Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-02-08
FATE OF SHIP BILL
STILL UNCERTAIN
Whether It Will Be Held Before
Senate to Exclusion Of Other
Measures Not Determined.
MAY MEAN EXTRA SESSION
President Expected to Discuss
Situation To-Day With Other
Administration Leaders.

WASHINGTON, February with
'wenty-one working days ah,hd OF the
six,y-third Congress. the fate OF tho
government ship-purchase bill still re-
Enains uncertain.
Whether II will be held before the
Senate to the exclusion OF appropriation
bills until passed until the gayel
ends the session on March 4, must be
determined by the President and ad-
nin!stration leaders. Some definite
understanding on this point 9roba bly,
viii be reached within few days.
The President is expected To discuss
The situation tomorrow with Senators
who have stood valiantly for the bill
through the last week OF party rebel
lion
Suggestions that Republican Senator'S
eventually might yield their opposition
In order to take up appropriation bills.
and let the measure come to vote. are
denied BY minority leaders. They in
sIs' the bill cannot get to a vote.
DEMOCRATS ADMIT
SITUATION IS DESPERATE:
Democratic Senators championlng the
bill admit thI. situation is desperate.
They realize their insistencc on keep
ing the bill befor. the Senate will mean
failure Of the great appropriation bills
This would make an extra session in
cvitable. IF IL is determined that an
effort should be made 10 pass the ap-
propr!at!on bills 10 avoid an extra Ecs
sion. the ship purchase bill. in the opin-
ION OF some OF its stanchcst friends.
might be withdrawn. Even then there
may not be time TO pass all the great
supply measures. There are lights
"a hna 10
and the rivers and harbors bill is GER
tain 10 provoke attack.
Whatever is decided as the program
ior the rest Of the session. the imme-
diatc situation Is the pending motion
o' Senator Clarke, OF Arkansas to re-
commit the ship bill without instruc-
lions. Democratic leaders probably
will let the motion reach vote to-
morrow roll call is expected to
show fortyc!ght votes I'm It's favor TO
forty-seven against st. with Senator
Smith. OF South Carolina Democrat
absent.
In the event OF this result. admins
,rRtion leaders plan to adjourn the SEN
aic Tomorrow night until Tuesday to
make new Legislative day. upon which
senator Cores motion to discharge the
Commerce Committee from considera-
ton of substitute ship p-purchase bill
Introduced last week may bc called mp
WILL OPERATE TO FORCE
REPUBLICANS TO FIGHT
The Gore motion Will be debatabIe
and will operate TO force the Repubii-
cans to light Il. They may talk on IL
lnti March 4. II they choose or let IL
ONE TO vote. With the aid OF pro-
gress!ve Republicans. administration
forces are confident they can carry the
core motion This would bring the
Substitute bill back to the Senate and
force the opposition to resume its de-
fensive.
Should there be n decision TO Law the
oili aside. the Appropriation Commit
tees OF the Senate are ready for action
on many OF the supply bills, and those
stll under consideration are to be
stripped of general legislative features
that might provoke serious attack
The House met To- day TO eulogize the
late Representatives Serene T. Payne
and Edwin a Merritt. OF New York