The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1917-03-07
The Way Was Cleared

The Way Was Cleared
10 some extent today for any fight
which may come up owe the rules OF
over the question Of whether the sen
ate is operating under. its old
rules or under general parliamentary
law. This question IS OF Importance
because the senate rules do not per
nit is ordinary parliamentary law
does. Il motion for the "prevlouS QLF~
ton" which shuts of debate autoual'
ically.
Senator Owen. leader OF the fight
for an absolute rule under which The
majority would control e b &c,
brought the subject up by giving no
Iice that such proceedings as arc con
Quoted for the present must be by
unanimous consent. On the theory
that it a continuing body the sen
ale in the past has not adopted new
! rules but each congress like the houSt
OF representatives. II II were compel
led toadopt them in doing so II would
work under gradually parliamentary
law and the majority could adopt Sucp
rules as it pleased in short order.
Vice-President Marshall
virtually served notice on the senate
today that he did not propose 10 be
come 4 party 10 any rules fight. re
declared in connection with another
matter thai the constitution niaheS II
exceedingly plain that the TiCe-pres'
idcnt is a presiding officer and hat
he has nothing TO do with the rules
beyond seeing that they are enforced,
The Democratic caucus Indicated
its support of the opinion that rules
should be- adopted each Session. II re-
elected Senator salisbury or Drla'
ware, president ~prn.tempole. although
he was elected to that office last SOS,
sion and ordinarily would llaT. held
over. 1t also reelected other senate
officers who usually hold over.
Both Of the caucuseS did the uSua
procession business, and discussion
on the Democratic side developed
some vigorous speeches IN "hlcn
there were decided declarations a0Uut
the prominence the West played III
the Democratic success last fall and
the recognition IL should receive oy
the Senate majority.
Senator Martin. Of Virginia. was
chosen unanimously AS majority tlooI
leader, but the trouble started when
the caucus took up the election OF q
president pro tempore.. Senator
..Saulsbury declined to serve. again un
less reelected. Friends Of Senator
Walsh presented him AS a candidate
: but the Montana Senator finally with
! drew after a plain talk about the rec
IGNITION of the West and an answer
from Senator Robinson, OF Arkansas
! about the South. Senator james, OF
Kentucky. smoothcd things over after
adjournment with a C~onciliatory ak
The Republicans
Spenl most OF their time discussing
cioture; and it became apparent ina
while most OF the thirty-tire present
were vigorously opposed 10 a rul'
which would tie the hands OF The mi
! nority completely. they might be VIII
ing to agree to a mildcr form OF re
! stricting debate. >,
Some of the Republicans said TO
| night the President could get lh'
armed neutrality bill through the sen
ate In, three days without amending
the rules if he would call a special scS
! sion. They pointed out n Il under
the present practice by which a Sena
Tor cannot rely on quorum calls &c
give him an opportunity 10 rest, II Is
! almost impossible for II or two me
! 10 speak for more than Il day at most
Neutrality Bill Up Again.
vASHISGTDN. March 6.-Senatol
! 1oEre or Massachusetts. re-in>rnduc"d
in tho senate Today the armed neutrality
| bin which failed OF passage sunday
When he asked its Preferences TO ms
| foreign relations committee. Senator
Thomas Of Colorado. made the point Ht
| order that Congress was not In session
| which the vice president Marshall s"7'
- ,.,cn president ruled that consti-