The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-02-05
Leaders Now Considering Proposal to RecOmmit the Measure Without Instruc- ton to Committee
HOPE TO DISCHARGE
 COMMITTEE UNLESS
 TT ACTS IMMEDIATELY
Return of Two Senators Monday Will Give Demo- crats AS Votes and Mar shall Will Break Tie

l Washington, February t-Arain ! frustrated today In their plan to re- commit the government ship pureh... bill with definite instructions for it's amendment. senate administration leaders tonight were tentatively con- sidering proposal to recommit ft without instructions md later to move the discharge of the committee should it fail to act.
 Champions of the bill today found them selves lacking at least two votes to re- commit with instructions They admitted there was no possibility of procuring those votes until next Monday. when two ab- sent senators are expected to return. Senators who favor the new plan point ed out tonight that some programme re- publtcans and some insurgent democrats are pledged merely to vote for Senator ClarlSe's motion to rccommt without in- i strnetlons From there. they believe. pledges of support could be procured for subsequent motion to discharge inc commerce committee from further con sideration of the bill if il failed To re- tain the measure with amendments rec commended by the caucus
 Senator Fletcher in charge of the hill said tonight he would be willing 10 vote to recommit if assured of enough votes 10 eang a motion to discharge the com. mittee By such a plan, he said. the bill could be reintroduced into the Sen. ate in 3. forpi approved by the maiority democrats
 l Has Another Plan
 Senator Fletcher said still another plan not vet ready for revelation was being discussed; but that unless some sure way out could be found no vote would be permitted until the absent democratic sem ators return
 Democratic leaders had hoped to have majority available today They gained one vote when Senator Lewis. absent for several days. returned to Washineton. but that advantage was more than offset | l rose, republican absentees
 ] The only senators now absent arc Smith 1 of South Carolina and Newlands. both democrats, Senator smith telephoned from south Carolina he would return as soon as Illness in his family permitted Senator Newlands sent word he would arrive Monday.
 The seven insurgent democrats held out determnedly today and administration leaders, after canvass Of the situation. found that until their two absent col. leagues returned they would be outsoted on any motion they might make. Count ing Senators LaToilette and Norris with them. they could muster only i6 votes rhe republicans and insurgent democrats had 4s
 Even with the return of Senators smith and Newiands. it was pointed out. the administration senators would be abe only to tic their opponents, hut Vice Presidenet Marshall Is counted on to saes the day for them
 Explain Objections
 Republican leaders were iubilant over their coup today by which the demo- crats were forced to take the floor and talk against time pending the arrival of reipforcements. Senator Reed spent most Of the afternoon discussing the im- migration bll veto. and Senators Cam den and Hardwlck. two of the insurgent democrats, explained their objections to the ship bill
 Senator Hardwick declared that none of the insurgent democrats ever had treated with the republicans over terms of the proposed legislation and were. in fact, less liable to such criticism than .ttl. of Senate democrats. He said the seven insurgents only had agreed with the re- publicans that the bill was imperfect and should be recommttcd for perfection. He charged that the regular Senate demo- crats had gone so far to appoint a special committee to treat with repub- licans as to the terms of the measure, and that the President had conferred with republicans on questions involved. MT. Hardwick declared the democratic caucus never had contended that it could bind any senator to support bill the constitutionality of which he doubted, or which was contrary to promises to his constituents.
 The President, Mr. Hardwlek asserted. had stated that the shipping bill should be regarded temporary expedient to relieve war conditions, but that the democratic caucus declined to embody that assurance in the biu.
 Senator Camden, who was arraigned by Senator Stone yesterday for aligning him self with the republicans defended his position in his speech today.
 Tt is Inconsistent, he said. flor those who profess to he leaders here and to speak for the administration to criticize democratic senators for comforting with republican senators on this measure. when President Wilson immediately calls into conference three senators from the re- publican side of the chamber"
 Discussing the bill Senator Camden de- clared that viewed from the standpoint .of time -honored democratic doctrine and principle, it is most alarming. objection able and dangerous"
 'If 1t becomes a law the senator con tnued, the democratic party will be ir- revocaby committed to the theory of Q paterna1 form of government, which free-