Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1917-03-08
CAUCUSES VOTE
FOR CHANGE IN
SENATE RULES
Republican and Democratic
Organizations Approve Clo-
ture Proposal Urged by
Conference Committee.
GOES TO CHAMBER TODAY
Two G. o. P. Members, Sher-
man of Illinois and France
of Maryland, in Negative.
BoURBoNS ARE UNANIMOUS

Washington, March 7.-Democrats
and republicans OF the senate i'll eau
Gus today cleared the way for early
modification of senate procedure so
as to make filibusters such as defeated
the armed neutrality bill impossible in
the future.
The democrats voted UNANIMOUSLY
to support a rule under which debate
could be limited by two-thirds vote.
recommended by conference conf
mittee of ten, five representing each
party, as the best way to solve the
iiiibustcr problem. The republicans
voted so to 2 to support the same
change.
The resolution embodying the pro-
posed rule probably will be reported
to the senate tomorrow for prompt
adoption, .... .s..
La Toilette and Gronna Absent.
Senators La Toilette and Gronna,
republicans who were among the
twelve who failed to sign the mani
festo approving the armed neutrality
bill, did not attend their party caucus.
How much significance is to be at
tached to that fact neither republican
nor democratic leaders could foretell
tonight, although the democrats had
distinct impression that the change
in the rule would be the signal for
speeches by the two senators on
armed neutrality. There were few
democrats who had views different
from the large majority, but while
they may contribute few speeches
on the subject of the changes in the
rules, no prolonged opposition is ex-
pected.
In the democratic caucus there were
more than forty senator's and, with
the thirty republicans who voted for
the change, this makes about eight
more than two-thirds of the senate.
Several senators of both parties are
absent from Washington or i'll so that
the proportion Of those here for the
change is overwhelming.
Sherman Votes Against Change.
Senators Sherman of Illinois and
France of Maryland we're the two re-
publicans who cast the negative votes.
Senator Sherman declared the repub-
licans would be put in the position of
acceding to it because of the demand
of President Wilson in his public
statement on the defeat of the neu-
trality bill and in his conference to-
day with democratic members of the
conference committee. Senator France
said he opposed any kind of cloture
rule. ..,..
The amendment provides:
That if at any time motion,
signed by sixteen senator's to bring to
a close the debate upon any pending
measure is presented to the senate, the
presiding officer shall at once state the
motion to the senate, and one hour
after the senate meets on the follow
ing calendar day but one, he shall lay
the motion before the senate and di-
rect that the secretary call the roll
and upon the ascertainment of a
quorum present, the presiding Of
ticer shall, without debate, submit to
the senate by and aye and nay vote the
question: Is it the sense of the sem
ate that the debate shall be brought
to a closer?
Hour to Each Senator.
"And if that question shall be de-
cided in the affirmative by two
thirds vote OF those voting, then said
measure shall be the unfinished busi-
ness to the exclusion of all other busi-
ness until disposed OF.
Thereafter no senator shall be ell
titled to speak in all more than one
hour on the pending measure, the
amendments thereto and motions af-
fecting the same. and it shall be the
duty of the presiding officer to keep
the time of each senator who speaks.
Except by unanimous consent no
amendment shall be in order after the
vote to bring the debate to a close,
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