Fergus County Democrat. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1904-1919, 1915-03-04
ship BILL
FIGHT ENDS
ABRUPTLY
The Measure Is Brought Up in
the Senate, But Withdrawn
in Face Of Opposition.

s WV VI VFPVOssAVsss
WASHINGTON, March S.-The Six
ty-third congress tonight strenuously
worked it's way toward it's end at noon
tomorrow.
Weary and worn senators and repre-
sentatives pressed on under the eyes
of hundreds of spectators who crowd
ed the galleries of both house and
sente chambers and overflowed into
the corridors. Both branches handled
food of bills, resolutions and con-
ference reports, in a desperate effort
to pass all necessary legislation be-
fore adjournment. The sessions, which
began early today, promised to be prac-
tically continuous until the end.
In the fading hours of the session
there died without final struggle
the government ship purchase bill, the
object of the most determined fill
buster ever undertaken in congress
and opposition to which, begun by re-
publican senators, extended into the
democratic ranks and precipitated a
revolt that aided in the obstruction
Of much important legislation urged
by President Wilson and administra-
tion leaders.
Soon after this measure had been
shunted into the discard for the ses-
sion, the rural credit legislation, which
at the eleventh hour had been at
tached to the agricultural apprOpria-
ton bill, also was abandoned because
OF impOssibility of agreement on the
part OF the senate and house cOnferees.
Other important measure which at
late hour tonight seemed doomed were
the bill to enlarge the measures of
self-government for the Philippines and
giving promise of ultimate independ-
ence, and the water power and mineral
land leasing measures, so vigorously
urged by President Wilson at the be-
ginning of congress.
An agreement on the postOffice ap-
preparation bill, the last of the supply
measures in conference, was finally
reached by the conferees. Provision
for the space basis of payment for
railway mail service was retained. The
proposed abolition of assistant post
masters was eliminated.
COnferees on the Indian bill report
ed progress, but threats of filibus-
ters were made by several senators
should the conference report prove
unsatisfactory.
Confusion, disorder and noise were
the chief characteristics of the final
legislative squirt in the house. A
large attendance of members and a
larger thrOng OF spectators kept up a
constant hum of conversation that at
times grew to roar. 1t was hushed
now and then by the frantic efforts
of Speaker Clark, who pounded his
desk with the gavel, admonished the
members on the floor and roundly lee
turing the galleries in vain endeavor
to preserve semblance of order.
On the floor there was continuous
series OF conferences between men,
bers anxious to hurry through some
pet measure in the final rush. Many
miscellaneous bills were passed.
Both houses OF congress still were
in session at midnight. At that hour
but one appropriation bill, the $318,-
100000 postoffice bill, remained in the
conference. The prospect was that it
would fail
The senate passed the omnibus civil
war claims bill, carrying approximate
ly l2,OOO,O 900, with an amendment by
Senator Crawford which would make
such claims hereafter not subject to
findings by the court of claims. This, |
in effect, would terminate the liability
for claims arising out of the war.
In the flood of miscellaneous legis- |
latiOn that swept the house a resolu-
tiOn was adopted without opposition |
putting the house on record as opposed !
to any reorganization of the rural mail |
service that will render that service !;
less effective or will tend in any way
to reduce the number of rural mail i
routs"
The resolution, introduced by Repre-
sentative Thomas of Kentucky, was di-
rected against a reorganization plan |
proposed by Postmaster General Burle-
son, which was stricken out of the post
office appropriation bill.
The end of the long and bitter fight
over the government ship purchase bill
came late today in the midst of con-
sideration of the war claims bill in the
senate. Senator Fletcher who had led
the champions of the measure, an
nounced the surrender to the opposi-
tion after Senator Weeks of Masa-
chusetts had given notice that the re-
publicans would talk it to deaih if it
came up again.
Senator Fletcher had moved that the
senate ask the house for further con-
ference on the bill. Then Senator
one of the democrats who
revolted against the measure, dis
cussed its approaching collapse and
said he forgave his democratic col
leagues for harsh words spoken in
heat of debate against those who had
broken away from the party on the
issue.
Senator Weeks recalled the scenes
that attended the long filibuster by ris- I