The Washington times., 1913-12-02
EARLY MEETINGS
OPPOSED IN SENATE
Republicans Say Democrats
Hope to Tire Them Out and
Force Vote on Currency Bill.

In the face of strong protests from the
Republican side, the Senate Democrats
today sought to force through a resolu-
ton by Senator Kern. amended by Sen
ator Williams, providing that until the
currency bill IS voted on there shall be
daily sessions of the Senate from 10 to
s and night sessions from to II.
Senator Bristow Of Kansas. member OF
the Banking and Currency Committee,
was the most virulent in his objection to
the resolution. He declared it was the
purpose of the majority to prevent full,
fair and free debate"
He charged the Democrats with adopt
ing the methods of Legislative ruffian-
ISM and substituting physical endur-
aEce for the honored methods of the
Senate in the past in seeing to it that
all great questions of legislation had
full discussion.
House Bill Assailed.
Senator Bristow' charged that the
Democratic bill would not bear the light
of full and free discussion, and sarcas-
tically told the Democratic side that
the bill as it came from the House,
was not workable. that every man who
had given the bill intelligent study knew
it. and that such improvements as had
been made in the Democratic bill had
been forced in by a few Democratic
Senators on the Banking and Currency
Committee. who had been subjected to
all manner of criticism from their Dem
ocratic colleagues for doing it.
The Administration in power and
other Democrats owe these Senators a
credit they can never repay" said the
Kansas Senator.
Senator OGorman startled his Demo.
cratic colleagues by declaring the pas
sage of the House bill without change
would have been "a national calamity
He said it would have been a most un.
fortunate thing for the country. He
made this statement when Senator Sha'
froth was rejecting on Republican Sen
ators on the Banking and Currency
Committee for insisting on hearings
Senator O'Gorman held the considera
ton of the bill in the Banking and Cur.
rency Committee had been a good thing
for the country. Senator Reed agreed
with him.
Vote for Date Not Set.
hTe discussion started soon after II
o'clock when the eKrn resolution OF
yesterday, calling for 10 o'clock meet.
| ings was called up. Senator Norris OF
Nebraska, progressive Republican, Of
fered a substitute fixing December q
as the day for voting on the currency
bill and providing for IL o'clock meet
ings daily. Hhe protested that the plar
of l O'Clock meetings would merely
| wear Senators out and was not conduc
tive to thorough consideration and dis
cussion.
A long debate resulted. Senators Gal
linger, Kern and others pointed out
that this was virtually adopting a
cloture rule and was not in order Sena.
! tor Gallinger raised a point of order
again it. Vice President Marshall fin
ally held II out of order.
Senator Norris asked unanimous con.
sent to fix December 20 as the time fol
voting. Senator Borah, on the ground
| that IL this arrangement were made
Senators would not keep a quorum, and
| that if no day were fixed an earlier
| vote might be arrived at, objected.
Senator Kern accepted amendment!
proposed by Senator Williams providing
| for night sessions and then debate fol