Fergus County Democrat. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1904-1919, 1915-02-11
SENATE AT
LAST ENDS
LONG GRIND
Adjournment Of the Longest
Continuous Session in His
tory Endangers Ship Bill.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 1O-Republi-
can and democratic senators who op-
pose the government ship purchase
bill, added by Senators Norris and
Kenyon, progressive republicans, who
have stood by the bill, forced an ad-
journment tonight of the longest con-
tinuous session in the history of the
senate and made more uncertain than
ever the fate of the measure which
the administration has so urgently
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 session, to be called soon after
March 4 SCENE inevitable. There
were some, however, who still hoped
that there yet might be time to dis
pose of appropriation bills and the ship
purchase measure in some form before
adjournment.
Adjournment came on a motion made
by Senator O'Gorman, which prevailed
by 43 to 46, fater Senator Norris, de-
ploring the fatiguing filibuster, had
proclaimed his conclusion that Oppo-
nents Of the ship purchase bill could
f;lituster it to its death.
disappointed over the loss Of sup
port from the progressive republicans,
but still hopeful that something yet
could be done to save the bill, admin
istration leaders Of the senate would
not admit tonight that the cause was
lost. Anticipating break in the SEN
ate, President Wilson had been con-
ferring throughout the day with house
leaders on plans of getting the bill be-
fore the house, and such course may
be taken, though the senate republi-
cans insist that their fight will con-
tinue until the end of the session, no
matter what the administration forces
may accomplish on the house side.
Tomorrow the plans of administra-
tion leaders are to press Senator
Fletcher's motion to recOmmit the
ship purchase bill with instructions
for its amendment to satisfy republi-
can prOgreSSives. 1t is conceded TO
be probable, however, that this motion
to recommit the bill to the commerce
committee without instructions will
prevail. Senator Kenyon will vote for
the latter motion and Senator Norris
is expected to do so also, in view of
his announced position tonight. That
would give the opposition majority
Ct one with every senator voting.
Insurgent democrats today, led by
Senator Hardwick, sought tc effect a
compromise with their colleagues by
which the party could be united in a
renewed effort to pass the bill. The
chances for the success of this move
;r1, hn
plan suggested is that the warning
democrats hold conference after the
recommitment of the bill. Some of the
insurgents then would propose that the
bill be amended to provide that the
proposed government ship purchase en-.
terprise would terminate at stated
period after the close of the European
war, and that purchase of interned
ships of belligerents be prohibited. If
the democrats united on such a pro-
posal it would drive away from the
bill progressive republicans who favor
government ownership, but on the 9th.
er hand, there is hope that it might
stop the republican tilibuster against
the measure.
Some of the republican leaders, when
approached by insurgent democrats to-
day, admitted that the proposal would
remove the most Objectionable fea.
lures of the bill.
Senator Fletcher in charge Of the
bill for the administration, said the
administration forces appeared to be
defeated in their effort to recomn1it
the bill with instructions. He added
that tomorrow Senator Cores motion
to discharge the commerce commit.
tee from his substitute bill would be
in order. Opposition senators. how
ever, insisted that such motion
would be defeated if pressed, In this
case the fate of the bill must hinge
either on reconciliation of the demo
Gratis or procedure in the house. There
is also strong probability that a
motion may prevail after recommit-