The Washington herald., 1919-03-05

the espionage act, woman suffrage
railway control. wire control. the ''red
nag" bill. the oil land leasing bill and
many others.
The deficiency bill was called UP In
: tne Senate. early yesterday, but the
long debate on the league of nations.
In which speeches were delivered by
Senators Sherman and McCumber.
made 1T impossible to get considera-
ton for the bill until after the din
ner hour At II p. m. Senator Cum
minis presented his amendment to re-
store the powers of the Interstate
commerce Commission and spoke
briefly upon it He was followed by
senator Robinson, of Arkansas, who
opposed the amendment in brief
speech.
When Senator LaFolIette obtained
the noor at l A. m, IL was evident
that the threatened filibuster against
the bill had been inaugurated and
That there was no hope of passing, II.
Crowd Sees 1t Through.
The Senate galleries held the largest
crowd I'M their history and hundreds
we're tursed away. Many in the crowd
stayed throughout the night, and were
in their seats when daylight filtered
'hrough the transoms. Women and
men and boys, and some soldiers in
uniforms, stretched themselves upon
the comfortless seats and snatched a
few hours of sleep while the debate
on the floor droned wearily.
Senator Thomas, of Colorado. was
one of the few Senators who remained
in the chamber all night. Several
times he thought he would get an op-
hr{,, l.
hut each time the filibuster interposed
finally, giving up the fight. Senator
thomas gave out a statement vicious
ly attacking the Senate rules which
make possible such a blockade OF
legislation. He said
"The Senate Of the United States
is the only legislative body in the
world which is entirely subject to
the will of the minority. Under
its antiquated and preposterous
rules, the majority is helpless be
fore their obstructive tactics.
What goes by the name of debate
can proceed without limit, and
when seasonably interspersed with
roll calls two or three filibustering
Senators can paralvze its legisla-
tive functions. Hence, the Senate
for the past three DAYS has done
nothing but listen to multitudinous
words. The spectacle Is n humil-
iating ore. II the Senate OF the
United States has reached level
so low that It cannot properly
function. its excision from the ex-
listing scheme of government can
not be accomplished too soon, for
IFS days OF usefulness are behind
it"
Final hours in the House foun"
MEMBERS in variable moods. On
minute they were wranglinE an
on the verge of a fight, the mex
. they were exchanging felicitation
Then they filibustCred. When Speak
| er Champ Clark. with resOundinE
| whack, brought down the gavel
! which marked the end Of the ses-
q sion. all was calm and serene, and
! the Representatives on both sides
| toined in a love and songfest which
continued for an hour and a half
i The greatest thronE in the men,
lorv of the oldest doorkeepers jam
med the galleries and corridors
from early in the evening until long
| after midnight Monday. Nearly half
OF the gallery seats were occupied
| up to 3 o'clock. More than dozen
| women were among the half hun
dred that remained throughout the
night.
Songs Drown Speeches.
| witty collouuies and barber
| shop" singing in the cloak rooms
1 kept the Speaker pounding for or
| der. Members refused to lose theii
! good humor. and hardly would the
| chair succeed in quietinE then
down before they were of again
At 4:35 singing in the Republican
cloak room drowned the voices OF
! the speakers on the floor. Founo'
| ing his gavel until his muscles
ached. the Speaker said:
! THE sergeant-at-arms VIII &c
j hack there and stop those members
from singing-they can't sing any
way"
| Representative Moore. OF Penn
tsylvania. objected to Senate amend
I rnents to the wheat guarantee bill
on the ground that they authorized
the fixing of the price of pretzels
u There will be 10 use for pref
zels after July l. anyway. remark
cd Representative Stafford, OF WIS
consin.
Row EnIivens Proceeding
Proceedings of the wee sma' hours
were enlivened by clash oet"eet
Representatives Flood. OF Nlrglilia'
and Walsh, of Massachusetts,. kep-
rasentati,e Baer, Of North Dakota
and Jerry South, chief clerk OF tha
House. Joined in. and a tree-Ior-a-,