Evening star., 1915-02-12
WILSON REJECTS
GORE SHIP BILL
Refuses to Agree to Amend
ment Limiting Activities of
U. S. in Shipping Business.
COUNTER PROPOSAL
! BY BURLESON DECLINED
Cloture Rule Considered by Senators,
I But It Is Unlikely One
/ Will Be Adopted.

President Wilson today rejected the
compromise ship bill evolved yester-
day by democratic leaders of the
House. He refused to agree to an
amendment terminating the activities OF
the government in the shipping busl-
ness two years after the close of the
European war.
The Kitchin compromise, which pro-
posed the passage through the House
of the Gore substitute to the ship pur-
chase bill as an amendment to the
Weeks naval auxiliary bill. after all of
the legislation in the latter had been
stricken out, contemplated an amend
ment making the project a temporary
one for emergencies.
Representative Kitchin and other
House democrats had worked earnestly
at both ends of the Capitol and had
secured practical agreement that the
measure in this form could be put
through both House and Senate before
Congress expired March 4.
When the democrats began the ar
rangement of details of the plan today,
however, they were interrupted by a
who conferred with Representative
Kitchin and Representative Padgett
and put the administration veto on the
proposal
was unwilling to accept any amend
ment which would destroy the perma-
nent character of the shipping prof.
ect- This amendment had been de-
pended upon by the democrats to pla-
cate the republicans to a point where
they would not filibuster against the
bill in the Senate.
Against Burleson Proposal.
AS counter proposal AIr. Burleson
advanced a scheme to pass the Weeks
bin In the House with the Gore sub
stitute as an amendment This would
leave the shipping concern as a per-
manent government institution at the
discretion of the Secretary of the
Navy to be used as an auxiliary to the
naval establishment.
Representative Kitchin and other
leaders argued against this proposal
and asserted that it would not win
enough support to insure its passage
in the Senate 1t was contended that
the Senate republicans would continue
their filibuster il no further concession
were made. Mr.. Burleson and House
leaders agreed that the administration
plan could be put through in the House,
obstruct its passage, although he re-
served the right to vote against 1t.
Az O result Of the Presidents deter
saination, as conveyed by Mr. Burleson.
ing the compromise bill in the naval
hffairs committee and the merchant
marine committee were upset. and the
entire situation was again chaotic
House was not present at today's con-
ference. He said that he would take
no part in the contest. but that he would
vote for the administration measure
Representative Kitchin fatty stated
that he would not vote for the admins
tration proposal. but that he believed
the measure could be put through the
House In twenty-four hours If the ad-
ministration insisted upon its passage.
This would necessitate the passage of
special rule that would bring the
Weeks bill into the House with the
Gore substitute as an amendment.
Oppose Cloture Rule.
Proposed cloture rules for the SEN
ate were eagerly considered by SEN
ators today. anxious to get a vote
on the administration ship purchase
bill. which has been held up for weeks
in the Senate owing to the unlimited
debate rule of the body. The Senate
committee on rules. at a meeting to-
day. however. reported adversely on
cloture amendments proposed by SEN
ator owen of Oklahoma and Senator
Williams of Mississippi.
The more liberal cloture rule pro-
posed by Senator Norris of Nebraska
was laid aside without action for
future consideration
II is not believed, however. that any
ctoture rule Will be adopted in the SEN
ate at the present session of Con-
gress- The opponents of the ship pur-
chase bill, it is pointed out, undoubt-
edly win filibuster against cloture
rule 1ust as they have f1ibustered
against the ship bill. For il they per-
Snftted a cloturs rule to be adopted IL
would mean the passage of the ship
purchase bill through the Senate.
motion to adopt cloture rule
would be subject to debate and sena
tors would be able to speak iust as
long against such proposition as they
have spoken against the ship bill.
The Norris cloture rule is understood
TO have been looked upon with some
favor by members of the rules com
mittee- II provides for three hour.
general debate by each senator on a
bill and for ffteen-minute speeches on
amendments offered.
II also provides that the Senate NAV
adopt this rule of procedure whenever
II sees Mt, but Il majority of the Sen
ate could refuse to apply the rule to
any measure on which 1t considered
greater freedom of debate advisable
Reed Calls Up His Amendment.
Senator Reed of Missouri called I'D in
e-t' f7ehdtc tihS dllcFHoOu proposed
amendment TO the rules which would
force vote on the ship purchase bill
February 1e. Senator Gallinger, the re-
publican leader. moved that Senator
Reeds resolution be referred to the COM
fnfttee on rules.
Senator Reed moved to table the Gal
IInger motion. BY vote of 46 to As
the Senate refused to table the motion
To refer to the rules committee. Sena-
tors Norris and LaFollette, progressive
republicans, voted with the democrats
70 table the Gal1inger motion. Senator
Kenyon voted with the republicans, as
did the seven democrats who are op-
posing the ship purchase bill.
Senator Reed. declaring that it was
~ell known that the Senate rules COM
nittee was opposed to change IN the
rules providing for cloture, then Of
fered an amendment to the Gallinger
motion which would send the resolu-
fion to the committee on finance In
stead OF the committee on rules. This
amendment was ruled out of order.
Senator Reed then offered an amend
rnent TO the motion to refer to the rules
committee which would instruct the rules
COMMITTEES to report back his resolution
Immediately and favorably
This amendment was laid on the table
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