Evening star., 1925-03-05
DAWES VIOLATION
OF SENATE RULES
IS OVERLOOKED"
Swearing In of New Members
Approved by Unanimous
Consent.
BRIEF SESSION HELD
WITHOUT FIREWORKS
Vice President Given Mild Spank
ing and Upper House Adjourns
Until Tomorrow.

At the request of Senator Reed.
Democrat, of Missouri, the Senate this
afternon agreed by unanimous consent
to consider the Senators sworn in yes
terday in violation OF rule of the
Senate should be held to have taken
their office properly.
The action of the Senate on this re-
quest came after Senator Reed had
criticized the manner in which Vice
President Dawes conducted the cere-
mony in swearing in the Senators.
Scarcely had the Senate concluded
with this mild spanking of the new
Vice President when Senator Under
wood of Alabama offered resolution
to amend the Senate rules so as to
bring about cloture of debate by ma
jority vote. This is in line with the
recommendation OF the Vice President
made in his inaugural address to re-
form the rules of the Senate, which
now permit practically unlimited de-
hate, although there is a rule provid-
ing for cloture by two-thirds vote of
the Senate. Senator Underwoods res
olution was referred to the Senate
rules committee. Senator Reed, in
offering his unanimous agreement
resolution. said that he did not wish
TO be understood to be hypercriticaL
and that his only object was to see
that the swearing of the Senators
yesterday should be regularized.
Meeting Irregular.
At the same time he had pointed
out that the Senate had met after the
inaugural ceremonies yesterday with
the Vice President absent and with
no one designated to preside over the
Senate in his absence. He asked that
the Senate should subscribe to the
action then taken, pointing out, how
ever, that the Senate merely set an
hour for the daily meeting after be-
ing called to order by Senator Wat
son of Indiana Senator Reed said
that it was important that nothing
should be considered as a precedent
for the holding of session without
the duly constituted presiding officer.
He suggested that a rumo Senate
might meet at some time If there
was such a question.
Senator Reed said that he had meant
to criticize no one in what he had said.
He defended the high character of the
Senate, and declared that the body
would continue the high standards set
by the Senate in the past.
Senator Curtis the Republican leader,
after Senator Reed had concluded and
offered his unanimous agreement re-
quest, said that he hoped the request
would be agreed to, since Rule Of the
Senate did require the swearing in OF
the Senators in the manner described
by Senator Reed.
The Vice President put the ques-
tion, and without further debate the
request was granted, and after brief
executive session the Senate adjourn
ed until noon tomorrow.
Immediately following the prayer by
the Senate chaplain this morning, the
clerk began reading the journal Of yes
terday's proceedings. Senator Curtis,
Republican leader, asked that the formal
reading of the journal be dispensed with.
In d second Senator Reed of Missouri.
Democrat, and Senator Hale OF Maine
Republican, were on their feet clamor-
ing for recognition.
The Senator from Maine was recos-
nized.
Hale Offers Explanation.
Il have seen criticisms of the Vice
President of the United States pub
lished in the morning newspapers" he
said, because he did not return to the
Senate chamber following the inaug
uration yesterday afternoon to preside
over this body. l can explain why he
did not return and l think it my duty
TO do So"
Senator Reed of Missouri made
out Of order because there was no
business before the Senate.
Il am speaking on a point of per-
sonal privilege" returned Senator
Hale, and Senator Reed withdrew his
point of order.
After the inaugural ceremonies"
continued Senator Hale. president
and Mrs. Coolidge and Vice President
and Mrs. Dawes were proceeding to
their antnn1nhilaC II The Ntre
dent turned to me and said, I must
return to the Senate to preside over
the session. How do I get there?'
Willing to Take Blame.
'T replied that he was not to go !
back to the Senate but to go to the !
White House with the Presidents par
ty. 1t was a misunderstanding on my
part. The Vice President was in the
hands of a committee on arrange
ments of which l was a member. If
there is any blame for his failure to |
return TO the Senate chamber, it
should be on my shoulders"
At this point, Senator Curtis asked
unanimous consent that the Senate
appoint committee to wait on the |
President to inform him that the SEN
ate was in session and ready for busi-
ness, and to- receive any communica-
tions he might care to make, and that /
the Senate then take a recess until
2 o'clock. He explained that the read
ing of the journal, which Senator
Reed was demanding, could be taken
up at o'clock.
Senator Ashurst of Arizona. arising
TO point of personal privilege, said |
that he had read in the newspapers
structures which he was reported to
have made upon the. Vice President.
Cites Cause of Criticism.
Il disagreed with some parts Of
the speech delivered by the Vice
President in the Senate yesterday"
said Senator Ashurst. But | wish
# understood that my criticism was
directed at the unseemly and untimely
interruption of the ceremony OF taxi
ing the oath of office by the Sena-
tors elect"
With the understanding that the
reading of the journal was to be
resumed at o'clock. the Senate agreed
10 Mr.. Curtis request A committee
consisting of Senators Curtis and
. Robinson, Democratic leader. was ap-
pointed to wait upon the President.
The Senate then recessed.
1t is understood that Senator Reed
of Missouri and possibly other Sena-
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