The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-02-18
SHIP BILL AS PASSED BY HOUSE HITS SNAG .ON REACHING SENATE
Pr0gressives and Insurgent Democrats Object to Fea- lures of Measure-May
 Be Set Aside

Washington, February tT.-rbe through the House early today, failed to gain any ground when IL reached the Senate and administration leaders tonight were uncertain us to it's fate. Early in the day it was discovered that the amended bill had failed to satisfy recalcitrant democrats or pro- of either of these factions the bill could not be passed Democratic lead CTS realized nothing could be dons un- less the measure could he changed in conference. Efforts to send the amend cd bill to conference failed Another attempt will be made tomorrow.
 Tonight it was reported that pend- ing motion to take up the bill temor- ow might prevail but republica.i lead : CTS, it was declared, would insist upon an understanding that other legisln- tion should be considered before they would cease opposition.
 Interest in Charges
 More interest centered today la the special Senate committees inquiry into charges of outside influences on the pending measure. BernaSd N. Baker, n Baltimore steamship manager told ti,e committee of conferences with Secre- tary McAdoo in which he declared So Der cent of foreign ships tied up in United States ports because of tine war. were not available for purchase be- cause unsuited for commercial pun poDes. MT. Baker also stated " l. Sickel, Hamburg American lire off cial. had told him he received orders from the German government .,ot to sell any German vessels to the United States. The committee summoned Mr. SiclSel who will appear tomorrow. Wal lace Downey, a New York ship build CT. also was summoned.
 As to the shipping bill itself, repub- lican leaders insist it is dead and ex- press willingness to quit theIr fili- buster if the Senate will take up ap- propriation bills. Administration dem- ocrats were said to be willing to do this if the shipping bill first could be sent to conference. Negotiations for an understanding were under way to-
  Senate meets tomorrow.
 Progressives Dissatisfied
 That Senators Norris, Kenyon and LaFollette, progressive republicans who favored the Senate bill. would not support the Weeks-Gore measure as 1t passed the House because they believed it to be too temporary in character, was apparent early in the day. Insur- gent democrats opposed the measure because they thought it's character too permanent Senator Hardwick sought to amend the motion to send the cill to with the instruction that it be made terminable two years after the war. This was defeated with pro- gressive republican votes
 Despite the uncertainty of the situ- ation, Senate and House leaders felt confident there will be no extra ses- sion of Congress and that the shipping bill, if not sent to conference Would 1 be displaced in the Senate by appro- priation bills. The report persists that as many of the supply measures as can be passed before March 4 will br of and that joint resolutions existing appropriations for other departments will be adopted wherever necessary
 Late in the day administration lead CTS held long conference over the situation. Several proposals to the re- pu ,licans for ending the f1libuster by sending the bill to conference .lere
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