New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-05-14
ROOSEVELT SENATORS
OPPOSE SINGLE TERM
Threaten Fi'ibuster Against Res
oIlItion Limiting Presidency
to Six Years.
AGREED TO BY COMMITTEE
Brown and Rorah Alone Vote IN
Negative, and Senate Ma
jority Favors the
Limitation.
IRON The Tribune Bureau !

Washington Nav 13.-Threats Of I'LL
buster against = single term anenomeht
70 the Constitution were made by Eoose-
welt Senators to-day as soon ss II became
known that tho Senate Committee on
Judiciary had decided tn report fsNoranly
the Works resolution making the Presi-
dental term six wears and making PTesi-
dents ineligible for a second term.
The favorable attitude Of the Senate
toward the proposed amendment was indi-
Gated BY the vote Of the committee, only
two members OF which declared against
ne single term idea. These two We're
Colonel Roosevelt's most prominent sup
port.rs I'm the upper house-Serators
Prown and Rorah Each asserted that
there was nothing 10 Be gained by limit
Ing Presidents Of the United states to a
single term.
The fact that the committee has de-
cided hv large majority 30 recommend
tho passage OF the resolution, ard that
the Senate is overwhelmingly in favor f
such al amendment does not insure favor
able action. however, according TO the prc-
diction Of one Roosevelt supporter TO-DAY.
There will be a Ions and hard fight
before such resolution IS agreed to said
this Senator Such q change in the Con-
stitution calls FOR extended discussion ana
many speeches will IL made upon H..
There viii be no vote on the resolution at
this session IF Congress Il VIC can help
Il.
II is believed tho amendment would he
promptly approved by The House &c IT
cenld be brought to n vote there OhJec.
ton 20 tho proposed amendment IS based
on tho ground that il will he interpreted
a. a reflection on Colonel Roosevelt and
an expression Of fear that he intends TO
remain IN the White House as long as he
csn manage to keep himself there. AL
though there is No possibility If its adop-
lion in time to eliminate him rom the
present campaign, the approval Of three
fourths of the states beinC necessary. the
Roosevelt supporters maintain that 1t
would bc q coafe. sion OF belief by Con-
yrose that there is danger OF Il perpetual
administrator. with Roosevelt ut its head.
ana under the Senate rules a comparative
iy few Senators can maintain successful
dlibuster.
on the question whether the Presidential
term should be extended TO six years Sem
1tors Culberson, Bacon. Chiffon and Borah,
Of the Judiciary Committee, voted in the
negative. Senator Borah said he was
against any change in the Constitution af-
fecting the term OF the Chief Executive.
When the question was put as 20 whether
the Executive should be declared ineligible
for second term all of the committee
present, with the exception Of Senators
Borah and Brown, voted in the affirmative
) ike limitation Of the term of the Vice
President was rejected. on the ground that
the same situat ion did not exist in respect
this ONCE existed in the case of the
Presidency.
The committee decided TO hold another
meeting 10 thrash out the subject and to
discuss its report. which will be made TO
The Senate later
Democratic as we'll as Republican SEN
ators, many Of whom have been reluctant
20 tamper with any of the provisions Of the
Constitution. are in favor of tho proposed
change. and the impression prevails that
II is time TO express specifically the con-
stitutionsl limitation upon the Presidential
term which has existed as an unwritten law
from the time OF Washington.