Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-02-03
UTMOST SECRECY
SURROUNDS PLAN
TO SAVE SHIP BILL
Adopted by Administration
Democrats to Break
Opposition.
MEASURE is EXPECTED
IN SENATE AGAIN TO-DAY
President Confers With Progress
sive Republicans Regard
ing Measure.
Preliminary Skirmishes at Capitol
and White House Begin
Early in Day.

WASHINGTON. February ga plan
adopted by administration Democrats Of
the Senate in caucus tonight to break
down opposition TO the government
ship purchase bill. The program in
cludes parliamentary manocuvrcs which
VIII be enacted tomorrow afternoon in
the senate. and, according to leaders
OF the party, are calculated to bring
support for the measure 60 Offset Mon
days Democratic revolt
After reaching an agreement, the
cancus adopted resolution pledging
every member to secrecy. Senator
Kern. chairman Of the caucus. an
nouncch that secrecy was necessary for
the obvious reason tina; to make the
plans public might mean their frustra-
uon. 1t was reported later that in
cluded in the plan was an agreement
TO amend the bill to conform with sug-
gestions from various sources made
within the last few strenuous days.
We will get into the bill in the
Senate again Tomorrow said Senator
Kern. THAT positively is all that can
be said. The opposition did not confidc
to us what they Intended TO do last
Monday For the same reason. We can
not divulGc our plans
Does the plan contemplate winning
votes for the bill?'
KERN EXPECTS TO HOLD
ALL VOTES FOR nILI.
we expect to hold all the votes that
we had for the bill" said Sena tor
Kern.
DO You mean the forty-two votes
which stood fast Monday afternoon?
That wouldn't he enough" Senator
Kern replied.
rs tncre hope for the bill?" the
Senator was asked.
Hope Defined" the Senator replied
rs combination of expectancy and
desire"
one plan suggested. following tho
conference, was that an effort might
be made to amend Senator Clarke's
motion to recommit the bill by adding
instructions 10 the Commerce Commit
tee TO return IT TO the Senate immedi-
atelE with amendments. These amend
ments are said to he on lines to safe
guard neutrality. with regard to pur-
chase of bclllgerent ships and the
length of time in which the govern
ment would engage in ocean transpor-
tation business
Later II was learned that when the
clarke motion 10 recommit comes up,
senator Fletcher will move as an
amendment that the committee report
back within forty-eight hours, and that
an amendment be included which will
not commit the government to n per
manent policy In the proposed shining
enterprise, and that limit for tho un
dertaking be fixed.
This. 1t was said, would h. fixed
either At eighteen months or two ye,rs
Upon these amendments, it was said
administration Democrats pin their
hopes OF winning back Democrats.
rather than in winning over progress
sivc Republican support
EXTRAORDINARY EFFORTS
TO SAVE SHIP BILL
Extraordinary efforts were exertcd
to-day and tonight by administration
leaders to save the government shin
purchase bill from threatened defeat or
consignment To pigeonhole for this
session Of Congress
Up TO late tonight the Democratic
majority struggling over the dilemma
had disclosed nothing but tentative
plans OF procedure. These included
preparations FOR revision of the bill to
draw support from progressive Repub-
''N''"s 'H' proposals designed win
back at least six of the seven Demo
Gratis who Joined the Republicans yea
icrday. in an effort to send tho meas.
ure back to committee.
preliminary skirmishcs at the C,nitn,
ana White House were begun early In
the day. President Wilson conferred
WIN several progressive Republican
senator's regarding the bill. The Demo.
cratic majority considered methods of
procedure to regain Its lost ground and
the seven recalcltrant Democrats CON.
ierred among themselves with tho
avowed purpose of standing firm unt,l
satisfactory terms should be presented
- them.
The majority conference appointed n
special committee OF three. Senator.
FLETCHER, Simmons and Martin. to con
duct negotiations with Senator's n,
ooth parties, with n view to ascertain
ing what support could be gained for
the blll and upon what points of re-.
vision This committee. after "a day Of
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