Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-03-09
BY VOTE OF 76TO3
ADOPTS MODIFIED
FORM OF CLOTURE
Puts Power in Hands of
Two-Thirds Of Members
to Prevent Filibusters.
ACTION is UNEXPECTED.
AFTER SIX HOURS DEBATE
La Toilette, Gronna and Sherman
Only Three in Opposition to
Proposed Change.
HARSH CRITICISM or WILSON
Several OF Little Group OF WilIful
Men" Attack Executive and
Newspapers.
HARSH CRITICISM or WILSON
Several OF Little Group OF WilIful
Men" Attack Executive and
Newspapers.
tBy Associated Presa.l

tBy Associated Presa.l t
WASHINGTON, March s. After
more than 100 years under rules per-
mitting debate limited by tho physical
endurance of Senator'S and the pro.
visions OF the Constitution. the Senate
tonight. by vote OF 76 TO .. put power
in the hands OF two-thirds of its mem-
hers In the future to limit discussion.
and to say when n vote shall he taken
on pending measure.
Never while the amendment is in the
Senate rule book can little group OF
willful men," as President Wilson
called those he held responsible for
defeat OF the armed neutrality bill,
prevent a vote upon a bill before the
Senate if two-thirds of their colleagues
will otherwise.
The organized flihustcr as rccog-
nized in the Senate is dead. U.sk
Action came unexpectedly. after six
hours debate on the new rule. drafted
by bipartisan committee. Although
both Democrats and Republicans hail
approved the change in caucus. and
Senator Martin. the majority floor
leader. had given notice that the SEN
ate would be kept in continuous sos
sion until a vote was taken. nearly
every one looked for much longer
discussion.
Senators La Toilette and Cironna. two
OF those who opposed the armed neu-
trality bill. and Senator Sherman, who
favored II, cast the negative votes
Senator'S Cummins. Kenyon. Kirby.
Lane. Norris. Stone and vardaman,
who were against the armed neutral-
he Cal
leagues of most of the Senators absent
announced that if they had been pres.
ent they would have supported it.
ENACT USE NOT APPARENT
UNTIL TT is ENFORCED
The exact use of the rule will not
become apparent until it is enforced
but it probably cannot DO successfully
used to prevent the spectacular one
man fllibusters by which Senators have
talked bills pending in the closing
hours OF session to Legislative
grave. Such iilibusters probably cam
not be prevented unless they are fore
seen. but an organized affair, which
must he planned two days or more
ahead OF a sessions end. can be dis
posed OF easily.
In brief, the new rule provides that
debate on a pending measure, the SEN
ate by twothirds' vote on the fol-
lowing day but one, may limit debate
thereafter to one hour to each Senator.
II includes provisions to prevent dila-
tory tactics, and the introduction after
.cloture is prohibited of amendments
not ccrmane TO the pending bill.
Many Senator's who favored the
TI. ri l.
cloture rule, such as prevails in the
House OF Representatives, where the
Rules Committee. with a majority te-
hind X. can set the limits upon speech
and the hour for vote Others who
fear the action. declared it was but the
entering wedge. and that the days OF
the Senate as the only Legislative body
in the world where there can be full
ana free discussion are numbered. yN
CRITICIZE PRESIDENT
AND NEWSPAPERS
The debate to-day started peacefully,
but before il had continued long IL
branched into discussion on the armed
neutrality bill and the Presidents
statement about the twelve men he
held responsible for a failure to get
q vote upon II. There were some bitter
criticisms Of the PRESIDENT and OF the
newspapers. Senator Cummins de-
clared that any man in the Senate or
out II high or low" who said ne at
tempted or conspired to prevent
vote On the bill deliberately falsifes"
Senator Townsend said the Prasi-
dents statement was unjust. unfortu-
nate. and. in his opinion, unconstitu-
ti"nal as an attack upon a coordinate
branch of the government, Senator
Norris announced that he favored 8
cloture rule. but vas opposed and would
Stili be opposed TO the armed neutrality
bill unless modihed, He asserted the
side OF those who opposed that meas-
ure had never reached the people.
Senator Smoot said II the presiden.
should call special session OF Con-
gress. and the friends OF the armed
neutrality hin would not take all The
time. the measure could be passed In
three days after it reached the Senate
floor. =
The last speaker WIS Senator I.s
Toilette. tho central figure OF the nll-
buster. He said he would not discuss
his position OH the neutrality bill now.