Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1917-03-08
SENATE PLANS To
REVISE THE RULES
Democrats Appoint Committee to
Meet Republicans.
S0LONS DEFEND THEMSELVES
Kenyon, Vardaman and Others Explain
Filibuster on the Armed Neu-
traIity Bill Backed by
the President.

Washington. March THE senate
Democratic caucus appointed com
mittee of six senators to confer with
Republican committee with view
to a bipartisan agreement on a rule
to limit debate, in the senate and thus
prevent repetition of the fiibuster
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, Cummns
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 senators were
bound by the rules of the old senate
in Legislative procedure.
Owen Starts Fight.
Il wish before any action is taken, 8"
said Senator Oowen, which would rec
ogniZe the senate as being bound by
rules of Il preceding congress, to OBJ
serve that while the senate is a con-
tinuing body, in SO far as executive
business is concerned, it is not con
tinuing as Il 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-
tutionaIly the senate could nos cOnSid-
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 Oem.) declared he
was willing to clear up any doubt
about what the majority proposed
to do.
at is the purpose of some of us"
he said, Gin the interest Of public busi-s
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 quivering with excitement,
Senator Kenyon of Iowa, one Of the
twelve senators who refused to sign
the manifesto declaring for the bin,
hurled the lie direct at the president.
81 brand as false the statement Of
anyone that ] was a party to q fill
buster against the bill" he declared
vehemently.
THE plan seems to be to include in
the alleged fIibuster 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
house or with the Stone, Cummins or
MCCumber amendments.
7 e., 10 -,
papers stating how l Will vote on any
bill, because YOU can never tell about
its final form" he added. 81 don't be-
lieve that signature Of that paper was
Il correct Indication of whether a man
was i patriot or Il traitor
81 wish merely to brand as false.
coming l care not whence, any state
ment that I was party TO any fill
buster agains. the armed-neutrality
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 Is minutes of
the senate's time in his remarks on the
bill, although he was not disappointed
that the presidents program was de-
fcated.
Il hope my colleague is not charging
me with completely in the filibuster,"
said Vardaman.
81 do not know what completely is"
was the Williams rejOinder. "Only he
himself and God know what was in
his MIND"
Without further interruption, VIII
liams declared that a group of a dozen
senators did prevent the senate from
expressing its will legislatively He
warmly defended and indOrsed 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 at large.
Illinois Elevator Burns.