Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-02-09
SHIP BILL ENEMIES
NOW ON DEFENSIVE
Administration Forces Get Be-
fore Senate Motion to Re-
commit Measure.
MOVE TO RECESS is KILLED
Republicans Resume General De-
bate, Which Shows No
Signs of Ending.


Signs of Ending.
WASHINGTON. February s.-Admin-
istration forces OF the Senate. pushing
the ship-purchasc bill, succeeded late
to-day In again putting tho Rcpubli-
cans and their seven Democratic allies
Senate motion to rccommit the bill
ana then defeated a motion by the OPP
position TO recess until tomorrow
Accepting the inevitable. the opposi-
tion renewed it's declaration of un-
reientins war. Unable to recess or adj
)ourn and determined to oppose the
bill. even until adjournment on March
=. " necessary, Republicans resumed
general debate in another protracted
session. which showed no signs of end
Ing at a late hour tonight
After this turn in the already long
Legislative struggle, Democratic cham
pions of the bill asserted that the
measure would not be withdrawn, and
that the great appropriation bills
would be Ignored, should the oDposi-
tion Insist on preventing n vote Even
the President intimated that there was
no thought Of yielding to the ship
bills enemies.
Such situation. it generally was
conceded. would necessitate an extra
session Of Congress
The only way to obviate this. IT was
suggested. would be for the Senate IN
adopt some form of cloture to force
a vote on tho ship bill. but even ad
miniS;ration leaders deemed this un
likely.
DEMOCRATIC INSURGENTS
WITH THE MINORITY
Republicans and the Democratic in
sursents were forced to renew debate
when Senator Fletcher offered a mo-
uon TO recommit the bill with instruc-
uons TO the Commerce Committee to
report 1t with amendments forthwith.
senator Fletcher sought to get a vote
on his motion. but the opposition at
tempted TO recess until tomorrow
The recess motion was lost, AZ to AZ
with Senator Kenyon the only alb
sentee. Senator'S Norris and La Fol
iette voted against the recess. while
Senators Clarke. Camden, Bankhead.
Hardwick. Hitchcock, OGorman and
Nardhman, the seven Democrats in
aurgents. stood ,solidly with the Re
phpiiSdH minority
Ihe opposition then was forced TO
resume debate. Senator Lodge. OPEN
h's lhe discussion. declared that no
Eote on The Fletcher motion would be
permitted IL il possibly could he
avoided.
When the night session was assured
"'of zones, OF Washington. took the
moor, and launched into n speech do
signed To bro
senator Jones declared he would talk
until March 4, II 1t was physico,Iv noe
Sioie ana necessary to defeat the hin
Few Senators on either sida rer,,;,,
In the chamber after s o'clork ,e,da
OF both parties having left men on
guard In case IL should be necessary 10
sehd Tor re!nforcements Scores ~
senators prepared to spend the night
IN committee rooms adjacent tn TN.
Senate chamber
sITUAT,o>
is GREATLY CHANGED
When the Senate recessed on Friday
untii to-day. 1t had before it Senator
aihe motion to recomm!t tie bill
without instructions The opposition
.n." appeared to have the whip hand,
nut, with the arrival to-day OF Senator
n,
carolina, the parliamentary situation
was changed. Senator Smith had not
been expected to return on occoun, ot
serious illness in his family Win III.
vote and that of Senator Newlapds al
mlnistration leaders claimed rio vote
on the motion to recommit with in
on ..iohs- Then the Vice President
would cast the deciding vote.
me debate on the bill was general
during the day. Senator Ransdell
opened the discussion while Senator
Fietcher began preparation of an
"hehament to Senator Clarke's motion
" recotnmit. When 1t became appar
eht the Republicans would debate
senator Fletcher's motion. the Demo.
cratic leaders withheld II.
"heh senator Ransdell had finished
senator Jones renewed the Eenub,;c,n
attack on the bill. Senators coli and
dupont followed Senator Jone. .rI
then Senator Fletchers motion :, re
commit was offered
rms motion directed the Commerce.
committee to return the bill to tbs
senate with the two amcndme,ts
agreed upon in caucus, which II 10
Understood, will be acceptable tn RI.
progressive Republican Senator's. Nor
- -" foiictte and Kenyon
AMENDMENT TO GUARD
'aiNST bREACH OF NEUTRALITY
Inc amendment to guard against
preach or neutrality stipulated I'm the
fietcher motion would read: "thot in
hakihg purchases of ships during tho
OF the present Europeop
war no purchase shall be made in !,
wa! "hich would disturb the condi
tions of neutrality"
This. 1t is calculated. would prevent
me purcnase or interned ships belong
ing to belliEerents If the enemy Of tS,
chase. ~" '"r
The other amendments would nro-
vide that tho shipping corporation shall
make no charter or lease OF any vessel
for longer than twelve months, and
shall specify the rates, charges and
fares to be observed as n maximum
me motion to instruct the Commerce
committee to adopt these amendments
was necessary. because as now consti-
tuted. the majority OF the committee