Evening star., 1915-01-16
Senate Debates Proposed Sus-
pension of Rules to Permit
Vote on Amendment.
EFFORTS OF ADVOCATES
TO MAKE DISTRICT "DRY"
Senator Lane Condemns Use Of Al
col-Senator Thomas Criticises
Delay in Appropriation Bills.


gon. when the debate opened in the
senate today on the Sheppard motion
to suspend the rules so as to oner
prohibition amendment to the Dls'rict
appropriation bill.
1.-THE use of alcohol never benehted
any one permanently" continued Sena-
tor Lane, who for many years prac-
ticed medicine before coming TO the
Senate. ut is not a food. and 1t Is
one of the poorest stimulants FOUND III
the practice of medicine. 1t lowers the
physical. mental and moral tone OF
any one using it constantly
Senator Lane said, however. that the
substitute for the saloon for men TO
rest in when they come tired from
work or from the road.
Criticism of Democrats.
The democrats of the Senate were Sc
verely criticised by Senator Thomas OF
Colorado for delaying the legislative
prog an of the administration by in
iectiug debate on prohibition into the
consideration of the District appropraa-
ton bill He pointed out that forty.
three days of the present session OF
Congress already had expired and that
only forty-six days remained. Prac-
tically nothing has been done oy the
Senate in that time, he SAID. ana all OF
the big appropriation bills remain still
to be disposed of.
The suggestion that the President might
veto the District appropriation bill should
it be sent to him with the prohibition rider
attached was made by Senator Walsh OF
Montana.
"I do not know what the Presidents
position is in regard to this matter, said
Senator Walsh, but I do not think that
he ought to be forced to approve the bill
with prohibition attached, or else veto 1t,
probably necessitating a call for an extra
session of Congress.
Opposes Suspension of Rules.
"I do not think that the Senate should
suspend its rules to permit the Offering
of this prohibition amendment at this
time. No great crisis exists in the coun-
try which must be met by attaching this
proposed amendment to the District bill"
Senator vardaman Of mississippi asked
Senator Walsh if he thought the Senate
course of action which would be followed
by the White House toward bill.
Simmons Opposes Motion.
Senator Simmons of North Carolina,
after declaring his firm adherence to
the principle of prohibition, launched
into an attack upon the motion of SEN
ator Sheppard to suspend the rules.
He insisted that it imperiled the entire
democratic program of legislation,
since if this method of procedure was
approved. many other motions to sus-
pend the rules SO as to amend the ap-
preparation bills by adding Legislative
riders might be expected.
He charged that the opponents of
the shipping bill were using the appro-
priation bills as buffers against the
shipping bill, and that an intangible
and indirect filibuster was being con-
ducted.-
''The senator from Texas should have
taken the regular course to get bill
for prohibition in the District before
the Senate" said Senator Simmons.
that purpose had been before the Sen
ate District committee since last April.
Why did he not urge that committee
to act upon it? Or why did he not
move in the Senate to discharge the
committee from further consideration
of that bill SO that it might he consid-
cred in the Senate itself? I would glad
ly Join with him in such motion at
the proper time.
Resents the Charges.
Senator Vardaman of Mississippi
grew restive under the charges Of Sen
ator Simmons that supporters of the
Sheppard motion were uselessly delay
ing the business of the Senate.
"I am getting tired of being criti-
cised for attempting to do things which
hailed leaders of the Senate" said
Senator Vardaman. And If l think
that this measure has more merit than
the ship subsidy bill proposed by the
administration, l do not see why l
should be silent.
Republican senators opposing the
Shipping bill laughed heartily over Mr..
Vardaman's reference to the measure
as ship subsidy bill.
'The senator from Mississippi" re-
piled Senator Simmons with heat, has
been tired ever since he has been here
of things which other people are do
ing and in which he is not interested.
even in the case of the White House"
This brought more laughter from the
republicans, who heard the democratic
clash with relish.
Il do not care whether the senator is
tired or not" continued Senator Sim
mons. "I intend to discuss this motion
to suspend the rules"
Chides the Majority.
Senator Gallinger, the republican
leader, denied that the opponents of
the shipping bill were filibustering
against that measure and chided the
democrats for quarreling among them
selves.
Senator James of Kentucky told
Senator Gallinger that he could be
sure Of one thing. and that was the
democratic party would be found solid
ly in line for it's national candidate in
1916. -
Senator James attacked vigorously
the attempt of Senator Sheppard and
other prohibitionists to force prohibi-
| ton upon the District by means OF a
rider to an appropriation bill.
I'VE have local option In the state OF
Kentucky" said Senator James, and 1t
works well there. But now 1t is proposed
| to force prohibition upon tho people OF the
District without ever giving them a hear
| ing. The very effort to get this through
as a rider on an appropriation bill, with
out hearing the people. shows that the
supporters of prohibition fear to submit
the question to the people Of the District" I"
Senator sheppard's Query.
Senator Sheppard asked If Senator
James had not voted the other day in
favor Of changing the tax and appropri-
alton laws Of the District without sug-
gesting a referendum to the people.
| YES" replied Mr.. James. hut that
was a different thing" He predicted
lContinued on Second PassA -