The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1917-03-08
SENATE PLANS
REVISED RULES
DEMOCRAT COMMITTEE APPOINT.
ED TO MEET REPUBLICANS.
S0L0NS DEFEND THEMSELVES
Kenyon, Vardaman, and Others Ex-
pla Filibuster on the Armed Neu-
traIity Bill Backed by
President Wilson.

Washington, March THE senate
Democratic caucus appointed COM
mittee of six senator's to confer with
Republican committee with view
TO bipartisan agreement ON rule
to limit debate, in the senate and thus
+. prevent a repetition of the filibuster
that killed the armed neutrality bill.
Senators Reed, Owen, Swason, Hoke
Smith, James and Walsh were named
to represent the Democrats. The
caucus adjourned to meet again today.
The Republicans appointed Senators
Lodge, Penrose, Brandegee, Cummins
and Borah to meet with the Demo
I Gratis.
4 When the new senate met at noon
Senator Owen Of Oklahoma, laying the
Foundation for the cloture fight, served
notice that no new senators were
bound by the rules of the old senate
lin legislative procedure. a.
\ Owen Starts Fight.
II wish before any action is TAKEN"
said Senator Oowen, (which would rec
Ognize the senate as being bound by
rules of preceding congress, to OBJ
serve that while the senate is con-
ltinuing body, In so far as executive
business is concerned, it is not con-
tinuing as legislative body. All bills
on the calendar Of the Sixty-fourth
congress are dead. We have no cal
iendar and no legislative committees
and make the point THAT the old
rules are not binding on new members
coming in who have had no opportun-
ity to participate in those rules"
Senator Lodge of Massachusetts re-
introduced in the senate the armed
neutrality bill which failed of passage
Sunday. Whenshe asked its reference
to the foreign relations committee,
Senator Thomas of Colorado made the
point of order that congress was not
In session, which Vice President Mar
shall sustained.
Senate Can't Act Alone.
The vice president ruled that cOnstl-
tutionally the senate could not cOnsld-
er legislative matters when summoned
apart from the house.
Senator Lodge argued that the Con-
stitutiOn did not preclude the senate
when, in separate session from cOnsid-
ering at least the reference of bills to-
committee when in separate session.
Senator Thomas Dem.) declared he
was willing to clear UP any doubt
about what the majority proposed
to do.
ut is the purpose of some of u.s."
he said, Sin the interest of public busi-
ness, to amend the rules of. the senate
If we can. We have demonstrated
that we cannot vote here except byI
unanimous consent. That ought to be
changed il some of us stay here until
December to change it,"
His voice quivering with excitement,
Senator Kenyon of Iowa, one of the
twelve senators who refused to sign
the manifesto declaring for the bill,
hurled the lie direct at the president.
81 brand as false the statement Of
anyone that was a party to fill
buster against the BILL" he declared
yelremently.
"The plan seems to be to include In
the alleged filibuster against the bill
all those who refused to sign a GER
tain paper declaring for the passage
of the bill"
He explained here that he offered
TO support the bill as passed by the
iholse or with the Stone, Cummins or
McCumber amendments.
"But am not In the habit of signing
papers stating how will vote on any
bill, because you can never tell about
Its final FORM" he added. 81 don't be-
lleve that signature of that paper was
Ia correct indication of whether man
was patriot or a traitor,
81 wish merely to brand as false,
coming | care not whence. any state