New Britain herald., 1929-05-20
SENATE INVOLVED
 IN SECRECY FIGHT
Insurgents May Invite Expulsion by Telling of Lenroot Votes

Washington, May 20 JP) - The senate became involved today in A deep-rooted dispute over the secrecy with which it enveloped itself last week to confirm President Hoovers' nomination of Irwin Lenrcot of Wis consin as a customs judge.
 A somewhat sensational demon- stration against the secrecy rule is planned by insurgents. Half dozen of them are considering rising in open senate and daring the major ity to expel them for telling how they voted upon confirmation. Two other senators, Blaine of Wisconsin anc Norris Of Nebraska. may deliver again in open session the speeches they made in executive sessions con- corning the Lenroot case.
 Little of the bitter contest over dhe nomination has been made public because it all took place in execu- tivakSession. The ssenate rules pro- NdE expulsion for any senator di- vul13ng what happens. However, some senators have taken the posi-, ton the rules is obsolete, except for political machinations. and have de- clined to abide by it. Their demon- stration is being arranged to bring the matter to an issue in hopes the rule may be overthrown.
 1t is learned the atmosphere of the executive session was so strained when the vote On Lenroot was taken, that Senator Watson, the floor lead CT, attempted to prevent any sena- tor from keeping a list of the votes. Strangely enough, Senator Bingham of Connecticut, an ardent disciple of the rules who never tells anything that happens in executive session, was seen by the insurgents to be keeping roll call of the AZ to 27 vote by which Lenroot was confirm cd. In testing manner mid western senator reported Bingham to Watson. To save himself from any suspicion he might give out the roli call, Bingham tore his list to bits and threw 1t in the waste basket. No other list of the vote was kept, eX cent the official roll which the sen ate declined to make public on special vote.
 Irregularities Alleged
 Blaine, it now develops. made d speech just before the vote was taken. charging Lenroot had been il- legally admitted to practice before the United States supreme court. a point never previously advanced. Blaine said Lenroot had never tried a legal case before he was elected to the senate. and that he never had been admitted to practice before the Wisconsin supreme court. The rule provides no one may be admitted be- fore the United States supreme cour, who has not practiced for three years before his state supreme court.
 Il is this speech which Blaine may repeat in the open senate. Norris speech concerned Lenroot's connec- ton with the Teapot Dome case and his employment as counsel for the power interests after he retired from the senate, upon being defeated for reelection by Blaine.
 If opponents of the secrecy rule stage their demonstration. delicate situation never before encountered in the senate, will be put up 10 the leaders. II IS doubtful whether the half dozen or more who tell how they vote, will he expelled because even the leaders have smiled at the rule at times. But they certainly will be liable to expulsion and it will be difficult to determine what course the leaders can safely pursue.