Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1915-02-14
Senators at Caucus Decide to Support Cloture Rule,
 Which Is Not Framed.
REPUBLICANS HINT
 AT SHIPPING IDEAL"
Burton Proposes Investigation to As. certain If Americans Have Loaned Money on Ships of Belligerents
 Detained Here.

Washington, Feb 13-Senate Demo- crats in caucus tonight decided to sup port a cloture rule. No specific form of rule was agreed upon and no vote was taken. Less than majority of the Democrats attended. Caucus Chairman Kern, after adjournment, said the action of the caucus would be binding upon all Democrats unless they assumed the responsibility of bolting. The failure of the caucus to adopt a concrete form of cloture per mits latitude that may prevent the Democrats from agreeing among themselves.
 ! Republican leaders today privately advised those in charge of the admin istration ship purchase bill that un- less it contained an absolute prohibit tion against the purchase of the yes sells of any belligerent, no vote would be permitted OF the measure in the senate and that the filibuster against this bill and the proposed cloture rule would continue until March 4. No other concessions, regardless of their character, will swerve Republicans unless this provision is included
 Two reasons for their position were assigned by the Republicans:
 First, that the purchase of belllger- ent ships. especially German ships, now detained in this country to avoid the consequences of the war, would violate the United States position of neutrality, and in the present tense situation might inflame public opln- ion beyond the bounds of national safety. The second reason appears to be more potent with the Republicans than the first. The hints and yelled intimations that Ideal" of some sort has been arranged for the purchase ol these German ships cannot be longer ignored. .- i Republicans charge that there IS good reason to believe that certain powerful interests in New York, III which they say friends of a hlgh OIL cial of the government are prominent either have obtained options on tnese vessels or made loans on them since the war began.
 In debate today, Senator Burton said the value of these ships now ae tained in American water represented an investment of $125,00O,OOO, ant that it was costing between $65'oo' and s1OO,OOO a day to maintain them.
 Official notice was taken of these rumors in connection with these pro nosed ship purchases in two resolu tions offered by Senator Burton. On' provided for committee or nVe u investigate and ascertain Whether all. nersons or corporations in thls GU. had made loans to the owners Of an. of these detained ships, or had obtaln ed onions thereon, and whether ther had heen any negotiations looking U their sale to the United States.
 He also offered resolution caliln' upon the secretary of the treasury lo : information, particularly as lo wne W thar any tenders of sale had peel made to any government offlclal' "he finer any negotiations had been con ducted for the purchase of neutral
 owned ships, and whether anyone +t, II
 the employ of the government or o..' n
 erwise has made advances lo 'n
 owners of or secured options on an
 detained belligerent-owned ship, wlt
 the purpose of selling them to o4 eH
 government. Under obJectlon oo'
 resolution went over. .o,
 In the morning the Democrats nei M
 conference to consider the ques'lo s.
 of a cloture. Another was calieo i'
 8 o'clock this evening. o,,
 Administration leaders today con pleted preparation for the cohsiuers 4s
 tion of a compromise measure m ''i
 honse "for the good moral effect
 n,;,h+ have on the upper house.