Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-03-05
|, Inaugural Address
Flays Rules That
Permit One Man
Fiibuster
~ treatment of Other Pro-
r,dures of Body Amaze and
Diseoncert Members - Re-
nubIican Leaders Silent on
Affair - Democratic Com
ment Caustic-HOuse Mem
hers in Gallery Laugh at Elk
/. uer,se of Senator's

washington, Mar. tBy a. r.
charles G. Dawes, assuming today
,bs offiee Of vice president of the
United States, fractured so many
senate presidents that he left that
body gasping in establishment.
His inaugural address turned out
to be an attack on the senate rules
nermitting a one man filibuster. On
Inn Of that Mr.. Dawes brushed aside
the old method of swearing in new
senator's in groups of fours; abrupt
" recessed the senate for the inau-
.uration of President Coolidge on
the Capitol portico, and then left
the body without a duly constituted
nresiding officer for the rest of the
day to get itself adjourned until to-
marrow as best it could.
The president inaugural ceremon-
loo rave senators time to catch their
breath. Then followed a fusillade of
sfafements, most of them attacking
but many praising Mr.. Dawes stand
an senate rules. Republican leaders
generally were silent, but Democratic
leaders were vigorous in their char
acterixation of the new vice presi-
dents verbal broadside.
These statements in general ind1-
Gated that the occasion and positive
manner of the delivery of the attack
On the rules had drawn fires more
than had the announcement that
unless there is a change in the meth
ID Of procedure the effectiveness,
Westige and dignity of the senate
4, INST be lessened.
While he read from a prepared
manuscript a speech which had been
guarded with very unusua! care SO
9 that no inkling Of it might trickie
out In advance, MIR. Dawes spoke
with all the vigor with which he
once lectured cabinet officers on the
subject of economy when he was al"
rector of the budget. When he want
ed to strike home an especial sem
tence he leaned across the desk To-
ward the senators grouped in one
part Of the chamber and shook ms
fist or his forefinger at them.
Some senator's sat through the ad-
dress in silence and with glum ex-
pressions, while some Joined more or
/ less heartily in the laughter that ire"
quently swept the chamber and there
was some applause from the sena-
torial quarter when the speech was
concluded.
Whatever the senate lacked in the
way Of enthusiastic reception OF the
inaugural, members Of the house
!. grouped on the other side OF the
chamber, supplied. They applauded
frequently and laughed heartily al
the apparent discontinue of the sem
atcrs. Cabinet officers Joined in the
laughter, but President Coolidge
who sat in front Of the dias facing
The congress, scarcely changed his
expression
In their formal comments on the
vice presidents address, some SEN
ators, including Smoot, Republican
Utah, and George, Democratic, Geor-
gia, declared that if there had been
an opportunity to amend the senate
rules they could see little possibility
now Of that being done.
! Senator Robertson, Of Arkansas
the Democratic leader, said it was
regrettable" that Mr.. Dawes had
made a necessarily formal ceremony
ridiculous" while Senator Reed
democrat. Missouri. declared that the
vice Presidents melody of voice
grace of gesture, and majesty Of pres
ence were only excelled by his mod
esty' Senator Caraway, Democrat
arkansas. described the speech as il
instrating exactly what should not
nave been said"
Senator Ashurst, Democrat, Ari-
iona, characterized the address as
me most 'acrobatic, gymnastie
speech" he had ever seen delivered
from that particular rostrum.
have an opinion of the specta
es out do not care to express it
ssid Senator Norris, Republican
regret that such an occasion was
q perverted into a farce" was the COM
Ment OF Senator Swanson, Democrat
Virginia.
on the other hand, Senator Golf
spublcan. West Virginia, said he
nyught the speech was constructive
NNu 1uil OF common sense.