The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1915-02-11
SHIP PURCHASE
Bill FOES WIN
SENATE fight
Democrats Make Another
Effort To Save Measure
Today.
WILS0AlHAS NEW PLANS
EXTRA SESSION OF CONGRESS
NOW SEEMS TO BE
INEVITABLE.
.By Assocfated pressl

By Associated Press>
WASHINGTON. Feb. 11.-Adminis.
tration forces were reformed to con.
tinuel tie fight over the ship bill at an
early conference today between Pres.
ident Wilson, Senators Fletcher and
Simmons and Representative Kitchin.
II was decided to stand behind sena.
tor Cores substitute for the bill now
pending In the senate.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 11.-Tolay the
plan OF the administration forces in
charge of the ship purchase bill is to
press Senator Fletcher's motion to
recommit 1t with instructions for its
amendment to satisfy Progressive Re.
publicans.
II is conceded, however. that this
motion will be defeated and that Sem
ator Glark's motion to recommit the
bill TO the commerce committee with
out instructions will prevail.
Senator Kenyon. will vote for the
latter measure and Senator Norris is
slyo reported to be in favor OF this
lotion. &.
Republican and Democratic Sena-
tors who sopposetth government ship
purchase bill aided by Senators Norris
and Kenyon, Progressive Republicans
Who have stood by the bill. forced an
adjournment last night OF the longest
continuous session in the history OF
the Senate, and made more uncertain
thanl ever the fate OF the measure
which the administration has so ur.
gently pressed upon Congress.
Upon the adjournment after 81 hours
and IL minutes of continuous debate.
leading members Of both houses OF
Congress conceded that an extra ses.
sion, to be called soon after March 4,
seemed inevitable. There were some,
however. who still hoped that there
yet might be time to dispose of ap-
preparation bills and the ship pur.
chase measure in some form before
adjournment.
Adjournment came on a motion
made by Senator O'Gorman, which
prevailed, as to 46, after Senator Nor.
tbs, deploring the fatiguing fllibuster.
had proclaimed his conclusion that op.
ponents aof the ship purchase bill
could sfllibuster It to its death.
Norris Condemns FiIibusters.
The confident belief that the flIi.
buster against the bill could be con.
tnued until March 4 and that It would
beimpossible to r : th-F----asp-- -
fore the expiration c.. rrss Congress
was given by senatT Norris as his
reason for foting to break the long
grind.
I'm not finding fault with Sena.
tors," he said, "for doing what. under
the ruleh, they have perfect right
70 do. But these fllibusters are in
creasing. tits unfortunate that we
casnot decide any great issue without
q test OF physical strength. It is a
relic of barbarism. Both sides OF
this Senate have conducted filibusters,
and II the situation were to change
tonight. the Democratic side would be-
gin q fllIhuster on this very measure"
Senator Norris read his proposed
amendment to the Senate rules which
would limit debate.
Extra Session Seems Sure.
I'VE stay here night after night"
he said. "and are dragged out OF our
beds to answer a roll call when there
are three or four Senators in the
chamber. tits ludicrous, It is foolish,
except that the consequences are
sometimes serious and the practice Is
engaged In by serious men. This
food Of talk has no object but to kill
time, and kill the members. don't
Inn fxrw trt q a H.NF 4.
what day Of the week 1t is. But
know It is February, and 1t will soon
be March 4. You know and l know
and God knows that with about one
half Of the members Of the Senate de-
termined to continue this filibuster,
they can sbsolutely prevent vote
on this bill until after March f."
Senator Norris said that while he
favored the ship purchase bill, he
could not see why all Of the time
from now until March 4 should be
waited In useless effort to bring
the measure to a vote.
Il understand that II has been an.
nounced from the White House." con.
timed Senator Norris, ''that IL this
bill is not passed there will be q spe
rlal session Of Congress soon after
Narch 4. Iassume that this Is true.
r this filtbuster continues until
March 4. we would have to have m
extra session anyway to pass the ap-
propriation bills. So there is nothing
TO be gained by continuing this fight
and nothing TO be lost When the
special session comes, as come it
must. will support this ship purchase
all heartfly.a