The Washington herald., 1915-02-03

plan of the advocates of the bill was
that the White House was claiming
prospective victory with the aid of pro-
gressive Republican votes because the
| policy was to be a permanent one and
the Senate leaders were prophecying vic
| tory for the contrary reason that they
| would command the Democratic insur-
gent vote by declaring the policy not
permanent and delimiting it within two
years. All of which convinced the Re
| publican leaders who were watching the
Developments with growing interest that
the situation was chaotic and the Dem
Ocratic leaders were grasping at straws
President Gives Assurance.
A Democratic caucus was held last
night to consider the two demands made
: by the seven recalcitrant Democrats. The
seven Democrats who jumped the party
reservation yesterday failed to attend the
CAUCUS. The caucus adjourned at II
o'clock last night after having agreed
upon a program but those who attended
were pledged 10 secrecy. The belief. how
ever. is that the two amendments de-
manded by the insurgents are to be ac-
cepted and that the ship purchase bill
is to be recommltted to the committee
on commerce to be perfected in accord
ance with this understanding. II is the
]
recommit will carry with It instructions
to report the bill back to the Senate
within forty-eight hours.
| The President made 1t known yester-
| day that no belligerent vessels would be
purchased which would involve this gov
ernment in complications. This in itself
was a complete reversal of the admin
! istration'S program as originally contem-
plated by Secretary OF the Treasury Nc
! Adoo. who expected to be able % buy
the interned German vessels.
| II the bill is recommitted with instruc-
tions to report 1t back to the Senate
within forty-eight hours. this will mean
the loss OF at least two more legislative
days, leaving only twenty-four before the
present session of Congress expires. With
this delay and with the Republicans pre-
pared to renew their filibuster with fresh
vigor and determination, there seems to
be little likelihood of the administration
| squeezing out Of the hole II is now in.
II the present break in the Democratic
ranks should be healed, It will undoubt-
edly reappear as soon as II becomes ap-
parent that the shipping bill in its
amended form cannot pass and that fur
ther consideration of It Will necessitate
| an extra session.
Many Substitutes offered.
In the Senate. substitutes and amend
| hlenIS were plleu upon Ine snip DILL
adding to the tangled legislative situa-
tion in which the bill is now ensnared.
Senator Cummins offered a substitute
to put the purchased ships under con-
| troll of the Navy Department to be used
as navy auxiliaries in time of war and
as commerce carriers in time OF peace.
| The idea Is somewhat after that Of
Senator Newlands proposed each year
to the navy appropriation bill. Sena-
I frT Il INlo aaI haNf NY.Nn 60 he
bill providing that the ships should
be built in the United States and not
purchased from abroad. His oil lmade
them auxiliaries OF the navy. Sena-
tor Jones, OF Washington. q militant
suffragist, offered an amendment that
no money should be applied to the pur-
chase OF ships that was raised by tax
ing "unenfranchised American women"
| Thereupon the suffragists in the gal
leries repaid him with benign smiles
Senator Hitchcock saw that the water
was fine" and ventured in with his
amendment to forbid the shipment OF
arms and munitions OF war from the
United States to nations now at war.
The Senate was flooded with memorials
yesterday advocating such legislation.
Senator Theodore Burton submitted
| two resolutions that had teeth" One
of these calls for information from
the Secretary of State as TO the atti-
tude OF foreoign governments towards
the contemplated purchase Of ships
| now interned; the other calls on the
Secretary OF the Treasury for informa-
ton about alleged negotiations for
ships and asks whether amy officer
of the government has made any over
lures or addressed any inquiries to
the owners of ships under the flags
of belligerent nations looking to their
purchase. The Senator's resolution to
the Secretary OF the Treasury sug-
gested that certain persons. in or out
OF official life., had secured options
on interned ships and might profit BY
the passage of the bill.
sorax.- Slightly mOis.ened and left