Omaha daily bee., 1916-08-17
SENATE PROGRAM "
IS ALL TIED Up
IN HARD KNOTS
Administration J Leaders Anx-
ious to Push Program and
Need Votes of the
Republicans. y
MAY Delay ADJOURNMENT
Senator Owen Anxious to Get
Bill Through at This
Time. \
MAY, DELAY ADJOURNMENT
MAY APPEAL TO WILSON

Washington, Adg. l6.-Republican
senate leaders and Senator Owen,
democrat, tied the legislative situation
in the senate into a hard knot today,
threatening the->plans of administra-
ton leaders to expedite the shipping,
workmens' compensation andrevenue
bills, and assure an early adjourn
ment of congress.
The obstacle interposed was the
Owens corrupt practice bill to limit
and regulate political campaign con-
trbutions.' The democrats did not in
clude the measure in their legisla-
tive program, but Senator Owen
wants it passed and republican leaders
want definite assurances of its post
ponement until the December session.
When Senator Fletcher sought an
agreement to vote on the shipping
bill late today, republican leaders de-
manded in return a promise from the
administration forces that the corrupt
practice bill would not be pressed
to a,vote before adjournment. Most
of the democrats were willing to
give such a promise inasmuch as the
bill was not in the imperative pro-
gram. They found Senator Owen,
however, determined to call his bill
up sometime before adjournment and
to demand vote on it, no matter
what the result might be.
Will Not Agree.
Senator Owens attitude resulted in
a declaration by the republicans that
they would not agree to unanimous
consent in regard to fixing time
Tor voting on either the shipping or
revenue bill. Senator Owen then an
-nounced that he would refuse unani-
nous consent on request to fix a
time to vote on the other bills, so
long as opposition to his measure
persisted. II -
That cwas the tangled situation
when the senate adjourned tonight
without vote on the shipping bill.
Some administration leaders thought
President Wilson might have to be-
appealed to if the way were to be
cleared for the shipping, revenue and
workmens' compensation bill, which
would complete the legislative pro-
gram. If Senator Owen and republi-
can leaders remain determined, it was
asserted congress may be held in
session indefinitely. Z,
By a Party Vote.
BY a strict democratic vote, re-
pubiicans opposing it, the senate
finance committee ordered a favor
5 able report to the senate on the re-
vised revenue bill, calculated to raise
$250,000,00O year.
Chairman Simmons submitted the
report when the senate met and an
nounced that republican senators
would be given several days to study
the measure.
Meanwhile he proposed after dispo-
sition of the shipping bill the senate
should take up the workmen's COM
pensation BILL If this program is
carried out the revenue bill will be
the last important measure to be acteG
Upon at this session. y
Although some democrats are ex-
pected to oppose some features of the
bill Senator Simmons said he could
see no reason why congress should
not adjourn about September /.
The finance committee today added
provision that after ninety days folA
lowing passage of the revenue bill no
frozen halibut or salmon from the
north Pacific ocean shall be admit
ted into the United States through
any foreign country except When they
shall be in bond from an American
port The proposal is made to en-
courage Americans in this industry,
which has rapidly been taken over by
Great Britain.