The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-03-07
REVISE SENATE RULES 10 STOP
 FlLIBUSTERINC

Washington, March Both parties in the Senate yesterday took steps pre- liminary to a revision of the rules with a view to prevent filibustering. The ! leaders of the Senate wish to avoid the appearance of partisanship in the
 matter, particularly as an overwhelm- i ing majority of both parties favored the Armed Ship bill killed in the clos ing hours of the session by handful
 of takers. Both parties caucused on the subject simultaneously and ap- pointed committees to confer together on a rule for cloture.
 The two committees-siX Senators from the Democratic caucus and five from the Republican-held a confer ence of two hours, at which 1t was evident that practically every one ia vored a rule in some form that would prevent a repetition of the Armed Ship filibuster.' That there should be such unanimity of opinion in joint committee including such different types as the radical MT. Owen, Demo- crat, of Oklahoma, and MT. Penrose, old-line Republican from Pennsyl- vania, is construed as indicating the force of popular indignation stirred up by the strangling of the Armed Ship bill. The Presidents prompt
 and scathing ,denunciation of the fili-
 buster is also having marked effect.
 Partisa1isIlip Subordinated.
 The Democratic members of the joint committee are Owen of Okla hona, Reed of Missouri, Smith of ~ o-f r o1y Cxxyat son of Virginia and Walsh of Mon tana The Republicans are Lodge of Massachusetts, Brandegee of Connect icut, Penrose of Pennsy sylvania, Borah of Idaho, and Cummins of Iowa. AL though MT. Cun1mins participated ac- lively in the filibuster against the Armed Ship bill, both he and MT. Bo- rah as progressive Republicans favor limitation of debate that will permit votes to be taken. Even conserva- tives like Lodge, Brandeyee, and Pen rose are believed to be convinced that the right to flibuster cannot be al- lowed to last longer without great danger to the, country.
 Neither party in caucus sought to reach a partisan, agreement on the form of the propdsed rule, which was left entirely to the joint committee. The committee did not reach a full agreement on details a1rd adjourned to today But the confe1ees feel cer- tain that some form of cloture will be adopted by the Senate at a conpara- lively early date although flibuster may have to ibe broken down before a vote on the new rule can he reached.
 Brought Up in the Senate.
 The subject of revising the rules came up as soon as the Senate con- vened. MT. Owen, who would like to see the rules thoroughly revised, said that he regarded the Senate fas hav- ing died on March 4, instead of being a continuing body. New members he said, should not be bound by rules they had no hand in framing.S
 | This point was revived in another form when MT. Lodge of Massachu- setts reintroduced the Armed Ship bill and asked that 1t be referred to | the Committee on Foreign Relations. MT. Owen, although he favors the bill, made the point that, according to his theory, the committee was not in existence. MT. Thomas of Colorado made the further point that, as Con- gress was not in session, the Senate could not transact legislative bdsi- ness.
 Vice President Marshall, who de- scribed himself as the only good-tem- pered person in the Chamber, sus- tained MT. Thomas point of order. He ruled that the Senate could not consider legislative matters when convened apart from the House. MT. Lodge and MT. Walsh argued that there was nothing in the rules or the Constitution to prevent consideration of such legislation, but no appeal was taken, and the ruling stood.
 Incidentally, the Chair settled the question of the continuing nature of the Senate by ruling that the officers | of the Senate held over from the late