Evening star., 1915-02-16
Proposals to Limit Debate,
Reversing Century's Customs,
Take Up Time of the Senate

Proposals to limit debate in the Sen
ate. either by general or special
cloture rules. reversing the customs OF
more than a century. took the time of
the Senate debate today. Senator Nor
ris (rep.) thinks he can command
enough democrat votes to pass his res
olution limiting any senator to three
hours talk on any one subject. SEN
ator Cummins spoke for his proposal
to deny the right to vote on any
rule 20 any senator bound by a eau
Gus. He declared the caucus rule, un-
der which the democrats were working
on the ship bill. "savored OF medieval
tyranny" Senator Reed retorted it was
time for the majority to rebel against
the tyranny of the minority
The opponents of the ship purchase
Dill, however. do not intend, II possi-
Die, to allow either the Reed resolution
or the Norris substitute to be adopt
ed. and they planned to continue their
flfbnster all day. The democratic
leaders are trying to bring about an
arrangement with Senator Norris and
Senator Kenyon which will allow them
to force a night session tonight in
order to hurry along the consideration
OF the cloture rule and to bring an end
to the filibuster.
Action by House Expected.
Tho Senate leaders expect the Weeks
naval auxiliary bill amended by adding
to it the Gore ship purchase bill to pass
the House today. When it comes to the
Senate, it seems likely that an attempt
will be made to drop the fight over a
cloture rule and to take up the Weeks
bill as amended. A motion to concur in
the House amendments to the Weeks bill
will be in order, and the democrats will
attempt to force a vote on this motion, it
is said.
Senator Cummins condemned caucus
action.
Senator Reed interrupted Senator
Cummins to declare that the republican
senators had entered into an agree
ment to vote together against the ship
purchase bill. He insisted also that
they had entered into an agreement
with the seven democratic "bolters'' to
vote to recommit the bill.
senator Cummins denied that any
such agreement had been made by the
ing declared that he for one had not
entered into any binding agreement
with the republicans to vote on this
bill
Senator Reed reiterated his assertions
that all the republican senators had
entered upon an agreement to vote
against the bill.
The statement of the senator from
Missouri is untrue shouted Senator
Clark Of Wyoming.
Il call the senator to ORDER" said
Senator Reed. "And if he is not called
to order, 1 will bring him to order.'
Hardwick Replies to Reed.
Senator Hardwick of Georgia. one of
the democrats opposing the ship bill.
replied to Senator Reeds assertion that
the seven democrats had entered into
an agreement with the republicans for
rcommittal OF the bill.
Certain democratic senators deter
mined among themselves to vote to
recommit this BILL said Senator Hard
wick. There was no agreement with
Republicans. We inquired how the re-
publicans would vote on a motion to
recommit and were informed that the
republicans would support it. There is
no secret about the matter. Within
fifteen minutes efter we had been in
formed that the republicans would sup
port this motion the matter was dis
cussed in thex democratic cloakroom.
apd believe some of the democratic
senators discussed with the Vice Presi-
dent the question whether a motion to
recommit was in ORDER
Just leave the Vice President out of
the discussion" Vice President Mar