Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-03-08
.CAUCUSES FAVOR
NEW SENATE RULE
TO LIMIT DEBATE
Both Parties Clear WAY
for Modification of
Procedure.
WOULD MAKE FlLlBUSTERS
IMPOSSIBLE IN FUTURE
Resolution Embodying Proposed
Change Will Be Reported To-
Day by Leader Martin.
ONLY TWO VOTES IN NEGATIVE
Measure as Reported by Conference
Committee Would Require Two.
Thirds Vote to End Speeches.
ERy Associstcd Press. |

{ BY Associated Prcss.J
WASHINGTON. March democrats
aud Republicans OF the Senate. in
caucus to-day. cleared the way for
early modification Of Senate procedure.
50 as TO make hlibusters such AS de-
fcatcd the armed neutrality bill i'm
possible in tho future.
The Democrats voted unanimously
10 support a rule urder which debate
could be limited by two thirds vote.
and the Republicans voted 80 to , To
support the same change. The rule
was recommended by a conference
committee of tcn--firc from each party.
The resolution cmbodying the pro-
posed rule probably will be reported
TO the Senate tomorrow by Majority
Leader Martin. with view to pre-
sentinS !, for prompt adoption.
Senator'S La Toilette and Gronna,
Republicans who were among tile
twelve who failed to sign the mani.
festo approving the armed neutralitv
BILL did not attend their party caucus.
How much Significance is to be at
tachcd TO that fact neither Republican
nor Democratic leaders could foretell
Tonight, although the Democrats had
"A distinct impression that the appear
ahcc OF the rule would be the signal
armed neutrality. There were a fcw
Democrats who had views different
from the large majority. but while
they may contribute few speeches
on the subject of changes In the rules. \
no prolonged opposition is expected.
FAVORED ~ ABOUT EIGHT N
MORE THAN TwO-THIRE5R
In the Democratic caucus there were
I,
more than forty Senator'S, and with the
thirtS Republicans who voted for the
chahse. this makes about eight more
than two thirds OF the Senate. Sew
eral Senators Of both parties arc Az
sent from Washington or i'll. 40 that
the proportion of those here for tho
change Is overwhelming.
Senators Sherman, OF Illinois ,nd
France, OF Maryland were tho two
Republicans who cast the negative
votes. Senator Sherman declared the
kcpuoicans would hc put i'm the DO
sition OF acccdinE to il because OF the
demand by President Wilson In his pub
nc statement on the defeat of the ncu-
trality bill and in his conference to-
day with Democratic members OF the
conference committee Senator Erapcc
said he opposed any kind OF cloture
rule.
AMENDMENT TO RULES
APPROVED BY CAUCUS
Tho amendment to tho rules m
proved by the caucus provides:
ihat II at any time a motion
signed ny sixteen Senator'S. to bring
10 u cioSc the debate upon any ncndinr
measure Is presented TO the Senate the
presiding officer shall at once state tho
motion TO the Senate, and one hour
aftcr the Senate meets on the follow
ing calendar day. but ono. shall yax
the motion before the Senate and d,-
rect that the secretary call the roll
ana. upon the asccrtainmcnt that -
quorum is present, the presiding officer
shaii, without debate, submit 10 the
senate by an ayc-snd-nay vote the
question: is 1t the sense of the Senate
tl'at the debate shall be brourh, To =
close :"
Ahu " that question shall be de-
''"e" ~ the Affirmative by Il two-thrtls
A''c oi thosc voting, then said meas
nre shall be the unfinished business 9to
the exclusion of all other business untiI
disposed Of
Thereafter no Senator shall be on
titled to speak in all more than ono
hour on the pending measure. ND
amendments thereto and motions ar
icctinS the same. and it shall be tho
dutF OF the presiding officer to keen
tue time OF each Senator who speaks
Except by unanimous consent no
shall be i'm order after the
vote 10 bring the debate 10 n close.
unless the same has been presented and
read prior to that time. No dilatory
motion or dlatory amendment or
amendment not gcrmane shall be In
order Points Of order, including oucs-
tons of relavency and appeals from
the decision OF the presiding officer
shall be decided without debate
NO AMENDMENTS EXCEPT
BY UNANIMOUS CONSENT
The resolution is changed only
slightly from that virtually agreed
upon last night by the conference COM
mittee of ten. ana which was approved
by the Senate Rules Committee scv.
eral months ago. ThcNsaast important. J
change was the addition today by tho,
conferccs of tho provision that exccpt
by unanimous consent amendments
will not be i'll order after the cIotureJ
has been ordered. This was done to
prevent substitutes coming in at tho
last moment when there would be little
time for their consideration before n
vote must be taken.
Senator owen gave notice In the
Democratic caucus that he expected
to address tho senate tomorrow on
majority rule in the Senate but later
he apparently abandoned the tdea,
Senator Smith. of South Carolina,
talked about the possibility OF a force
bill under Republican domination OF 4