The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-03-07

The change proposed would put the power in the hands of two-thirds of the senators present at any time to shut off debate and prevent dilatory tactics. The committee will meet again tomorrow, probably before the Sen ate convenes at noon, and is expected to reach final agreement on reso- lution embodying this proposition, which was approved by the rules com- mittee several months ago, but which never came up for action at the last session.
 Leaders championing the change expect the resolution to receive the necessary caucus indorsement and to be presented to the Senate as soon as possible for con- sideration and action. How such pro- posal will be received by the senators opposed to any modification of the present procedure which allows unlimited discus sion none of the conference committee knew.
 MANY SENATORS FAVOR PLAN
 A majority of the Senate has long fa- vored the resolution considered favorably by the conference committee and it's ap- proval by both parties in caucus un- doubtedly would pave the way for its ul- innate adoption. Both party organiza- tions. working together, could make it un- comfortable for any small group of sena- tors who might undertake a filibuster
 lad fn Q n, rule reads as follows:
 Provided, however, that if 16 senators present to the Senate at any time signed motion to bring to 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 the motion before the Senate and direct that the secretary call the roll, and upon the ascertainment that a. quorum is present, the chair shall, with out debate submit to the Senate by an aye-nay vote the question: Is it the sense of the Senate that the debate shall be brought to a closer
 WOULD BE IN ORDER
 And if that question shall be decided in the affirmative by a two-thirdS vote of those voting, said measure shall be in order to the exclusion of all other business, except motion to recess or ad- journ.
 ..Thereafter no senator shall be entitled to speak more than one hour on the bill, the amendments thereto, and motions af- fecting the same, and it shall be the duty of the chair to keep the time of each sen- ator who speaks. No dlatory motions shall be in order. and all points of order and appeals from the decision of the chair , shall be decided without debate.1
 WAY IS CLEARED The way was cleared to some extent to- day for any fight which may come up over the rules or over the question of whether the Senate is operating now un- 1 der it's old rules or under general parlia- mentary law. This question is of import ance because the Senate rules do not permit as ordinarily parliamentary law does a motion for the previous question: ' which shuts off debate automatically. 1 Senator Owen, leader of the fight for an absolute cloture yule under which a ma /, iority would control debate. brought the 1 subject up by giving notice that such Iproceedings as are conducted for the pres ent must be by unanimous consent. On the theory that it is continuing body 1 the Senate in the past has not adopted new rules each Congress like the House of Representatives. If it were compelled