Evening star., 1915-02-09
SEEKING To APPLY
C[0TURE IN SENATE
Democrats, in Ship Bill Fight,
Trying to End Fill
buster.
REPUBLICANS ALERT,
KEEP SENATORS TALKING
President Intimates He Will Call
Extra Session if Measure Fails
in This Congress.

After having been in session con
tinuously since yesterday noon, the
Senate this afternoon was facing the
prospect of another all-night session
with threats of others until March
on the administration ship purchase
bill. Democratic leaders insisted that
they were going ahead with their pro-
gram to keep the bill before the Sen
ate without let-up in an effort to wear
out the opponents of the measure ano
get vote as soon as possible.
The bill will not be passed and will
not come to vote" said Senator Gal
linger. the republican leader, smilingly
this afternoon. The republicans are
ready to go right ahead with the de-
bate for many days and nights to come
| The time has been parceled out to the
various senator's and they are ready
to take their turn of duty to prevent
action on the bill
ference today said he had no intention
of dropping the bill, and intimated he
| would call a special session If 1t were
dlibustered to death at the present one.
Seek Means of Cloture.
| The democrats supporting the ship
bill turned this-way and that today in
which would be in effect cloture and
bring an end to the seemingly inter-
minable debate. Senator McCumber of
North Dakota. republican. primed for
| the fray, took the floor about $3.50
o'clock this morning. following Senator
Jones of Washington, who had talked
all night. He was ready to speak for
hours.
| But before he could get well started
Senator Fletcher offered a motion to
| arrest and bring in absent senators
when needed to make quorum. This
| was adopted.
| Senator Reed followed it up by Offer
ing motion which would compel the
senators when brought into the Sen
ate to remain in the chamber unless
excused by the Senate. By this means
he sought to compel the constant at
tendance of republican senators for the
purpose OF breaking down the filibust-
er: Now, most of the republicans rest
while few remain on the floor to con-
| tinue the fight against the bill.
Senator Owen of Oklahoma, who was
| In the chair at the time Of the Reed
motion. overruled point Of order by
Senator Works of California that the
Reed motion was out of order, since it
attempted to change the rules Of the
Senate without the due process pre-
scribed for such change, and the demo-
Gratis OF the Senate voted down an ap-
| peal from this ruling. Senator Owen
| not debatable. After some debate on
| the Reed motion. however, which the
chair permitted. the Vice President re-
sumed the chair.
| then took an appeal from the ruling
that the Reed motion was not debat-
able, and Senator Reed promptly moved
TO lay the appeal on the table. But
this motion to lay on the table was
voted down by So to Sc.
Debate Reed Motion.
This action gave the republicans a
chance to debate the Reed motion,
| which they were not slow to take, and
for hours they talked this motion over,
declaring that there was no such power
in the Senate as provided in the motion.
Democratic senators admitted in the
corridors that there was no prospect of
the Reed motion passing. for its effect
would be too far-reaching.
Senator Gallinger suggested that il
the Reed motion were adopted the SEN
ators might be compelled to raise their
hands and ask permission of the Vice
President to leave the chamber when
they had duties to perform elsewhere,
Just as when We We're at school"
Senator Hitchcock of Nebraska one
of the democrats who have revolted
against the bill. in sarcastic vein in
troduced substitute for the Reed mo-
tion which read as follows:
.All senators are required to appear
forthwith in the Senate chamber and
to remain in the chamber until March
4. 1915. They are prohibited from hold
ing secret party caucuses for the con-
sideration of public business. They are
prohi bited from communication with
the President or ca bjnet officers for
the purpose Of ascertaining how to
vote or what measures to support or
oppose. They are required hereby and
under the Constitution to vote in ac-
Judgment.
Senator Hitchcock's substitute for the
Reed motion was offered after the Sen
ate had again overruled ruling of the
debatable. The vote stood 46 to 3S
against the ruling of the chair. Senator
Hitchcock. supporting his substitute mo-
! tion. delivered speech in which he
bitterly arraigned the democratic caucus
| of the Senate
| II was sent here to take part in
legislation in public way" said Sen
ator Hitchcock. ito vote my own con-
or any public official We democrats
who sought to vote our own convic-
tions on this bill were not treated in
| a very kindly manner by the demo-
cratic caucus. We were, indeed invit
ed into a conference, and after it had
proceeded for while it was sudden
! ly transformed into a caucus and we
were told we were bound hand and
| foot to support this bill and were pre-
vented from offering any amendments
| Il utter no criticism of the President
| for he is justified in using all of his
power in support of measure in
| which he believes. But 1 do criticise
! the subservience Of subordinate
branch Of the government. l appeal ia
you that senators of the United States
| should maintain their independence
and vote their conviction"
Senator Hitchcock descIbed what
took place in the democratic caucus
! on the ship purchase bill when :; mo-
! tion to make the caucus action binding
upon all democrats was adopted
''rhirty-hve democratic senators. NOT
a two-thirds of the fifty-three demo
Gratis here. voted for this notion" said
Senator Hitchcock. Three senator's
voted against 1t. And then in order
that the motion should be carried. one
senator changed his vote. In my mind
this approaches the standards of A
| comic opera 1t would be ridiculous
| If it were not serious.
| "Of what use is II for the democrats
| of the country to meet in great con
ventions and adopt platforms il il is
| to Eemain for one senator in "A secret
caucus by his vote to change the
principles which have been maintained
| by the democracy for years Louis
XIV of France declared the state am
the state So might this senator de-
| clare the democratic party, / am the
| democratic party am opposed to
| being forced by a minority of this Sem
l ATT inf ba <f hi III