The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-12-21
SENATE Is AROUSED
BY ANYI-STRIKE BILL
Bitter Debate Follows Poin-
dexter's Demand to Get Mo-
ton Disposed Of.
HE DEFENDS MEASURE
Other Senators Declare 1t Was
Rushed Through Without
= Chance to BE Heard.
Special Despatch to TIE NEW YORK HERALD.

Special Despatch to TIE NEW YORK HERALD.
New York Herald Bureau.
Washington, ID. c., Dec. 90.
Acrimonious debate in the Senate to-
day over the drastic railroad anti-strike
bill of Senator Poindexter (Wash.) was
stirred up by it's author when he served
notice that he either wanted the motion
to reconsider the vote disposed of or
that he would move to- lay it on the
table.
Senator La Toilette CWis.). who had
moved 10 reconsider, was absent when
Senator Poindexter brought up the mat
ter but others opposed to anu-strike
legislation, including Senators Kenyon
Ga.) Republican, and Robinson (Ark.),
Democrat lectured the Senate ON the
alleged summary manner in which the
bill was rushed through without consid-
Grafton or a chance for those opposed to
it to vote.
Senator Poindexter had no objection to
reconsideration, but said he wanted final
action and meant to get 1t as soon as
possible He asked for an agreement
| for a final vote, but in the ensuing talk
his suggestion was forgotten even by
himself
Poindexter's Contention.
Mr.. Poindexter insisted there was
nothing In his bill to prevent people
from quitting work when they wished,
but that it did afford protection to the
public against interference with inter-
state commerce by persons who sought
| to prevent others from working either
| by argument or by force and violence.
| lie maintained that the bill imposed no
more drastic punishment against strikes
| than was ira osed by other laws to pro-
| tect the puElc against actions Of indi-
| yiduals who wanted to fight out their
| differences on the street rather than
| submit them TO tribunals of law.
This bill simply seeks to give to
| this great agency, transportation, the
same protection of law which every IN
diyidual citizen now has" said MT
| Poindexter
= Senator KENYON asked his colleague
how many Senator's were present when
the bill was passed, intimating that II
was put through surreptitiously. rms
was denied by Senator PoindeXter, who
said il was passed in strict accordahce
with Senate rules, and that II Senators
who were against 1t were not present
ii was their fault not his.
Called Snap Judgment.
Senator Robinson insisted this was not
sufficient excuse for disposing OF con-
tested" bill without consideration. lie
said 1t was snap Judgment" and that
the Senate ought not to put itself IN the
position of passing contested measures
in such n way.
IT neither express nor imply criticism
of any Senator's present who did not OBJ
ject 10 passing the BILL" said Senator
Robinson. Technically It was the duty
of Senators opposed TO the bill to object.
but / do not propose to put myself in the
position Of insisting upon the right to
discuss unimportant measures and then
denying the right to discuss measures
of such great Importance as this anti
strike bill.
There Is not a Senator here who does
not know an objection would have been
made to this bill If Senators opposed to
/ il had known that it was going to be
called up When this bill is considered
| the Senate ought to fight il out and
! lslow what Is involved in 1t. We ought
| not TO take advantage of the absence OF
Senator'S and thus deny them the right
| of stating their objections"
Senator Robinson said there was alb
solutely no chance that the bill would
become a law, even If the Senate passed
ii. because of opposition to it in the
| House. which already had been showr
! by the refusal to accept the anti-striks
provision in the railroad bill last ses.
l sion