Evening star., 1915-02-16
Champions Permanent Rule
Which Would CurtaiI Debate
and Obstruction.
REVISION OF TARIFF
NOT WILSON'S PLAN
No Extra Session if Congress Passes
= Appropriation and Ship
ping Bills.

Three important facts came out at
today's weekly interview of President
| Wilson with the Washington newspa-
per lien:
He favors a cIoture rule in the Sen
ate.
The present tariff law is satisfactory
and no amendments would be recon-
| mended if an extra session is held.
If the appropriation bills and ship
ping bill are passed before March
there will be no extra session, and the
President still believes they will get
| through.
Favors Permanent Rule.
The point blank question was asked
the President J. he favored cloture rule
in the Senate and without seconds
hesitation he said he did. In answer
to further questions. he said he favore
a permanent cloture rule of reasona-
Bile character. designed to cut off OBJ
struction and not limit debate. 1t
tion. Not having been a member of
the Senate. he was not prepared to say
whether cloture rule would remove
the need for party caucuses. That
was a matter he had not considered.
The President unhesitatingly declared
that he did not have the remotest idea
of recommending revision of the tariff
IL an extra session is held. The pres
ent tariff law, he said. is satisfactory
to the party in power.
Ends Tariff Rumors.
The President indicated that there is
no data or facts in possession Of the
government to cause a change in any
schedule of the existing law. His clear
statements disposed of recent rumors
that If an extra session is called the
administration will put on the pro-
gram partial revision of the tariff of
q protective nature. Neither would the
extra session be called upon, he said,
to pass bills providing further special
taxes to meet the deficit that Is pre-
dicted.
As to the shipping bill. the President
did not believe that it would fail of
passage at this session. He had not
come law before March 4. He had no
reason to believe that he was keeping
this bill before Congress in the face
of the inside opposition Of his own
gestions that reports indicated this
condition.
Significant Confidence.
Developments later in the day show
ed that the Presidents confidence in
the passage of the shipping bill was
at least significant, and it became
known that this feeling Of confidence
has spread among democratic leaders
of the Senate. Senators Kern and
Stone conferred with the President be-
fore the cabinet meeting about the leg
islative situation and 1t was evident
of the situation that confirmed his
optimism. The reasons for this en-
couragement were not made public, but
from good sources it is known that
Senate democrats believe that when the
Weeks bill is returned from the House
with the shipping bill attached vote
can be had upon 1t. An optimistic
democrat today predicted that the
of this week. and that Congress will
then make a rush and dispose Of the
appropriation bills in the remaining
time.
May Spring Surprise.
The inside talk is that the Senate
democrats supporting the administra-
tion are framing up surprise for the
hlibuetering republicans and that the
surprise will be sprung quickly. One
part of the plan is to move to concur in
the House amendments to the Weeks
bill. That the House will promptly
pass the bill agreed upon in caucus
last night Is not doubted. Upon the
motion in the Senate to concur there
can be only one roll call The expec-
tation is that the Senate democrats
will be prepared to make this motion
toward the end of the week, probably
Friday or Saturday.
In preparation. absent senators will
be notified to be on hand On those
days, in anticipation OF decisive vote.
Numerous roll calls on a motion to
concur cannot be made. 1t is stated, and
there is belief that the republicans
will be forced to a vote and unable to
flibuster long enough to stop a vote.
1t was whispered today by those who
understand the program that some of
the recalcitrant democrats will fall into
line on the amended Weeks bill, and
that Senators Norris. La Toilette and
Kenyon will vote with the democrats,
giving them a safe ma 1ority.