Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1917-03-10
SENATOR WALSH TO
LIMIT DEBATES IN
THE j. S. SENATE
INTRODUCES RESOLUTION TC
THAT EFFECT TODAY IN
THE SENATE.
SENATOR LODGE OFFERS PLANS
TO PASS THE. ARMED SHIP
BILL.
PRESIDENT REJECTS MEASURES
AND DECLARES FOR cLo-
TURE OULE.
Especial to The World.)

WASHINGTON, March Tine 1lfSt
matter presented to the Senate today
was that of the clouture rule, which
has been proposed by several senators,
and it is believed in many quarters
that some action will be taken before
the Senate adjourns.
To expedite matters, and get the
question squarely before the Senate,
Senator Walsh today introduced res
olution, which provides for the APP
pointment of a committee to draft a
new rule, limiting debates. In offer
ing his resolution, Senator Walsh stat
ed if the Senate would adopte such a
rule that hereafter important meas
ures, like the Armed Ship bill, would
not be talked to DEATH
Senator Walsh's resolution reads in
part:
provided, however, that if sixteen
senators present to the Senate at any
time a signed motion to bring to a
close the debate upon any pending
measured 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 quorum
is present, the chair shall, without de-
bate submit to the Senate by an aye
and nay vote the question:
lis it the sense of the Senate that
the debate shall be brought to a
closer
"And if the question shall be decid-
ed in the affirmative by two-thirds
vote of those voting, then said meas
ure shall be in order to the exclusion
of all other business, except motion
to recess or adjourn.
Therefore, no senator shall be en-
titled to speak more than one hour
on the bill, the amendment therein
and motions affecting the same, and
it shall be the duty of the chair to
keep the time of each senator who
speaks. No dilatory motions shall be
in order, and all points of order and
appeals from the decision of the chair
shall be decided without delay"
Senator Lodge has offered way to
pass the arms bill. He says if the
President wants the defense authoriz-
alton bill passed by a congress it can
be done promptly. 1t WILL however,
necessitate the calling of the House
into IAN extra session in addition to
the Senate.
The Massac husetts senator. whose
support of the bill in the last congress
gave to the fight in its Behalf the only
real leadership, has introduced a meas
ure in exactly the form it had been
considered by the last congress, when
its apssage was prevented by the dis
loyalty and treachery of the senators
led by Stone, of Missouri, and La Fol
lette, of Wisconsin.
Wilson Rejects Lodge Proposal.
1t is stated upon Republican auth
ority that some of the Democrats
aware of the proposal Lodge would
make, took the matter up with the
President and suggested acquiescence
in the Lodge view.
The President is reported to have
rejected the proposal and to have in.
sisted that fight for cloture be con-
tinued and the opportunity to obtain
the legislation he has asked for at the
sole cost of calling an extra session
of congress be ignored. Whether this
is true or not, the Democratic sena-
tors met in caucus this afternoon and
began the formulation Of their plans
for the cloture rule struggle.