The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1914-12-14
SENATE FIGHT BITTER
ON SEA SAFETY PACT
Powerful Group AssaiIs Treaty
Pressed by Wilson and
Threatens FiIibUster.

Almost at the beginning OF the Con,
gress session. there has developed ir
the Senate. behind closed doors. on.
Of the sharpest and most important
fights since the Wilson Administration
came into power.
The struggle centers around the rati,
fication OF the London safety-at-sea
convention. It involves, also, the tate
of the La Toilette seamen's bill. nov
pending before the Committee on Com.
merce of the Senate.
With the President, Secretary Bryan
and other forces pressing for the rati.
ftcstion of the safety-at-sea conven.
ton, a powerful group of Senators has
declared war upon it Senator'S La
Toilette, Cummins. Clapp, Norris. Ken.
yon. and numerous others are fighting
the ratification Of the treaty
Filibuster Threatened.
Senator La Toilette is bent on pre-
venting ratification by a filibuster. if
need be. and this may develop. Senator
Stone, chairman Of the Foreign ReIa-
lions Committee, is insisting on hur-
ry;ng the treaty to ratification. and on
vote is had.
Even If vote is secured. however II
Is by no means certain the treaty will
be ratified.
Opponents of the treaty are demand.
ing that IL be considered in open ses.
sidered m the light of day they can
beat II with ease.
1t is charged by the opponents %
the treaty that instead of enhancing
the safety of life at sea. so far as thi
country is concerned. 1t would actually
operate in the other direction because.
as il has been reported from the For
eisn Relat ons Committee. and as Sem
stor Stone. with the backing of the Ad-
ministrstion, is trying to get IT r
II would prevent the enactment of the
seamen's bill. the purpose of which is
10 enhance safety on American vessels
and better the condition of seamen
The seamen's bill. moreover. would
compel foreign vessels using American
ports 10 come up to the American
standard of conditions of seamen in
many respects.
Foreign Interests Hostile.
Important International considerations
are involved in the pending struggle.
1t is declared the influence of foreign
governments is hostile TO the seamen's
bill for the reason that the European
maritime nations do not want to raise
the standards for seamen to the level
OF the seamen's bill.
At the same time, the Senators who
are fighting the treaty say that unless
the seamen's bill is enacted this coun-
try cannot build up its merchant ma
rine. They say that il the European
vessels are permitted TO employ seamen
under conditions much lower than the
American, then this country cannot
comnete in building up its merchqn'
ma rine. and Will be out of the running
before 1t starts.
The American Federation Of Labor is
fighting tooth and nail for the seamen' s
bill ard is against the safety at-sea con-
vention, as II has been reported from
the Foreign Relations Committee
About six months ago the Foreign
Relations Committee reported out the
safety-at-sea convention with a resoIu-
ton which included a reservation to the
effect that ratification would not inter-
fA-@ with enactment OF the seamen's bill
This could have secured ratification in
tie Senate.