Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1915-02-02
SEE CHANCE TO
| COMPROMISE ON
SHIP MEASURE
Wilson and Senate Democrats
! Agreeable to Concessions to
| G. o. p. Progressives.
WILSON TAKES STEPS
TO COUNTER REVOLT
Said to Favor Stating in Bill OPP
position to Purchase of Bel
/ ligerent Ships.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 2.-While the
administration Senate Democrats
caucused today to reorganize Their
shattered lines and renew the
for the ship bill President e
conferred with Progressive k~4.i1-
iican senators at the White House,
seek ng a basis to make the bill
agreeable enough to that wing and
iii the gap caused by the sudden de-
Election of nine Democratic votes in
Yesterdays sensational coup when
the nti-administration senators
threw the measure into the shadow
OF defeat.
With a view TO seeking terms upon
which Progressive Republicans wo''d
support the ship bill and to. confer
with Democrats who bolted yester-
day, the Democratic caucus ap-
pointed committee of three to con-
duct negotiations and report at an
other caucus tonight.
One of the strong possibilities of a
basis Of compromise was that
declaration of principle might be in
eorporated in the bill saying the gov
ernment intended to buy no ships
which would involve controversies
with the European belligerents but
that it would be so framed as not to
surrender any of the rights Of the
United States.
La Toilette Enters Breach.
Scarcely had the caucus begun
when LaFollette, Progressive Repub
lican, upon whom the Democrats are
counting for support, appeared out
side the conference room and dis
cussed the situation with administra-
tion leaders. That the bill would be
amended most Of the Democrats
seemed ready to concede, but to what
extent did not become apparent In
the early hours of the conference.
Seven of the Democrats who voted
with Republicans yesterday did np-
attend the caucus. They were Bank
head Camden, Clarke, HardwicS,
Hitchcock, O'Gorman and Vardaman.
Senators Hoke Smith and Bryan
however, who voted to table Vice
President MarshalIs ruling declaring
out of o~dlnr Senator Clarke's motion
10 reconmit the bill, did not ignore
The caucus.
Amendments which the caucus con-
sddered included those urged by SEN
Ators Norris and Kenyon. One by
Senator Norris. would provide that
no vessel should be purchased by the
government which sails under the
flag of any nation at war with any
other nation which is at peace with
the Uniled States, unless prior to
such purchase an understanding or
agreement shall have been reached
that will avoid any international
difficulty or dispute regarding suc!,
ship purchases"
Senator Kenyon proposes that
cabinet officials should not serve on
the shipping board.
After the Presidents conference
with Senators Norris and Kenyon,
and Senator Clapp. who came later,
there were some indications of con-
eessions to the Progressive Republi'
cans, and it was forecasted in sources
. p ent that declaration
of principle that the adminitration
would not buy ships which would in
yoIye trouble with the European
belligerents, would be Incorporated in
the bill.
Wilson Sure Bill VIII Pass.
Later the President told the cor
respondents at the White House he
was confident the bill would pass
When asked If there would be amend
ments, he replied the changes con-
femplated would not alter the spirit
of the measure. He hoped, and was
9nclined to think, that such changes
as were made would satisfy the Pro
gressive Republicans, who were not
asking anything inconsistent with
the principles of the bill. but wanted
chiefly, he said, to declare a policy
and not surrender a right.
The President pointed out that even
though it were intended to buy no
belligerent ships, legislation restrict
sng the right to buy them might be
construed as an international pre-
cedent surrendering certain rights OF
q neutral.
Discussing the suggestion that pro-
vision be made against reseliing the
vessels If the venture became prof1t-
able, Mr.. Wilson pointed out that
any action taken now would not, OF
course, bind future Congresses even
TO the point of the repeal of the bill.
The President said he was sure the
bill would not be displaced on the
Senate calendar, but If it were II
would be only temporary.
AS forecasting the purpose OF the
administration not to buy belligerent
ships, even though contending for
that right, it was regarded as sig
nif1cant that the President declared
that the type of ships most needed
could be built promptly. He said
that tramp steamers built to carry
large cargoes were most needed now,
and in reply to a question said he did
not believe many of the German ships
now in American ports were of that
type.
No Protest on Subject.
The President stated emphatically
no foreign government had made any
representations on the subject and
n ~