Haley Stevens: “I have a small Bible to start reading, a few editorials from my State concerning this bridge and some of the comments…”

“I have a small Bible to start reading, a few editorials from my State concerning this bridge and some of the comments that have been made in other States. I am willing to try to work out a system so that all States contribute to assisting our sister State in Louisiana and recognize their prior need for money, but I am entirely unwilling to take money from Alaska only. I think the Senate ought to have that on notice. I will suggest the absence of a quorum, and I will object to taking it off until we have some way that the Senate might consider an alternative to the Senator from Oklahoma or until a quorum is present and the Senate decides otherwise than what I have decided. I will put the Senate on notice--and I don't kid people--if the Senate decides to discriminate against our State and take money only from our State, I will resign from this body. This is not the Senate I came to. This is not the Senate I devoted 37 years to. If one Senator can decide he will take all the money from one State to solve a problem of another, that is not a union. That is not equality and is not treating my State the way I have seen it treated for 37 years. I suggest the absence of a quorum. The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Chafee). The clerk will call the roll. The assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.”