Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-01-17
Democratic Senators Not a
Unit on Administrations
Ship Purchase Bill.
SOME OF ITS FEATURES
OBJECTED TO IN CAUCUS
Another Meeting Called for Tomor-
row Night-Measure Made the
Unfinished Business.

The government ship purchase bill
will be made the unfinished BUSINESS
of the Senate carly this week. prop
ably Immediately following the passage
of the District appropriation bill. nc
cordinG to Il resolution adopted at the
democratic caucus of the Senate late
yesterday afternoon.
The caucus, however. did not pledge
itself to the administration ship pur-
chase bill in it's present form, and
meeting will be held tomorrow night
at which an attempt will be made to
frame bill that will be satisfactory
to the majority and behind which the
democrats can line up Solidly. ViSor-
Gus opposition to the government own
ershp feature of the pending bill was
expressed by several senators. and Il
number of amendments, it was an
nounced, would be submitted to the
caucus at the next meeting.
Extra Session Talk.
Should the democrats determine to
keep the ship purchase bill before the
Senate to exclusion of all other bust
ness, including appropriation bills, as
is indicated in the preliminary resoiu-
ton adopted by the caucus last even
ing, it is confidently believed that an
necessary to put through the appro-
priation bills. And once an extra scs-
sion has been assembled it is prob
able that the adninistratio ton VIII en-
,dcavor to get through other biils on
the legislative program, including the
Philippine bill, and the conservation
bills Probably strong effort would
also be made to enact rural cfcdlts
law
When the caucus met Senator Fletcher.
in charge of the ship bill. offered reso-
luton to make the bill the paramount
business of the Senate this week sew
eral senators suggested that 1t be con-
sidered to the exclusion of Appropriation
bills for period of two weeks: III III
that time it should develop that it could
not he passed, some senators were said
10 be ready to abandon all hope OF get
ting vote on the measure at this ses-
sion.
Senator Hardwick Opposed.
Senator Hardwick>of Georgia told the
caucus he had informed the President OF
his opposition to the bill because OF ms
antipathy for government ownership
Senator stone pleaded for an indorse-
ment of the pending measure without
amendment.
Several senator's pleaded for an OPP
nortunity to enact other leSlslatloh'
Senator Hoke Smith asserting that an
extra session would be absolutely,
necessary unless a rural credits Dill
were passed.
other senators insisted that the ship
bill be given careful consideration be
fore any caucus agreement was mace.
senator Bankhead announced he
would seek TO eliminate the proposed
private operating corporation feature
to be financed by the government in
favor of government ships acquired
for the navy and leased. when not re-
uuired for naval purposes, to private
corporations.
Agree to Consider Amendments.
So many suggestions were made that 1t
finally was agreed to consider amend
ments tomorrow night before pressing the
bill in the Senate Some progressive
republicans, it is said. will join with the
democrats in support of the measure If 1t
is amended to their satisfaction