The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-02-11
lnsurgent Democrats and Republicans Force Action
 After 5i Hours of Debate on the Ship Purchase Bill
SPECIAL SESSION
 OF CONGRESS SEEMS
 TO BE INEVITABLE
Adjournment Comes on Motion of O'Gorman by Vote of 10 to As, Ken1
 yon and Norris Voting Ayc-Te Press Motion to Recommit Today


 Washington, February Ie.-Repub- hc"ns and democratic insurgents fight ing the rovernment ship biII. with the Htd of Senators Norris and kenyon. progressive republicans. who have .up- ported the measure. forced the Senate to adjourn tonight after the longest continuous session tn It's history. De- hate had lasted 54 hours and II min utcs.
 This made more uncertain than ever Inc fnte Of the biiI which the n.imin- istration hns pressed so urgently on Congress. Many members of both houses conceded tonight that mn extra session seemed inevitable. There were some. however. who stiII hopcd there yet might he time to dispose cf ap- propriation bills and the ship purchase measure in some form before March |.
 Adjournment tonight came on a motion made by Senator OGorman and carried ts to 46, after Senator Norris. deploring the hlibuster, had proclaimed his conclu-
 
 tilbuster il to death
 May Take Fight to House
 Though disappointed over the loss of support from the progressive republ- cans administration leaders of the Sen ate would not admit tonight tho cause was lost. Anticipating break in the Sen ate. President Wilson had conferred tlrOnB hDnt hn x,rftt on plans to get the bill before the House. ana such course may be taken through senate republicans and their fight win continue until the end of the session no matter what the administration forces may accomplish in the House.
 Tomorrow administration leaders plan to press Senator Fletcher's motion to re.- commit the bill with instructions for its amendment to satisfy republican pro- gresslves It Is considered probable how ever, that this motion will be defeated and that Senator Clarke's motion to re- commit the bill to the commerce commits tee without instructions subseanently will prevail. Senator Kenyon will vote for tho latter motion and Senator Norris is ex- pected to do also, That would give the opposition q majority of one with every senator voting.
 lnsurgent democrats today. led by Sen ator IiardwiclS. sought a compromise with their colleagues by which the party could be united In a renewed effort to pass the bill. The plan suggested was that the warning democrats hold conference after the recommtment of the bill Some Of the insurgents then would propose that the Dill be amended to provide that the proposed government ship purchase en- 5 terprise should terminate at a stated De- riod after the close of the European war and that purchase of interned ships of bellgerents be prohibited. If tho dem ocrats united on such a proposal it would urNe away from the bill progressive re- publcans who favor government owner ship. but there Is hope that 1t might stop the filibuster. Some republican leaders, approached by insurgent democrats to- day, admitted that the proposal would remove the most objectionable features of the bill.
 Administration Forces Beaten senator Fletcher. in charge of the bill Tor the administration, admitted tonight that the administration forces appeared to be defeated In their effort to recommit the bill with instructions He said Sena- tor Cores motion to discharge the com nerce committee from his substitute bill would be in order tomorrow. The oppo- sition. however, insisted that such a mo- ton would be defeated In this case the late of the bill must hinge either on q democratic reconciliation or procedure In the House.
 While democratic senators arc delibcr- iting on the next nave. House democrats may take up the fight. After President Wilson's conference today with House members 1t was said this plan was agreed )n.
 The Weeks bill. already passed in tha senate. to be taken up in the House as soon as the sundry civl bill is disposed ,f everything after the enacting clause Q be stricken out and the Gore substi- ute ship purchase bill added. and the esulting measure to be passed as quickly is possible by the House under a spe- ,ial rule. This bill, to be taken up then n the Senate and kept before the body intil the end of the session if necessary n case of no action before the end of
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