The Brunswick news. [volume] (Brunswick, Ga.) 1906-2016, 1915-02-17
SENATE IS ONLY
MARKING TINE
HOusedopts a Rule Which
Limits Debate to Only
Six Hours.
INQUIRY COMMITTEE READY
Seventeen Democrats, including
Bartlett of Georgia, Released
From Caucus Rule Binding
Them to Support Measure.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 16.-Presi-
dent Wilson's fight for his ship bill
was launched in the house today with
a special rule limiting debate to six
hours. Democratic leaders were sure
that holding their large majority
firm they would have a new measure
bearing the approval of the admins
tration and probably attractive to
some Republicans ready for the SEN
ate before the end of today's ses-
sion.
Meanwhile the senate marked
time. Senate committees, however,
showed great activity on the long-de-
layed appropriation bills and the
special committee appointed to in
Vestigate "any lobbying" in c0nnec-
ton with the ship bill held :. pre-
liminary organization meeting
President Wilson after conferences
with leaders, came to no determina-
ton on the question of an extra ses-
sion and only sent out word to press
the right in the IA days which re-
main to the sixty-thrd congress
The senate lobby investigating COM
mittee authorized Chairman Walsh to
summon Sigmund Albert, of New
York, representing German-American
steamship companies, and Bernard N.
Baker, of Baltimore, former mana
ger of the Atlantic Transportation
line, as witnesses. The latter has
been mentioned as Is shipping author
ity from whom information as to
available ships has been obtained by
Secretaries McAdoo and Redfield No
decision as to when the hearings
would begin was reached.
Senator Weeks asked to be excused
from service on the committee be-
cause he found it very inconvenient
to arrange his affairs so he could
give the subject attention. Senator
Sutherland was appointed in his
place.
That the next ship bill would pass
the house by good majority was
conceded even by its foes. Seven
teen Democrats however, were re-
leased from the caucus rule binding
them to support it. They are:
Representative Kitchin majority
leader of the next house, and Page
of North Carolina; Fitzgerald, Patten
and Griffin, of New York; Slayden,
Beall and Galloway, of Texas; With
erspoon and Sisson, of Mississippi;
Gerry. Rhode Island; Saunders, Vir-
ginia; Gallivan, Massachusetts; Dav-
Of nIy1os,nn1n. MI lott
Georgia; Brockson, Delaware, and
Whitacre of Ohio.
Proposals to limit debate in the
senate, either by general or special
clOture rules reversing the custom of
more than a century, took up the
whole time of the senate today. Sena-
tor Norris, Republican, thinks he can
command enough Democratic votes
TO pass his resolution limiting any
senator to three hours talk on any
One subject.
: Senator Cummins .spoke for his
proposal to deny the right to vote on
any measure considered under a clio
ture rule to any senator bound by a
caucus. He declared the caucus rule
under which the Democrats were
working on the ship bill "savored OF
medieval tyranny" Senator Reed
retorted it was time for ths. major.
ity to rebel against the tyranny of the
minority"
After a preliminary round of de-
bate in which the Republicans hurled
charges of gag rule" and the Demo
Gratis defended the measure, the spe-
cial rule was adopted. 1856 to 139 and
the house settled down to six hours
of speech making which undey ordi.
nary circumstances would perfit a
final vote about s O'Clock tonight.
While the house was debating, the
story of how the seven Democratic
bOlters got together with the Re.
publicans and wrecked the admins
tration's plans two weeks ago was
being told in the senate by Senator
Clark, who made the celebrated mo.
ton to recommit the bill Mr.. Clarke