The Washington times., 1916-03-05

resolution. as acted upon by the Foreign
Affairs Committee. II would have the
effect of taking from the table semo-
thing already lying upon the table and
then putting that thing back on the
Such an off again. on again proce-
dure would have brought nothing but
derision from anti-Administration men,
bers of the House. The situation pre-
scented was regarded as both embarrass-
ing and ridiculous.
"Of Again, On Again."
To meet such an unsatisfactory state
Of AFFAIRS, II Is planned that some mem
Der of the Foreign Affairs Committee
shall make a demand on Monday that
the report of that committee on the Nc
Lemore resolution shall be placed on
the House calendar. In consequence the
resolution will be taken from the
table" and put on the calendar; and
then on Tuesday the Rules Committee
will pave the way for taking the reso-
luton from the calendar and putting 1t
back ION the table"
Its a sketch At for a comic OPERA"
said critical Republican member OF
the House today. 1T all comes of at
tempting to do negatively thing that
should be Hone affirmatively. This
question should have been brought in. II
at all. on It's merits and so voted upon"
Even after the Rules Committee trav-
erses the rocky road OF parliamentary
procedure, 1t is in doubt about the
adoption Of the special rule which will
make 1t possible for Mr.. Flood to move
to table the McLemore resolution. Be-
fore special rule is adopted the pre-
vious question" may be ordered on II.
II this previous question" is defeated,
the rule itself is subject to debate and
amendment.
Democrats now fear that through a
coalition OF Republican and insurgent
Democratic totes the previous question
may be defeated, the rule made subject
to dangerous amendwent. and the en-
tire armed ship controversy aired in UNI
! limited debate on the floor. Under the
proposed rule the debate would be lin
tied, perhaps to not more than two
hours, PROBABLY to about an hour.
Truce Declared.
The confusion OF the parliamentary
status of the resolution, the desperate
straits of Indiana Democrats. the alb
sence OF certain anti-Administration
members. and the fear of united Re-
publican opposition, all contributed to
the policy of inaction on the part of
tho Rules Committee.
House leaders threw up their hands
and declared a truce until Tuesday,
when efforts will be made to avoid a
duplication, or worse. of the somewhat
farcical performance In the Senate yes
terday.
Among the absentees who are said
to have caused postponement OF action
were so-called '"Tammanyites." who
make a practice of spending the week.
end In Now York. Other members OF
the House, 1t was said at the confer
ence. were also OFT OF town on the as
sumption that no action would he taken
until Monday and this was seized upon
as one excuse for delay. The post.
Donement. however was most welcome
To the Indiana members who are now
expected 10 vote late Tuesday about
tho time the polls close n that State.
Congressman CYRUS Cline ranking
Democrat on the Foreign Affairs Nnm-
mittee, Is amorg the Indiana members
who NAV profit through tho delay. al
though Mr.. Cline smilingly declined To
admit that he was n party To any cant
paign OF nonactivlty in a supposed in
ternational crisis.