New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-03-09
ne measure do not talk most OF the
ime.'
Il EnIIaifa Affacka Lite Bills

the measure do not talk most Of the
time"
La Toilette Attacks Late Bills
Senator La Toilette said he would
not discuss his position on the neutraI-
ity bill now. but might later. POINT
ing ont that some Of the most I'm
portant appropriation bills, inciudhe
the nav and army measures, had pc.
presented 90 the Senate only shoi'
time before March (. he asked:
Were they so long coming 70 the
Senate because 10 was undesirable thst
they be discussed here?'
The army bill was presented, ne sara a.
with a provision never before dareu W
be presented 10 an American congress
with universal CONSUMPTION or un,'e'-
sal military training embodied IN II.
you pile up legislation of that SORT
he continued. "and then, forty-eight or
fftv hours before the end OF the ses-
sion. YOU bring in bill that trenches
on the constitutional authority on ION
gress and demand that debate shail De
made to conform. With this sort OF
rule and an iron hand laid on TINS o0uy
from outside. with q Congress that nas
reduced itself in little less than three
years 70 little less than rubber stamp
do Won not think this sort OF closure
would be pretty effective 2!
The Senator read extracts from "lne
Congressional Record" Of previous ue-
bates on closure showing how many
famous Senators had opposed IT,.
Popular elections of Senators has re-
shifted in lowering Of the quality OF
craftsmanship, Mr.. La Toilette Vlr'uaily
admitted. TO the utter Amusement OF
his colleagues. Always an advocate OF
ali the popular reforms, Mr.. La Toilette
declared that. while he did not wish 10
offend his colleagues, "the level OF
craftsmanship in this body is not so
high as il was when ] first entered IT,
Cummins Scores Newspapers
eff may be permitted TO express an
opinion without being burned IN eihgy'
which seems to appeal strongly TO one
Senator. and without being classified as
a flibuster," said Mr.. Cummlns, u de-
sire to say that | have favored such a
rule for eight years. am not at all
affected by the unprecedented and un-
called-for statement Of the White
House, and am not for the rule on
account Of the lying representations
spread broadcast by the newspapers
] do not want it TO appear that am IN
the least dismayed by the storm which
the Presidents censure has aroused.
81 do want il to be known how un-
founded. how utterly baseless rs the
charge of a flibuster so far as ] am
concerned, or so far as ! know any
other Senator is concerned.
"This bill in the future will be known
as a bill empowering the President TO
declare and make war at his own pleas
ure. The bill was taken up just forty
three and a half hours before Congress
expired by Constitutional limitation.
The Senators who have been Termed a
little group of wilful men consumed
less than eleven hours.
Praises Stones Speech
"Of the eleven hours so consumed
by the little group of wilful men the
Senator from Missouri consumed four
hours and a little more. That time was
consumed in the delivery Of the most
convincing and profoundest argument
in the history of the Senate.
81 was opposed 10 the bill as reported
By the Senate Committee, and l offered
an amendment. I debated the amend
ment which | presented for little
more than one hour. My part in this
drama. in this tragedy, as it would
have been, then ceased. Any man in or
out of the Senate. of high or low de-
gree, who intimates that ! attempted
or conspired to prevent vote on this
bill deliberately falsifies. wish |
could use a stronger word and still be
within the rules of the Senate.
81 do not apologize for speaking on
the former occasion, but for speaking
on a resolution which favor so much
as this one for closure"
A resolution was prepared by Senator
Mclean. of Connecticut, requesting the
President 10 call a special session OF
Congress March 20 because important
measures vital TO the honor and safety
OF the nation require immediate atten-
ton" He was unable TO introduce 1t
to-day because Of the rules fight, but
may bring il up tomorrow.