Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-02-11
PRESIDENT STANDS
FIRM ON SHIP BILL
DESPITE SETBACK
Will Call Extra Session /
Necessary = Consents +
Sidetracking for Appro.
priation Measures.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 11.-After : -
hours conference with Senators F,,..s
and Simmons and Representative ts'
president Wilson decided to eonssn, T. w. =
compromise in his ship-purohase Nm 49, y
1t was stated on highest eutbor,,,. ~ ~
The Administrations determina,,o. =.
fight to a finish sldetracks ves,oss.. y
proposals to tack the measure !.
Weeks bill or to substitute the "a. ". "
for 1t. His talks with the Dor,. ~
House and Senate leaders convinced h.
President that nothing could bo eslr,a I,
such flank movements.
The President today plainly inalc.,..
congressional callers that unIes, ~. !, s
buster was beaten he certainly wo,ts !,
an extra session. He has deflnItelv Z.
termined, 1t is Understood, to carr h.
shipping fight to the country. ana ,sa,
urge It In his speeches when he vo.-
the San Francisco fair.
TO sGDETRACK TEMPoRARrx
Facing Senate majority ara,n,, 4.
purchase bill the President Intina,.s =
the Democratic leaders that hs v,...,.
consent being forced to this pos,,,oa .
temporarily sidetracking the measu,a
the Upper House to permit work on n.
appropriation bills.
1t was virtually agreed that the sen.,.
should go ahead on these while the ~,
purchase bill Is being passed through n.
House. 1t was hoped by this means !.
avoid an extra session.
The tentative program discussed W.,
for the Senate to clean UP approprlatior,
and for another effort to be made durirs
the last few days of the session 10 81
the snip Dill through the upper branch
after It's passage by the House ShonlS
the Senate reject 1t, however, the a.
cision would be up to the President
whether or not to call an extra session
KITCHIN WARNS PRESIDENT
Representative Kitchin had a rathsr
heated discussion with the Executive Ha
fatty told the latter that the ship Bill
would be defeated II brought before thu
next Congress. He said he knew uosi.
lively that it would be defeated in III,
House, with the decreased Democrats
majority there, by at least IS votes.
In view OF the Presidents position, soma
of the leaders who saw him predicted
that the bill would be passed by he
House and defeated in the Senate just
before March unless the amendment De.
mandtd by the insurgent Democratic SEN
ators, limiting the operation of the Gov.
ernment fleet to two years after the
war, is accepted
1t was virtually decided at the confer
ence to have the bill brought into the
House next week, under a special ruls
limiting debate, as an amendment to the
Weeks navy transport bill. Its passags
in the present House is deemed certain
even by Representative Kitchin and liz
other opponents.
REPUBLICAN WATCHFUL WAITING
'Watchful waiting described the Sen.
ate Republicans attitude this Afternoon
on the ship purchase bill. Except SEN
ator Vardaman, the boilers stood pat On
their last nights offer to vote for, the
bill If two important amendments wers
adopted. One of these would force the
Government out OF the ship business Al
the end of a given time, generally fixed
at two years after the wars expiration
The other was to strike out the La Fol.
lette amendment, which bars the Gov.
ernment from leasing the ships for more
than one year. The boilers want II made
impossible to lease the ships altogetheF.
avoiding any Government operation,
Viewed from this standpoint the fight
was a straight lineup of Government
ownership and anti-Government owner
ship forces, with the chances favoring
the anita
Convinced apparently that the hlibustes
could be continued until March I, max
ing an extra session necessary and block
ing all other legislation, Senator Norris
of Nebraska, and Senator Kenyon, q
Iowa, Republican Progressives who haya
supported the Administration bill. with
drew their support late yesterday. Sena'
tor O'GOrman, of New York. one OF tha
leaders Of the Democratic opposition 70
the bill, moved to adjourn. and his ma
tion by a vote of 4S to 46, was adopted
The Senate adjourned at $40 p. m, afisI
a continuous session occupying 55 hours
and 10 minutes. and breaking all reeofds
in the history OF that body.