The Washington times., 1914-09-21
WRANGLE AHEADON
R|vER-HARBOR BILL

Although there is much talk of a COM
! promise on the river and harbor bill.
the conditions in the Senate this after
noon did not look favora BILE to an early
end of the fighting.
powerful group of Southern Demo-
cratic Senators. aided by some of the
Northern Democrats and certain Re-
publicans, are trying to repel all as
saults of Senator Burton. aided by Sena-
tors Kenyon. Norris, Borah. and 9TH
ers. who declare the ''podk barrel sys-
tenn of river and barbor legislation must
be crushed
Senator Simmons. who is in charge of
the bill, after conference with the
President this morning. was still full of
fight. He was called to the White
! House to discuss the Alaska coal bill.
But he himself brought up the river
and harbor bill. and later. he said. the
President gave no intimation he vas
hostile to the bill
Senator Simmons said. THE Presi-
dent has not given out any statement
, that he was in favor of a lump sum
appropriation and he Sas not given
out any intimation of any kind that
he was unfriendly to this bill"
Night Session Ahead.
1t was declared by Senator Simmons
that if the opposition to the bill con-
tinued there would be continuous
| session. This means another all-night
session is in prospect tonight. He is
willing to cut the bill. which now is
S34.500.0oo, to the extent of about 81
000. 900.
Although Senator Simmons denies
the President is hostile to the bill,
there is good reason to believe the
President hopes for an adjustment
which will largely reduce the measure,
without open interference on his part
Some OF his friends declare that If 1t
goes to him in its present form he
Will veto 1t.
The opposition to the bill made IL
plain this morning 1t was prepared to
continue the filibuster indefinitely. un-
less there was compromise resulting
in large reductions.
Burton's Argument.
Senator Burton made this statement:
The opponents Of the river and har-
Dor bill favor the appropriation Of an
aggregate sum, not exceeding 100000,
00C, for the maintenance of river and
harbor works, and for the further prose
cution Of improvements under way, the
amounts to be apportioned by the chief
of engineers and the Secretary Of War.
Such provision was made in the river
recoElmit the bill to the Committee on
Commerce with instructions to report
such plan was made On Friday night,
but was tabled on motion Of the ad-
vocates of the bill In view Of the tenn
porary failure of this course, a COM
promise was suggested. Large conces-
sions are made to the advocates OF the
bill. Many items are included which
are regarded as Objectionable, but to
which opposition has been abandoned
for the make Of an amicable settlement.
should this compromise not be accepted,
it Is hoped that the proposition for an
aggregate amount of not more than
s20, 100000 will be accepted However,
should neither this nor the proposed
compromise be accepted. it is intended
to discuss the bill thoroughly, item by
item. and il possible, defeat the measure
as it now reads.
Debate on the bill was renewed
shortly after IL o'clock in the Senate
today. Senator Fletcher of Florida
led with a defense of the bill. and espe-
cially of the Florida features. Senator
Kenyon took issue with him at various
points.
The Senate attendance was increased
today by the return of Senators Root.
Penrose, and Goff.