The Sentinel=record. (Hot Springs, Ark.) 1900-current, 1915-02-03

Washington. Feb. 2.--EXtraordnary
efforts were exerted today and to.
night by administration leaders OF
Inc senate to save the government
shin purchase bill from threatened
defeat or consignment TO a pigeon
hole Tor this session of congress.
Up to late hour tonight with the
democratic majority still struggling
over the legislative dilemma nothing
but tentative plans of procedure had
been disclosed These included
propositions for revision of the pend
ing bill to draw support from proeres-
siye republican senators and Qro-
posals designed to win back at least
six of the seven democrats who joined
with the republicans yesterday in an
effort to send the measure back TO
the commerce committee.
Preliminary skrmishes at the cari-
tai and white house were begun early
in the cay President Wilson con-
ferred with several progressive re-
publican senators in regard to their
ideas in proposed legislation, the
deocratic majority considered meth
ods Of procedure to regain its lost
ground and the seven recalcitrant
democrats conferred among them
selves with the avowed purpose ot
standinf firm until satisfactory terms
should be presented to them.
As a result of this complicated sit
uation the democratic conference az
pointed a special committee of three
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Fletcher, Sim
mons and Martin-to conduct nego.
tiations with senators of both parties
with a view to ascertaiAing what sup
port could be gained for the bill and
upon what points Of revision This
special committee was prepared to
reort progress at the second caucus
tonight and held out hoe to their col
leagues that ultimate success would
be theirs.
Revolving democrats, Senators
Banl1head. Clarke, Camden, Hard
wick, Hitchcock, OGorman and Var.
daman, We're approached hy the eau,
Gus committee several times during
the day and asked for a stipulation of
terms upon which they might recon
slider their attitude. With reserya.
tion that it might first be wise TO re-
commit the bill. the committee was
given to understand that there would
be no change in the revolters' atti-
tude toward the measure unless it
was stripped of government owner
ship features. with a provision that il
be understood to be an emergency
undertaking with positive limitations.
One solution offered was said to be
that the government should purchase
or acquire none of the ships of bel
hgerent nations.
In so far as prohibition of purchase
of ships now laid mp in this country
is concerned, such a stipulation also
was proposed by some Of the progress
sive republican senators. They. how,
ever, do not favor the government
shipping corporation as a temporary
measure and suggested amendments
whereby IL would be instituted as a
permanent venture Here HE propo-
sails Of progressive republicans ana
revolving democrats cashed.
After Senator Norris and Senator
Kenyon had talked with President
Wilson, it was understood that the
president had looked with favor upon
some amendment that might satisfy
their views with regard to per.
manency on the project A direct
stipulation that the government be
prohibited from acquiring ships from
belligerents, it was stated. however,
was not favorably received, although
the intimatio1 was given that there
might be no objection to a "declata.
tion Of policy on the subject and
that the government did not contem-
plate purchasing ships that might be
the subject of international contrO-
versl
Another amendment proposed by
Senator LaFollette, who is expected
to srpport the bill. was suggested as
a middle ground with relation to the
proposed leasing of ships TO private
corporations by the government It
would provide that the government
shipping corporation in leasing ships
should do SO for period no longer