The Blackfoot optimist. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1907-1918, 1915-03-04
WASHINGTON NEWS
EXCHANGE LETTER.

WASHING TON-Through the adoption
of cloture rule in the senate, Demo
cratic leaders hope to arrange way
for the passage of the ship purchase
bill Although the administration has
been insistent upon the enactment Of
the measure the Republican filibuster
has practically defeated it. The plan
to amend the Weeks naval bill to in
c!ude tho features Of the shipping bill
is meeting with opposition in the
house of representatives. In the house
there can be no flibuster.
The house rules were revised quar-
ter of century ago because it was
possible under them for a handful of
men to block all business--the thing
had often been done. An expert par
Humanitarian, by organizing and lead
iry mere squad, could make himself
master of the chamber, dcfying the
majority and practically displacing the
speaker. The senate has never adopt.
ed rules to curtail the freedom of de-
bate. 1t has always insisted on free
dom of speech. But for that the coun-
try might now be saddled with tariff
law, a currency law, and new trust
laws far more Objectionable to the
business world than those now exist
ing.
Ugly rumors that have been aAoat
in Washington for several weeks in
regard to the influences behind the ship
purchase bill have resulted in a deci
sion by the senate to investigate them.
The inquiry will probably not be linn
tied to the running down of these ru-
mors, but may also embrace charges
that certain shipping interests have
been working against the passage of
the administration measure.
Five of the big supply bills are yet
to be passed in the house, and thirteen
remain Enacted upon in the senate.
How congress can pass all the necessary
appropriations and the ship bill, too,
before noon on March 4th is the prob
lem the administration Democrats are
between President Wilson and Demo
Gratis of the house and senate have re-
vealed wide diversity of views about
calling an extra session, but apparently
the president is determined to have the
ship bill passed even though it requires
an extra session.
In some quarters the view is express
cd that the ship bill issue might be
| taken before the country, if it could
be shown that the house had passed it
after desperate effort had been made
to break down Republican opposition
in the senate, and that responsibility
for failure of the measure was due to
a Republican flibuster.
| There is considerable interest felt in
the man who will lead the Democrats
on the floor of the next house. The
new leader is Representative Kitchin.
He is North Carolinian, forty five
years old, a rafting stump speaker, an
effective debater, and resolute. He is
more than diplomatic, but not a trou-
bic maker by instinct, nor contentious
for contention 8 sake. Mr.. Kitchin
succeeds Mr.. Underwood, who after the
4th of March, goes to the senate.
Because of a surplus of silver certi-
ficates, payments of salaries to the gov
eminent employees this month were
largely made on silver basis. The
change in the methods of payment from
gold certificates was for the conven-
fence of the treasurer of the United
States. 1t happened that there were
more silver certificates in the treasury
than any other form Of currency.
A brilliant assemblage, representing
several hundred of the most distinguish
ed women of the Democratic party,
gathered for the annual Dolly Madison
breakfast given by the Women s Ma
tional Democratic league.
| For the Stomach and Liver.
I. N. Stuart, West Webster, N. Y,