Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-03-07
AGREE ON CLOTURE:
RULE FOR SENATE
Conferees Would Give Two
Thirds of Members Present
Power to Shut Off Debate.
WAY Is CLEARED FOR FIGHT
Leaders Championing Change in
Rules Expect Endorsement
of Party Caucuscs.
WAY IS CLEARED FOR FIGHT

WASHINGTON March 6.-Modifica-
ton Of the, Senate rules urged by Pres
idcnt Wilson TO prevent future nlibus-
'crs like the one that killed the armed
neutrtli,S bill virtually was tasrced
upon Tonight by "a conference COM
'nit;ce Of ten Senator'S five Democrats
and nvc Republicans. named 10y the
party caucuses.
The change proposed would put the
power III the hands Of two-thirds Of
the Senators present a, amy time to
shut off debate aud prevent dilatory
tactics.
ENPECr TO REACH
AGREEMENT TODAY
The committee viii meet again to-
morrow. ard is expected 10 reach an
agreement OH resolution embodying
this proposition. which was approved
by the Rules Committee several mouths
ago, but which never came up at the
last session.
Leaders championing the change cx-
oect the resolution 10 receive the ncces-
sary caucus Endorsement and to be
presented to the Senate as soon as pos
sible for consideration and action.
favored the resolution considered ia
vorably by the conference committee,
and it's approval by both parties in
caucus undoubtedly would pave the
way for its ultimate adoption.
The resolution, added TO an existing
ruic. reads as follows:
provided. however. that if sixteen
Senator'S present 10 the Senate "a, any
time signed motion 10 bring 10 a
close the debate upon any pending
measure. the presiding officer shall at
once state the motion TO the Senate,
and At tho close Of the morning hour
on the following calendar day lay the
motion before the Senate and direct
that the secretary call the roll. and
upon the ascertainmcnt that quorum
is present, tho chair shall. without de-
bate, subtnit-to tho Senate by an aye
nay vote the question: Is it the sense
Of tho Senate that the debate shall
be brouSh 10 a close
And il that question shall he de-
cidcd in tho affirmative by Il two-thirds
vote of those voting. then said meas
ure shall be In order to the exclusion
OF all other business. except a motion
TO recess or adjourn.
Thereafter no Senator shall lie en-
titled TO speak moro than one hour on
the bill. tho amendments thereto and
motions affecting the same. and il shall
be the duty OF the chair to keep the
time Of each Senator who speaks. No
dilatory motions shall be in order and
all points OF order and appeals from
the decision Of the chair shall he de-
cided without debate"
WAY CLEARED ron FIGHT
OVER RULES QUESTION
The way Was cleared to-day for any
hght which may come UP over the rules
or over tho question Of whether the
Senate is operating now under its old
rules or under general parliamentary
law. This question is of Importance
because the Senate rules do not per-
init. as ordinary parliamentary law
does. motion FOR tho "previous pucs-
ton" which shuts off debate iutomat-
cally.
Senator owen. leader OF the fight for
an absolute cloturc rule under which
n majority would control debate
brought the subject up by giving no.
tice that such proceedings AS are con-
Quoted for the present must lie h,
unanimous consent. On tho theory
that II is continuing body, tho Sen
ate in tho past has not adopted new
rules for each Congress. like the House
OF Representatives.
Vice President Marshall virtually
served notice oh the senate to-day
that he did not propose to become "a
party to any rules fight. He declared.
in connection with another matter. that
the Constitution makes IL exceedingly
plain that Nice-prcsident is prcsid-
ing officer. and that he has nothing to
do with the rules beyond seeing that
they arc enforced.
The Democratic caucus indicated IT'S
support of the opinion that rules should
be adopted each session. I: reelected
Senator salisbury. OF Delaware. pres
idcnt pro tcmpore. although lie was
elected to that Office last session. and
ordinarily would hold over II also
reelected other Senate officers who
usually hold over.
SOME VIGOROUS SPEECHES
on PART WEST FLAWS
Eoth of the caucuses did the usual
presession business. and discussion on
the Democratic side developed some
vigorous speeches. in which there were
declarations about the prominence the
West played i'm the Democratic sue
cesses last fall, and the recognition it
should receive by the Senate majority.
Senator Martin. Of Virginia. was
chosen unanimously as noor leader OF
the ma jority. hut the trouble started
when tho caucus took up the election
OF president pro tempore. Senator
salisbury declined To serve again un-
less reelected. Friends or Senator
Walsh presented him rs Il candidate.
but the Montana Senator finally with
drew after a plain talk about the
recognition of the West ami an answer
from Senator Robinson. OF Arkansas.
about the South. Senator James. OF
Kentucky. smoothed things over he-
fore adjournment with n conciliatory
talk.
The Republicans spent most of their
time discussing clOture. and II became
apparent that, while most OF the thirty
five present were vigorously opposed to
a rule which would tie Sthe hands of
the minority completely, they might be
(contlrued on seconq Paee.)