The weekly tribune and the Cape County herald. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1914-1918, 1915-02-12
SENATORS FIGHT
ship BILL 54HRS
WITHOUT RECESS
Members of Upper House
Physically Exhausted are
Forced to Rest.
WILL RENEW BATTLE
AFTER NOON TO-DAY
Extra Session Will Be Called in
April if Agreement Isn't
Reached.

Washington, Feb. 1G-The United
States Senate at 6:12 this evening ad-
journed until noon tomorrow, after be-
ing in continuous session fifty-fOur
hours and twelve minutes, the longest
session on record. The fate of the
administration ship purchase bill still
hangs in the balance, but there is a
belief, however, that the administra-
ton will accent definitely defined
measure that will not commit the
Government TO public ownership.
Washington, Feb. 1O-Deadlocked
over President Wilson's ship-pur-
chase bill, in a continuous session
which exceeds by many hours any
other of which there is record, the
Senate today showed little sign of an
end to the Legislative struggle.
The first intimation that the revolt
ing Democrats might be brought back
into the fold to vote for the bill in an
amended form came late today. SEN
atOr Hardwick said Overtures were be-
ing made for d conference between the
Democratic leaders and the revolters.
at will not be a caucus this time,
however" said Senator Hardwick, 'if
anything comes of it."
All the insurgent Democrats would
vote for a motion to adjourn, and the
suggestion is that six of the seven
might vote for the bill if certain
changes were made.
At p. m. today the Senate had
been in continuous session 80 hours
Senator Townsend (Republican) had
relieved Senator Sherman, who had
been talking since l d. M, opening the
days assault on the shipping bill from
the Republican side. While Townsend
spoke fresh forces on both sides of the
chamber relieved the tired, heavy-eyed
Senators who had stood guard through
the night.
Many Senators had begun to break
under the physical strain. Senator
Penrose was compelled last night to
go to his hotel under the care of a
physician. Others were forced by
physical exhaustion to retire to their
homes, but Senate leaders planned to
rush them back on short notice should
their votes be needed.
Twice during the night Republicans
and allied Democrats vainly sought to
adjourn the Senate, but administration
lines held firmly. Majority Leader
Kern asserted early in the day that
there would be no let-up until the
pending question, at least, could be put
to a vote. The pending question still
remains on motion Of Senator Flet-
cher to recommit the bill with instruc-
tions for its immediate amendment
and return to the Senate.
Meanwhile means for forcing the
shipping bill through were being dis
cussed by President Wilson at early
morning conferences today with Ma
jority Leader Underwood of the House
and Representative Kitchen, who is 20
succeed Underwood as House Leader
after March 4.
The Presidents suggestion to the
House leaders was that the Senate
shipping bill might be attached as an
amendment to the Weeks bill, already
passed by the Senate, providing for
the use of naval vessels in carrying
mails and freight.
The Weeks bill is now before the
House Naval Affairs Committee. The
President, it was understood, had not
finally determined to press his ideas,
but it is said to have support of
number of Republicans in the Senate.
Kitchin went to the White House
primarily to take up with The Presi-
dent the view of members of the Ways
and Means Committee that there
should be no extra session of Con-
gress. He stated that position frankly
to the President, but went away with
the impression that the President
would insist on the shipping bill even
if it necessitated an extra session. The
President told Kitchin that he had not
given up hope of the passage of the
bill during the present session.