Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-09-18
PLAN COMPROMISE
TO END F|L|BUSTER
Proposed in Senate That
Lump Sum Be Set Aside
for Rivers and Harbors.

A serious attempt to bring to an end
the republican filibuster against the
river and harbor appropriation bill by
means of a compromise wac begun to-
day A lump sum appropriation
amounting to from $20,000.00O to $685.
0O0, 900, to be expended largely at the
discretion of the Secretary of War in
continuing and making river and har-
Dor improvements, was the suggestion.
The bill as originally reported to the
Senate carried s5s.ooo,ooo. and later
this amount was cut to $34,000,0O0 by
the commerce committee.
The commerce committee held a meet
ing today to talk over the proposition
for a lump sum compromise. The COM
promise plan was suggested by Senator
Bankhead of Alabama.
Admits Consideration.
Following the meeting. Senator Sim
mons of North Carolina, In charge OF
the bill, declared that nothing had yet
been agreed to, but he admitted that
the compromise plan was under consld-
Grafton, He said that he would have
conference with Representative Spark
man. chairman of the House rivers and
harbors committee, duSing the Day,
and that his committee "ouio Heee
again tomorrow.
1t is understood that the republicans
who have been filibustering against the
bill will agree to the passage o. Dill
carrying not more than $2O.ooo:ooo. me
hmm sum plan may be adopted so as to
solve the difficulty which would arise
rom an attempt to cut down the Dill
item by item. Members OF congress
from the various states would OF course
make a hard fight to have their prof.
ects retained. il the matter Is left to
the War Department and the Engineer
orps of the army, this difficulty will
be eliminated. it is said.
Old Ruling Is Revived.
The question as to whether the Sem
ate should uphold or reverse Its de-
cision that a senator occupying the
floor cannot yield" to another col
league except by unanimous consent
arose yesterday in connection with
the flibuster in the Senate against
the rivers and harbors bill. precedent
established under ruling mace oy
Vice President Morton during demo-
cratic filibuster against the force bill
of 1891, which had been long forgotten.
was revived to prevent opponents OF
the bill from talking it to death. This
parliamentary move EFFECTIVELY cheek
Mr.. Morton ruled that a senator oc.
cupying the floor could not yield"
to another except by unanimous con-
sent.
Directed Against Kenyon.
This ruling was revived to compel
Senator Kenyon, who was making his
fourth days speech against the bill.
to continue his speech in order to hold
the floor. instead of yielding to others
who opposed the bill. in order to get
a brief rest. A point of order was
made and sustained by the presiding
officer The Senate then voted to lay
on the table an appeal from the de-
cision made by Senator Smoot. Wig
orous protests were made against the
ruling, several senators denouncing 1t
as an effort to impose gag rule"
A similar proposal was made later.
This was on point of order made by
Senator Sheppard. who tried to pre-
vent Senator Kenyon from yielding to
Senator Clapp. Senator Pomerene.
then in the chair. declined TO rule on
the point, and announced that he
would submit the question to the
Senate Before the question was de-
cided the Senate went into executive
session, in accordance with a previous