Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-01-31
TEMPORARY DRAW
IN SHIP BILL FIGHT
Democrats at Midnight Agree to
Recess Until Monday
Morning.
NO LET-UP IN THE STRUGGLE
Spirit of Determination on Both
Sides Is Little Short of
Desperation.

WASHINGTON, January 30.--A drawn
battle on the administration ship-pur-
chase bill in the Senate came tonight,
after one OF the most strenuous parlia-
mcntary struggles Congress has known
in recent years. From IL o'clock on
Friday morning. all through last night
and again to-day and tonight tho con-
test proceeded with a spirit OF deter
mination little short of desperation on
both sides. The great stake. final
vote on the bill, which would break
the Senate deadlock and release the
blockade OF legislation. was just ahead.
for the presiding officer had ordered
that the ayes and nays would be taken
as soon as debate should end. No
further parliamentary device was avail
able. and physical endurance alone re-
ma!ncd to hold back tho taking of the
vote
Although the Democrats agreed to a.
recess at midnight at the end OF thirty
seven hours Of continuous debate, ad-
minstration leaders insisted that such
action meant no let-up in their deter
mination to press the bill
we agreed to the recess because
OF Sunday" said Senator Simmons.
Just az We did in the filibuster against
bill last fall. But, beginning Monday
at 10 o'clock, IL IS our purpose TO press
the bill with all the force that is in
our power"
SMITH ENGAGES DEMOCRATIC
SENATOR'S IN COLI.OQUIES
The galleries were filed with spec
tators. but there were few Senators
on the floor until toward . o'clock,
when many who had gone home for n
brief rest returned to the chamber.
Senator Smith. whose speech took the
form OF a general attack on the ad-
ministration. engaged several Demo-
cratic Senators in brief colloquie.
Il heard the Secretary OF the Treas
ury ask a distinguished audience at
San Diego. Cal. the other day: What
is the matter with the country"" said
Senator Smith. The people who heard
him were struck dumb. Nobody could
answer and finally the Secretary of
the Treasury answered: Not n d-n
thing"
Did I understand the Senator from
Michigan 10 say that he WAS present
and heard this?" asked Senator Chill
ton.
Yes. was present" Senator Smith
replied
And was struck dumb?" asked Sena-
tor Chiffon, prccipitating an uproar In
the chamber and galleries.
BITTER ARRAIGNNIENT OF
ADMINISTRATION POLICY
Late to-day Senator William Alden
Smith relieved his Republican col
leagues. who had been holding the floor
since early morning. He turned his
attention to n bitter arraignment OF
| the administrators policy. and painted
gloomy word picture of the business
condition OF the country under the
Democratic tariff. An EZRA OF record
breaking business mortality" had fol-
lowed enactment OF that tariff. he said.
and he characterized the shipping bill
as the "hfth administration folly"
II don't think we have ever had a
President who was SO hopeful, with so
little cause. as the present incumbent
of the White House" he said. From
the day he signed the tariff bill he has
not let a week go by without proclaim
ing that prosperity was here"
Senator Smith read many figures.
which. he declared. showed the condi-
tons he had recited. and repeatedly
challenged the Democrats to answer
his statement. Majority members re-
fused to be drawn I'm tariff debate.
however. accepting the challenges with
weary, apathetic silence
Throughout the long day session the
situation was tense. Many Senators
slept in their seats after the long
watches through last night; Others
stretched on the sofas circling the
Senate chamber; others formed team
relays. offensive and defensive, 10
crowd the measure to vote, or to
hold il back
THERE IS LITTLE SHARP
PARLIAMENTARY FENCING
There was little sharp parliamentary
fencing. In the main. IL was steady
spcechmaking. with here and there n
flash Of wit or bitterness TO show the
intense undcrcurrcnts of the debate
Senator Lodge again gave warning that
the buying OF interned ships would
precipitate grave international compli-
cations with Great Britain France and
Russia. and would start this nation
on the highway of war"
During the day IT was the expec-
tation on both sides of the chamber
that the contest would be carried
through tonight and into Sunday, but
at i. NJ. Senator Kern. tactical leader
VI VIC llOn FORCES. secured
unanimous consent for recess until
10 y. NJ. on Monday.
with the recess came the announce
ment from Democratic conference
rooms that from Monday morning the
bill would be kept before the Senate
continuously without adjournment or
recess until it was passed.
Senator Simmons announced he was
authorized to deny reports that the ad-
ministration was considering with
drawing the bill from tho Senate. He
could say authoritatively. he declared,
that there was not one scintilla of
truth I'm the report
Early in the evening Senator Smoot.
who talked all night last night, his
remarks taking up eleven and n half
hours. rcappeared on the floor, ap-
parently much refreshed and ready for
another long-distance debate, should
his services be needed