Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-02-05
STILL LACK VOTES
TOCARRY SHIP BILL
Champions of Measure Consider
Proposal to Recommit 1t With
out Instructions.
AWAITING ABSENT SENATORS
With Their Return, Opponents
Will Be Tied and Vice e-Presi-
dent Counted On to Save Day.

'iAi oS LIEU dIlu VlCc-fTeSl-
dent Counted On to Save Day.
WASHINGTON. February l-Frus-
tratcd again to-day in their plan TO
recommit the government ship purchase
bill with definite instructions for
its amendment. Senate administration
leaders tonight were tentatively con-
sldering proposal to reCommit Il
without instructions. and later to move
II fail TO act
Champions OF the bill to-day found
Themselves lacking at lcas. two votes
TO recommit with instructions They
admitted there was no possibility OF
procuring those votes until next Mon
dag. when two absent Senators are ex-
pccted TO return.
Senator'S who favor the new plan
pointed out to-nigh, that some progress
sive Republicans and some insurgen,
Democrats arc pledged merely to vote
for Senator Clarkcs motion TO recon- :
e.
they believe. pledges of support could
be procured for subsequent motion
TO discharge the Commerce Commit
tee from further consideration Of the
bill II IL failed to return the measure
with amendments recommended by tho
caucus
WILLING TO RECOMMIT
AND DISCHARGE: COMMITTEE,
Senator Fletcher. In charge OF the
Dill, said tonight he would be willina
10 vote 10 recommit. 81 assured OF
enough votes to carry a motion. to dis
charge the committee. He said still
another plan not vet ready for rcvela :
ton was being discussed. but that un-
less some sure way out could be found.
no vote would be permitted until the
absent Democratic Senators return.
Democratic leaders had hoped to
have majority available to-day.
They gained one vote when Senator
Lewis. absent for several days. returned
TO Washingt ton. but that advantage
was more than Offset by the return OF
Senators Fall and Penrosc. Republi-
can absentecs
The only Senators now absent arc
Smith. OF South Carolina. and New
lands. both Democrats. Senator Smith
telcphoned from South Carolina he
would return as soon as illness In his
FAMILY permitted. Senator Newlands
sent word he would arrive on Mon
day
The seven !nsurgent Democrats held
out dcterminedly to-day, and admins
tration leaders, after "A canvass OF the
situation. found that until their two
absent colleagues returned they would
be outvoted on any motion they might
make. Counting Senator's La Toilette
and Norris with them. they could mus
ter only forty-siN votes. The Republi- :
cans and insurgent Democrats had
forty-eight.
VICE-PRESfDENT COUNTED
on TO SAVE THE: DAY
With the return OF Senators Smith
and Ncwiands, the administration Sen.
ators would be able only TO tie their
opponents. but Vice president MarshaI
is counted on 10 save the dav for
them
republican leaders were tubilant over
their coup to-day, by which the Demo-
Gratis were forced to take the floor and
Talk against time, pending the arrival
o. reinforcements. Senator Reed dis
cussed the immigration bill veto. and
senator's Camden and Hardwick, two
or the insurgent Democrats. explained
their objections to the ship bill
senator Hardwick declared that none
or the insurgent Democrats ever had
treated with the Republicans over
terms or the proposed legislation, and
were. In fact. less liable TO such crit
icism than either the President or The
main body OF Senate Democrats. He
said the seven insurgents only had
agreed with the Republicans that the
bill should be rccommitted for perfec
ton He charged that the regular SEN
ate Democrats had appointed a special
committee to treat with Republicans
as 10 the terms of the measure and
that the President had conferred with
Republicans on questions involved
CAUCUS NOT ABLE
TO BIND ANY SENATOR
MIR. Hardwick declared the Demo
cratic caucus never had contended that
IL could bind any Senator to supnort
pill The constitutionality of which he
doubted. or which was contrary to
promises to his constituents,
Ihe President, Mr.. Hardwicl< assert
ed. mad stated that the shipping bill
should be regarded as temporary ex-
pedicnt to relieve war conditions, but
that the Democratic caucus decIincd
10 embody that assurance in the bill.
senator camden. who was arraigned
by Senator Stone yesterday for align
ing himself with the Republicans do
Tended his position.
"lt is inconsistent" he said. "for
those who profess to be leaders here
ana 10 speak for the administration to
criticize Democratic Senators for CON
fcrring with Republican Senator's on
this measure. when President Wilson
Immediately calls into conference three
Senators from the Republican side of
the chamber"
Discussing the BILL Senator Camden
declared that, viewed from tho stand.
point of time-honored Democrats
doctrine and principle, 1t Is most alarm
ing. Objectionable and dangerous"
IF 1t becomes law" the Senator
continued. "thc Democratic party viii
- l.