The Anderson daily intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson, S.C.) 1914-1915, 1915-02-16
SENATE MAKING
INVESTIGATION
INQUIRING INTO ALLEGED
LOBBYING BY AGENTS
OF SHIPPING TRUST
AGAINST SHIP
PURCHASE BILL.
Expected to Bring Out Facts
Which VIII Throw Light Upon
Opposition to Measure
by Associated rrezs.1


WASHINGTON, Feb. 15.-Charges
and counter charges from Democratic
and Republican sources concerning
influences for and against the gov
ernment ship purchase bill. which
have smouldered about the capitol for
weeks. were made the subject OF a
special investigation today by the
senate
The decision to inquire into alleg-
ed lobbying by agents of the Ship
ping trust" against the bill and into
intimations of negotiations for options
no belligerent ships to sell to the gov
ernment was unanimous. With the
decision departed the last hone of
some OF the most earnest champions of
the shipping measure that the bill
could be passed in the senate by
March 4.
Although Democrats of the house
In caucus tonight sought TO pave the
way for passage Of the amended ship
ping measure In the lower branch. of
congress within day or two. senate
Republicans held to their determine
ton that the filibuster against It
should continue. Even. some adminis-
tration senators were inclined to, the
view that appropriation measures
should be taken up and rushed
through before March A.. Should this
result, It was intimated there might
pc no turfder effort ito force q vote
on the bin lii yslhe. upper bfanall.
nor would an extra session be called
TO consider 1t, at least for. several
monthe. 49, i -
While no definite announcements on
tha subject OF an extra session have
peen made, the views submitted by
persons close to the president that the
saio Dill .ssae wo:;,d be taken before
the country. 1t would be shown that
the house had passed the bill after
u desperate effort had been made to
preak down Republican opposition in
the senate and that responsibility for
failure of the measure was dine IN a
Republican fiiibuster.
me investigation ordered today, adj
ministration leaders suggested, might
bring out facts which wouId thrnu
light upon opposition to the bin.
The inquiry will be Conducted hy
senators Walsh. Simmons, Feed. Rur.
ton and Weeks. This committee win
meet tomorrow 60 mark a plan of nro.
ceedure. Should there by no extra
session or congress the committea
would be. empowered to sit during n
recess as 1t is conceded that the pro-
posed inquiry could not be conclud or,
by March 4.
Republican opponents OF the sbin
oii proposed through resolution Of
terea Dy Senator Burton, that portion
OF the inquiry which concerns init
inations that persons or corporations
IN tne United States sought options
on oelltgerent, ships with q view to
seiiing them to the government and
that tnese persons or corporations q
were In come way allied with officiaJs
OF tne government. This resolution.
,ogether with another, not Included
IA that aaopted. requiring the secre-
eary OF the treasury for information
on the subject, aroused enliyeninp
ueDate. Senators Williams and Read
cnarged they were pnrpoSely intended
70 ie,isct upon Secretary Of the Treas
ury McAdoo and Paul M. Warburc
Oh the. federal reserve board. %
another portion OF the inouirv re.
suited from an amendment added IN
ins Burton resolution by the com.
mlttee ON audit and control fiIrecfai,
against an alleged lobby by the shin
ping trust and by corporations that
might be forced to compete with a
government shipping line. II also AZ
.rected inquiry as TO what iInitea
sstaless arm ntnrs are s.eel.i.eias -
bondholders of shipping cornorations
y EFFORTS OF administration senafors
70 force . s'otrre rule soIt.5asi, Az
DAY, the Democratic majority succeed :
ins IN lighting its way through q mar.
ilamentary amhuscade and forcing the
Republicans to renew their :s.i.STster
IN order TO prevent a faie 10 limit
Pending before the senate Il sena-
Tor Reeds motion 10 order a vote On,
the ship purchase bill not tafer man
'nebruary ls. with q general clotnre
substitute by Senator Norris 10 ,in,it
sdehatc to each senator on any, bin 10
three hours, and an amendnient, by M
Eenntor gnmmins which would MAKE
the rule imperative against q hiii ~,
which EenAtoss OF any party had st.
tsnssed 10 bind senators in eaunI,s
The Aonee Democratic caucus went
into sssPion tonight with fepreser,s, :,
iteiiye Webb, OF North CaroIine' +,
charge of The Fight FOR. the speciai rnla
e consider the ship purchase hiIi and
tsegEessn ntasise Page. Of Norm caro-. M
feontinued rn Pnse EiefS,y