Senator Robinson of
Arkansas.
Senator La Toilette shouted back
that he was making such an inquiry.
Both senator's were waving their arms
and shouting at the top of their lungs.
while the President pro tempore
pounded for order.
II will continue ON this floor until l
| complete my statement" Senator La
Toilette yelled, unless somebody car
ries me off, and I should like to see
the man do 1t"
Loses on Appeal From Decision.
At make a point of order" said SEN
ator Robinson. and he was recognized
to; make the point. as Senator La Fol-
lette ceased. Senator Robinsons point
was that Senator La Toilette had not
made a parliamentary inquiry at all.
The chair sustained the point of
order
Senator La Toilette.
i move to lay the appeal on the
table, said Senator Robinson. saving
the air. A roll call was ordered and
Senator Ashurst of Arizona yelled for
a vote. On the vote the chair was SuS-
tanned by 80 to Is, and Senator Hitch
cock proceeded with his defense Of the
bill
When Senator Hitchcock resumed he
proceeded in a calm and dispassionate
manner to discuss the bill. in answer,
he said, to the attacks upon it. He
dwelt upon the importance of the bill,
which he decribed as not only of para
mount Importance, but which really
or war.
Shocking and Humiliating."
He referred to the filibuster and said
that it showed that even il the enemy
were at the gates, a handful of sena-
tors could prevent action
This situation is shocking to me-"
said Senator Hitchcock.
"Humilating," suggested Senator
Williams, sententiously.
Yes. humiliating." continued Senator
Hitchcock. who went on to say that the
obstruction came from men who profess
to believe in popular government. and
yet are not willing to trust the greatest
legislative body in the country to take
vote.
Senator Thomas of Colorado suggest
ed that the situation presented COM
mentary upon the archaic rules of the
Senate, in vogue since 1904.
Senator Stone proposed that Senator
Hitchcock yield, SO as to take up the
proposed change in the rules, but Sena-
tor Hitchcock said 1t would be useless
and continued with discussion of the
bill. Referring to Senator Stones OBJ
lection to the use of other instru-
mentalities," Senator Hitchcock said
the proposition did not carry the war
making power, but was to allow the
President to maintain armed neu-
trality."
Favors Bill as War Preventive.
He controverted the idea that the
bill ''may lead to war" He said he
would be the last man TO vote for war
He had been opposed to shipping mu-
nitions of war to belligerents, he said
Senator La Toilette pointed out that
the senators now opposing the pending
bill furnished support to the senator's
till to prohibit shipments of muni-
tions.
Senator La Toilette made an impas-
stoned plea for an opportunity to be
heard on the bill. Senator Hitchcock
said he would be glad to hear from
the senator from Wisconsin if the lat
ter would agree to a vote on the bill.
Senator La Toilette said he could not
agree to a vote until every senator
who desired to speak should be given
opportunity. He appealed again to
Senator Hitchcock for recognition.
Hitchcock Blames La Toilette.
Senator Hitchcock very blandly re-
piled that he had observed the senator
from Wisconsin in the Senate directing
the course Of the opponents of the bill.
and he could only regret that the SEN
ator from Wisconsin had allotted so
much time to others and had reserved
none for himself.
Senator Smith of Michigan served
notice that he proposed to be heard on
the bill before the Senate adjourned
At IL o'clock Senator Hitchcock
paused to ask If he could secure con-
sent to lay aside the pending amend
ments and have an agreement for a
vote on the House bill at 1870 o'clock.
"Untruth" Passed Back and Forth.
Senator La Toilette said he wanted
to he heard. Senator Smith of Georgia
asserted in an aside. but in an audible
tone. That is not so.'
Did the senator from Georgia say
that is not so?" queried Senator La
Toilette.
II did," said Senator Smith. rising in
his place.
Then the senator from Georgia
states an untruth.' retorted Senator
La Toilette.
Several senators called the Wisconsin
senator to order, and he resumed his
seat after stating that he would con-
tinue to object to unanimous consent
until. he had been heard. He pointed
out that the senator from Nebraska
had spoken twice on the bill, while he
had not spoken at all
Senator Hitchcock said the bill had
become the foot ball of senators, who
not only opposed the bill. but would
not allow others to vote on it