The Washington herald., 1917-03-09
FEW HOURS OF DEBATE.

FEW HOURS OF DEBATE.
A few brief hours of debate over
threw the time-honored Senate privi-
lege of limited debate privilege
which has survived almost constant
attack since the early days of the
republic.
Confronted with the Presidents de-
mand that the way be cleared for
action that would enable him to meet
the greatest national emergency the
country ever knew, seventy-six Sen
ators voted for a rule which will
allow two-thirds of the Senate to limit
debate on any pending proposal. But
three Senators, La Toilette, of Wis
consin; Gronna, of North Dakota,
and Sherman, of Illinois, all Repub-
heans,. voted against the rule. Seua-
.tcrs La Toilette and Gronna were
Ntso of the eleven Senators Denounced
by the President as the little group
OF wIlful men representing no opinion
but their own, who have rendered the
great government Of the United States
helpless and contemplate" through
their fight on the armed neutrality
bill. Senator Sherman, who favors
the armed neutrality measure, voted
against cloture on the merits of the
rule.
White House JubfInnt
There was profound qualification st th.
White House when the result Of the SEN
ate vote became known. II was stated
vote OF the last House on the armed peu-
vote OF the last House on he armed neu-
trality bill. demonstrates that the coun-
try and the Congress are behind the Pr.,i-
dent In his determination to arm Ameri-
can merchant ships and protect American
lives at sea.
1t was recognized that the President
can now move at once to put naval guns
and gunners abroad merchant ships. if
ne ne decides he has the necessary author
n.y. or that he can call an early eK-
traordinary session OF Congress- with the
assurance that any authorization he NAV
need will be promptly Forthcoming.
The senate was confronted with q de-
mano for an extra session Just as soon
as the cloture rule was adopted. Senator
Mclean. Of Connecticut, Republican. In
troduced a resolution requesting m.
PRESIDENT to call the Congress to meet on
March 20
A resolution, declaring the sense Of th.
senate that the President has fun and
complete authority TO protect American
commerce at sea, likewise was intro
ouceo II was presented by Senator
Lewis. OF Illinois. Democratic min 80
II would base the Presidents power 10
protect foreign commerce on the same
constitutional grounds which support his
power to protect interstate commerce No
action was taken on either OF these reso-
Iutions' but the authors Of both Of them
said they proposed to press for their con-
sideration
Ninety-stx Hours OF Debate
The cloture rule. as adopted vouIs
oroVioe se Tor the submission by sixteen
81. on a motion to limit debate on
anv pending measure. This motion e
ADOPTED by a two-thirds vote rouIo
thereafter limit each Senator IN on.
hour OF discussion. IL every Senator e1-
ercised his full privilege under the ruiz
the debate then would continue ninty.
SIX hours' put at the end OF that time,
vote would be forced.
The days debate on the rule WA, ,nv-
thing but sensational Not a sIngl.
speech was made in support of the meas
ure, and the entire time WAS Consumed
bv those who were either opposed to
the rule or who were opposed to the
neutrality bin. Senator La Toilette, who
leo the filiouster against the measure IN
the last Congress. vigorously denounced
the administration for fits Domination OF
Congress. and declared that an iron
hand had ''throttled the power which
the Constitution gave TO Congress a. q
co-equal branch OF the government"
He likewise denounced the nanner m
which the administration had handled
the national defense program. asserting
that the defense bills had been withheld
until the closing days Of the last Con-
gress in order to prevent thorough dis
cussioss-. of.-.reyolgtipnarys proposals
reviewed at some length various OLD
arguments against any cloturs rule m
the Senate.
Senator Sherman likewise attached the
President declaring that the whlts
coSTTNurp rlN pacu rwo