The Sisseton weekly standard. (Sisseton, Roberts County, S.D.) 1892-1929, 1921-10-14
ROLL CALI. N SENATE REVEALS
~ REPUBLICANS AND ~
DEMOCRATS MISSING
NEARLY HALF THE
MEMBERSHIP
Rare Quorum, Of Mesnl,ers Ret.r>. -
Vacation's EnAl-Parliamcptszy
Situation in Rad Jam-Ieae3e.r
Worried by Disputes Solicit Aarl.
ing's Assistance
BY John NJ. Baer

BY John NJ. Raer
After months recess Congress re-
convened on Wednesday, September
81. Since August 2l it had been rcst.
ing from its arduous labOrs. Soma
members had been playing golf. some
home mending their fences, some on
the Chautauqua circuit and still 9TH
ers agreeably occupied in the pur-
suit of ease and pleasure The justi-
fication for the recess during a crit
ical stage of the nations affairs was
that the members had been fatigued
by sustained effort. and the assur-
ance was implied, it not actually Civ
en-. that when they returned to Wash
ington they would be refreshed in
body and mind and ready to clean up
in short order the mass OF work they
had LETT undones
But when the roll was called in
the senate 26 republicans and Is
democrats, nearly half the member
ship, were missing. The attendance
was so small that 1t was necessary to
send out the sergeant-at-arms ana
only after long hunt did he manage
to get together enough Senators to
make quorum. In the house only 5?
members were present and for want
of anything better to do the body ad
journed until Saturday. which was
to be the starting point for adjourn
ment to later dates.
The President is said to be some
what annoyed because of Congress
ional truancy and is expected to have
something partinent to say on the
subject unless the laggards hurry
back and get into action. That, prob
ably, will furnish opportunity for
caustic members to make some Bit
ing observations on the amount OF
time the President is giving to official
tasks. What is most needed, how
ever. is not recrimination, but some
honest work done in the interest OF
the national welfare. The Senate
finds itself in parliamentary jam
and is unable to get anywhere be-
cause most of its time is consumed
with points of no quorum and call
ing rolls to keep the small number
in attendance on the Job.
When the senators resumed where
they left of they were confronted
with difficult situation. At adjourn
ment Senator Borah's canal tolls bill
was by unanimous consent the un-
finished business. For several days
before adjournment the senate had
worked itself into frenzy over the
conference report on the beer bill
Ad interim the finance committee
completed its draft OF the revenue
bill and Senator Penrose is daily on
his feet demanding it's immediate
consideration. Here are three con-
fiicting interests that tend to delay
legislation.
Senator Borah has an agreement
to take vote on his bill on October
10 and is Sitting pretty" But Sena-
tor Sterling, in charge Of the beer
bill, wants the Senate to confine its
attention to that proposition until 1t
is disposed Of one way or another.
The mere suggestion that this be
done brought a food Of invective
from the opposition. which when this
ID written had absolutely refused to
argee upon date for, voting.
The best opinion is that the advo-
Gates Of the beer bill will be able to
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