Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1917-03-07
Democrats and Republ
cans Combine to Give
Majority Power.
UP TO CAUCUS NEX1
Majority of Body Favored
Move Already; Adop-
tion Likely.

WASHINGTON. March 6.-Modifl|
cation Of senate rules urged by Presi
dent Wilson TO prevent future fill
busters like the one that killed tn
armed neutrality bill, virtually wa
agreed upon tonight by conference
committee Of ten senator's. five Demo
Gratis and five Republicans. named by
the party caucus.
The change proposed would put Tho
power in the hands of two-thirds o
the senators present at any time I'd
shut OFF debate and prevent diatory
tactics. The committee will NEE
again tomorrow probably before thd
senate convcnes at noon and is ex
pccted to reach final agreement on
a resolution embodying this proposal
which was approved by the rules
committee several months ago. bud
which never came up for action.
To Receive Caucus Approval.
Leaders championing the change
expect the resolution to receive tho
necessary caucus Endorsement and I'd
be presented to the senate as soon as
possible for consideration and action.
How such proposal will be received.
by senators opposed to any limitatonI
Of discussion, none of the conference
committee knew.
A majority of the senate long has
favored the resolution considered IA
vorably by the conference committed
and with its approval by both parties
in caucus undoubtedly would paveI
the way for its ultimate adoption.|
Both party organizations working to-|
gcther could make it uncomfortable
for any small group of senators Who'll
IN Inf undertake. flliDuStpr
The Resolution.
The resolution adopted to an exist-|
ing rule reads as follows:
provided. however. that II l6
senators present to the senate at
any time n signed motion to bring
to n close the debate upon any
pending measure, the presiding
officer shall at once state the
motion to the senate and at the
close of the morning hour on the
following calendar day lay tho
motion before the senate and di-
rect that the secretary call tho
roll, and upon the ascertainment
that quorum Is present the
chair shall without debate submit
to the senate by an aye and nay
vote the question: is it the sense
of the senate that the debate
shall be brought to n close?
And If that question shall be
-sdecided I'm the affirmative by
twO-thirds vote of those voting.
then said measure shall be in or
der to the exclusion of all other
other business except a motion to
recess or adiourn.
There after no senator shall
be entitled to speak more than
one hour on the bill, the amend
ments thereto and motions af-
fecting the same, and it shall be
the duty OF the chair to keep tho
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 be decided without do
bate"
Way Cleared for Action.
The way was cleared to some ex-
tent today for any possible fight over
the rules or over the question of
whether the senate is operating now
under It's Old rules or under general
parliamentary law. This question is
of importance because the senate
rules do not permit as ordinary par
| liamontary law docs a motion for the
previous question" which shuts off
I 4