The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1917-03-08
NEARLY ALL AGREED.
On Proposal in Conference to Change Sen
ate Rule on Debate.

Washington, d. G., March S.--Demo
Gratis and Republicans of the Senate il
caucus yesterday cleared the way fol
modification of Senate procedure so as tc
make filibusters such as defeated the
armed neutrality bill impossible in the
future.
The Democrats voted unanimously to
support rule under which debate could
be limited by a two-thirds vote, recon-
mended by conference committee of 10,
five representing each party, as the best
way to solve the flibuster problem. The
Republicans voted 80 to to support the
same change.
Senators LaFollette and Gronna, Re
publicans, who were among the IL who
failed to sign the manifesto approving
the armed neutrality bill, did not at
tend their party caucus. How much sig
nificance is to be attached to that fact
neither Republican nor Democratic lead
ers could foretell, although the Demo
Gratis had a distinct impression that the
appearance of the rule would be the
signal for speeches by these two sena-
tors on armed neutrality. There were
a few Democrats who had views different
from the large majority, but no pro-
longed opposition is expected.
In the Democratic caucus there were
more than 40 senators and with the 80
Republicans, who voted for the change,
this makes eight more than two-thirds
of the Senate. Several senators of both
parties are absent from Washington or
ill, so that the proportion of these here
for thp cha pOp is hplmiuy
Senators Sherman of Illinois and
France OF Maryland were the two Repub
licans who east the negative votes SEN
ator Sherman declared the Republicans
would be put in the position of acceding
to it because of the demand by Presi-
dent Wilson. Senator France said he
opposed any kind of cloture rule.
The resolution is changed only slight
ly from that virtually agreed upon Tues
day night by the conference committee
OF ten and which was approved by the
Senate rules committee several months
ago. The most important change was
the adoption yesterday by the eonferees
of the provision that except by unan-
nous consent amendments will not be
in order after the cloture has been or
dered. This was done to prevent substi-
tutes coming in at the last moment when
there would be little time for their con-
sideration before a vote must be taken.
Senator Owen gave notice in the Dem |
ocratic caucus that he expected to address |
the Senate to-day on majority rule in |
the Senate which he advocated against |
the two-thirds plan, but later he ap-
parently abandoned the idea. Senator |
Smith. Of South rorrlina faI l,aI Oh
the possibility of force bill under Re- |
publican domination of the Senate if a |
eloture rule is put in effect, and Senator
Smith of Georgia discussed absolute clio.
ture
The party conferees, however, made il
plain that the two-thirds plan was the
best the could hope to get without a pro-
longed struggle and when the atmos-
phcre cleared the Democrats voted unani-
mously upon it.
The Republicans named Senators War
rem, Smoot, Brandegee. Borsh, Poindex-
ter, Fall, Weeks, Harding and Wads-
worth TO continue their steering COM
mittec for the session. Senators Cum
minis and Gronna. two of those who op-
posed the armed neutrality bill were
members of the committee last wear, and
the report was current that the eau
Gus failed to re-elect them as a rebuke.
Republican leaders, however, said this
was ridiculous; that the committee per
sonnel was changed every year.
There also was talk at the capitol of
a movement to prevent Senator Stone
from retaining chairmanship of the for
eign relations committee. Some of the
leading members of the Democratic steer
ing committee said such movement if
would come to naught