The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-01-21
GAG RULE IN SENATE
TO FORCE SHIP BILL
Wilson Spur Drives Democratic
Leaders to Adopt Drastic
Methods.
MAY BE NIGHT SESSIONS

WAsHINGroN. Jan. 2o--tinder orders
from the White House Democratic lead
ers in the Senate decided to day to resort
to drastic methods to push the ship pur-
chase bin through. perhaps in amended
form. within the next two weeks The
change In the outlook for the legislation
iG the result of the extraordinary meth
DDS which the Senate leaders are to en-
ploy in response to the lash and spur
OF the Executive. These methods are sug-
gestire OF the parliamentary strong
arm"
Beginning tomorrow night sessions Of
the Senate probably will be insisted on
by the Democratic leaders and a form
OF "cloture" invoked to prevent Repub-
Leans from carrying on their nlibuster
against the bin. This new cloture Ia said
by Republicans to bc unprecedented and
their Characterization of It seems to he
borne out by study OF presidents in the
Senate
Tho plan is to hold that when a call
/ Is made FOR a quorum ia the course Of
senator's speech the effect will be TO
/ take the Senator from the floor. and when
/ he resumes ii will be to speak Tor the sec
/ Ond time on the Same subjerf on the same
parliamentary day. Under the rules the
Senator Is not permitted to speak more
/ than twice un the same subject ia one
legislative day without unanimous CON
sent BY Withholding this consent the
/ Democrats can compel a Senator 70 con-
! ttnue speaking to empty seats until he
concludes or Is exhausted
! The effect Of this ruling will be to cut
OUT calls TOR a quorum and enable the
! democratic Senators and others ~ dis
/ posed to repair TO cloak rooms or COM
! iulttee rooms while a senator is speaking
and not be- hastily called for a quorum.
The Republicans admitted this after
noon that 1t would he impossible for them
! to maintain a successful nlihuster against
such "a ruling They may challenge the
ruling and appeal from the decision Of the
chair and provoke a debate on the uues-
! ton of procedure for some time, but APP
/ parently they do not seem disposed Ia
carry the fight that far.
Republican Senators declared they
were quite willing. after they have eX-
haustcd their Legitimate efforts, to let the
ship purchase hill go through and add one
! more 10 the many Legislative "blundrrs
Of the present Administration They con-
slider IL uuwiSc legislation and likely Ia
lead to International complications to say
nothing Of setting a precedent for the
worst form Of Government ownership and
destroying for al time the hope Of restor-
Ing the American merchant marine. which
seemed to be on the very point of revival
Notwithstanding the drastic methods
which the Democratic leaders stand really
10 adopt under pressure rrOm the White
House. they are at sea themselves in re.
gard to The Presidents bill. The Demo.
Gratis OF the Senate had another caucu,
tonight on the ship purchase bill, hut Al
~ o'clock were again obliged to adjourn
without any action. Another session n,
the caucus will b. held tomorrow nigh
In an effort to reach an agreement on pro
posed amendments
To-nights was the third caucus tn.
Democrats have held in vain attempt I,
come to a general understanding on THU
IhUl