Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-02-16
Special Investigation of Influ-
ences for and Against Meas
ure to Be Made.
EClSI0N is UNANIMOUS
Efforts Of Administration Sena-
tors to Force Cloture Rule
Continue During Day.

government ship-purchasc 5!ll. which
have smouldered about the Capitol for
weeks. were made the subiec, of
special investigation to-day by the SEN
ate.
I'll" decision TO inquire into alleged
lobbying By agents Of tho "shipping
trust against the bill ana into inti-
nations OF negotiations for options on
belligcrent ships TO sell to the govern
'ncnt was unanimous. With the deci-
sion departed the last hope of some
OF the most earnest champions of the
shipping measure that the bill could
be passcd in the Senate by March (.
Although Democrats of the House in
caucus tonight sought TO nave the
way FOR passage OF the amended shin
ping measure in the lower branch OF
Congress within a day or TWO. senate
Republicans held to their dctermina-
Ton that the flibustcr against II should
continue. Even some administration
senators were inclined TO the view that
appropriation measures should be taken
W and rushed through before March {.
Should this result. II was intimated.
there might be no further effort to
fore" a vote OH the shin bill in the
sion he called to consider II. at least
for several months
NO ANNOUNCEMENT
on EXTRA SESSION
While no definite announcements on
the subject of an extra session have
been made, the viow was submitted bv
persons close 70 the President that the
ship bill Issue would be taken before
the country. 1t would be shown that
the House had passed the bill after a
desperate effort had been made to break
down Republican opposition in the
senate. and that responsibility for fail
ur" of the measure was due to Re
publican filibuster
The Investigation ordered to-day. ad-
minlstration leaders suggested. might
bring out facts which would throw
light upon opposition to the bill.
The inquiry will be conducted bv
Senator'S Walsh simmons. Reed Bur
ton and Weeks This committee will
meet Tomorrow to make plan OF
procedure should there he no xtra
session Of Congress. the committc.
would he empowered to sit during n
recess. as ii is conceded that the pro-
posed inquiry could not be concluded
by March !.
republican opponents of the ship bill
proposed, through Il resolution offered
nN senator Burton. that portion OF the
!h4uir! which concerns intimations
th"t persons or corporations in the
hitcd states sought options on bel
hgerent ships with n view to selling
them TO the government. and that these
persons or corporations were in some
way allied with officials of the govern
ment. THIS resolution together with
another not included In that adop,ed
requesting the Secretary OF III. Treas
ury for information on the subject
aroused enliveninG debate. Senators
Williams and Reed charged they were
purposely intended TO reflect unon
Secretary OF the Treasury McAdoo and
Faul NJ. WarburE. OF the Federal Re-
serve Board.
AGAINST ALLEGED LOBBY
ny "SHIPPING TRUST'
Another portion OF the inquiry re-
suited from an amendment added To the
burton resolution by the Committee
on Audit and Control. directed against
an alleged lobby by the ''shinping
trust and by corporatio that might
be forced to compete with government
shipping lines. 1t also directed inquiry
as TO what United States Senators are
stockholders or bondholders OF shin
ping corporations
Efforts OF administration Senator's to
force cloturc rule continued to-day
the Democratic majority succeeding in
hghiinG its way through. parliament
airy ambuscade and forcing the Repub
hcans To renew their ilibuster. in order
to prevent a rule TO limit the debate.
PENDING before the Senate is Senator
Reeds motion to order vote on tho
ship purchase bill not later than Fen
ruary 49, with general cloture sub
stitutc by Senator Norris To Umit do
bate TO each Senator on any bill to
three hours, and an amendment hy
senator Cummins. which would make
the rule imperative against n bill on
which Senators of any party had at
tempted TO bind Senator's in caucus.
The House Democratic caucus went
INTO session tonight. with Representa
tive Webb. of North Carolina. in charge
OF the night for the special rule to con-
sidcr the ship-purchase bill. and Rep
reschtatiVe rage. Of North Carolina,
leading the opposition.
Throughout the day conferences had
been held continuously by both sides
vigorous but unavailing efforts to win
over Representative Kitchin, OF North
Carolina, leader of the next House.
kITcHIN REMAINS
FIRM AGAINST BILL.
Late in the day Secretary Daniels. OF
the navy, made a trip to the Capitol
He was closeted with REPRESENTATIVE
kttchin for nearly an hour but when
he left the latter reiterated his deter
mination TO vote against the bill, and
to keep 'aloof from active participation
In the fight.
Administration leaders on the House
side were declaring that If the shin
purchase bill were passed by the House,
and sent to the Senate an extra session
Of Congress could be avoided There
was, considerable discussion of a report
that 1t was planned to abandon the
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