Omaha daily bee., 1917-03-05
Dramatic Scenes in Two Houses
as Congress Fails to Take
Action on Armed Ship
Measure Sought by
President Wilson.
DEMOS SHOW BITTERNESS
Senators Norris and La Fol-
lette Play Stellar Roles in
Upper Chamber, Each
Spelling the Other.
LA TOILETTE NEAR IN MIX
Robinson OF Arkansas Almost
Goes to the Mat With
Wisconsin Man.
crNATr rANYc A THknEp
LA FoLLETTE NEAR IN MIX
SENATE LACKS A LEADER

(From a Staff Correspondent.)
Washington, March 4.-(Special
Telegram. 1.-The second an final ses-
sion of the Sixty-fourth congress ex-
pired at noon today and with it into
the discard went the armed neutrality
bill, flibuster led by La Toilette Of
Wisconsin, aided and abetted by Nor.
ris of Nebraska, Gronna OF North
Dakota, Cummins of Iowa Stone Of
Missouri, and a few others, being
responsible for the defeat OF the
measure which passed the house al
most unanimously.
There were scenes of rare, bitter
ness and turbulance during the closing
hours of the senate, over the bill au-
thorizing the president to arm ships
and take other measures to defend
American rights at sea against Ger
man submarines.
Senator La Toilette was expected
to bring the debate to a close in
dramatic fashion with the expiring
hours of the session. He himself
sought to do this, Senator Norris
/ staging the scene until 10 o'clock
when La Toilette was to go in for
the grandstand finish. But late last
night democratic and republican sup.
porters of the bill planned to even up
scores with the Wisconsin senator
to some extent by putting him out oi
the limelight.
La Toilette Shut Off.
| The result was that after a wild
and stormy scene, in which it looked
for time as if there might be a
physical encounter between Senator
La Toilette and Senator Robinson OF
Arkansas, Senator La Toilette was
shut off the floor and Senator Hitch.
cock of Nebraska gained it. y
He still held the floor when the
hour for the windup of the session ar
rived. 1t is expected that President
Wilson will proceed to arm ships re.
gardless of the inaction of congress.
No doubt remains that all but a
small percentage of the members OF
both houses are prepared to back the
president in going to any lengths over
the submarine controversy.
Warning of War.
Opponents of the bill and even
many of its supporters believe that
war probably will grow out of this
course. Senator Stone told the senate
that the action proposed meant wal
and if congress wanted to go to wal
it had better say so openly.
With the death OF the armed nett
trality bill and the end Of the session
number of important appropriation
bills and other bills of first class i'm
portance lapsed. They also are dead
The army bill, the sundry civil bill
the general deficiency bill, and the
urgent deficiency bill failed to pass
Thus about half billion in fund'
needed to run the government is lack
ing.
t Look for Extra Session.
An extra session OF congress is con
sidered inevitable under the circum
stances, to be called in time to get al
the supply bills out OF the way before
July |.
Patriotism was uppermost in th'
house tie members and the crowded
galleries joining in the singing 0
patriotic songs, with will and fervo
rarely excelled.
The unfurling Of a six-foot fal
from the speakers gallery was th
signal for the pent-up enthusiasm t.
display itself. Miss Leona Sherwood
daughter of Congressman Sherwood
one of the veteran members of tn
house, led in singing tn, nationa
anthem, america" and this was fol
lowed by the Star Spangfed Banner,
Columbia, the Gem of the Ocean,
the large number of guards:nen in tn
galleries contributing to the patrioti
7 demonstration that was wonderful,
inspiring.
! Representatives Meeker OF Mis-
souri,, Timberlake OF Colorado, Cali
van of Massachusetts, and Hamilton
of Michigan, led the congregations
singing, the entire gamut of the oil
familiar songs being run during al
hour or more waiting for IL o'clocl
to come. NJ
There was felicitous speeches from
the leaders on both sides and "quacks
from the lame ducks, including Tag
gart of Kansas. "Alfalfa" Bill Muir
ray of Oklahoma and several others
who retire to private life with to
days adjournment.
Mistaken For Miss Rankin.
A hoax greatly enjoyed by every
body was played by Mrs. George W
Edmond, wife Of the congressman
from Philadelphia. Somebody starte,
the rumor that Miss Jeanette Ran
kin, the first congresswoman from
Montana, was on the floor and Mrs
Edmond was pointed out as the frs
woman to sit in the house of repre-
sentatives. Mr.. Edmond appre
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