The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1917-03-08
SENATE PLANS TO
REVISE THE RULES
Democrats Appoint Committee to
Meet Republicans.
SOLONS DEFEND THEMSELVES
Kenyon, Vardaman and Others Explain
Filibuster on the Armed Neu-
trality Bill Backed by
the President.

kNC FIGSidSHh
Washington, March THE senate
Democratic caucus appointed Il COM
mittee of six senators to confer with
Republican committee with u view
to bipartisan agreement on a rule
to limit debate, In the senate and thus
prevent a repetition of the flibuster
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-
Gratis.
When the new senate met at noon
Senator owen of Oklahoma laying the
foundation for the cloture fight, served
notice that no new senator's were
bound by the rules of the old senate
In legislative procedure.
Owen Starts Fight.
81 wish before any action is taken"
said Senator Oowen, (which would rec
ognize the senate as being bound by
rules of a preceding congress, to OBJ
serve that while the senate is a con-
tinuing body, in so far as executive
business Is concerned, ii is not con-
tinuing as a legislative body. All bills
on the calendar of the SiXty-fourth
congress are dead. We have no cal
endar 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. When he 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 consti-
tutionally the senate could not consid-
or legislative matters when summoned
apart from the house.
Senator Lodge argued that the Con-
stitutlon did not preclude the senate
when in separate session from consid-
ering Mt 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.
at IS the purpose Of some of u.s.
he said, ain the interest of public busl-
ness. to amend the rules OF the senate
If we can. We have demonstrated
that we cannot vote here except by
unanimous consent. That ought to be
changed if some of us stay here until
December to change IT,"
His voice qulvering 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 a fili-
buster against the BILL he declared
vehemently.
"The plan seems to be to include In
the, alleged tilibuster against the bill
! all those who refused to sign GER
tain paper declaring for the passage
of the bill"
He explained here that he offered
to support the bill as PASSED by the
house 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
correct indication of whether man
was patriot or traitor.
81 wish merely to brand as false,
coming | care not whence, any state
ment that I was n party to any fill
buster against the Fundamentally
| bill" said Senator Kenyon.
Senator vardaman objected TO being
classified by the president with those
who defeated the bill. He declared
that he consumed only 16 minutes of
the senate's time in his remarks on the
bill, although he was not disappointed
that the presidents program was de-
| feated.
81 hope my colleague Is not charging
me with completely In the fillbuster,"
said Vardaman.
81 do not know whaS completely Isl
was the Williams rejoinder. "Only he
himself and God know what was In
| his mind"
Without further interruption Will
llams declared that group of dozen
senator's did prevent the senate from
expressing its will legslatlvely lie
warmly defended and Endorsed the
presidents statement issued Sunday
night, charging that the country had
been made contemplate and that no
explanation of the defeat OF the armed
neutrality program could be made TO
the world Mt large.
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