The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-03-02
Dy Associated Prcss

w dSuluS tUu, MdlCu I.--OS- spite desires of some republican senators to block the "Victory Loan" bill in an effort to force President Wilson to call an early extra session of Congress, both republican and democratic leaders predicted late tonight that the measure would be passed, probably before the night session of the Senate ended.
 Several hours after the measure was taken up no efforts at a filibuster had been made. although republican senators in favor of obstruction tactics had been left free to determine their own actions by conference of minority senators held late in the day at the call of Sen ator Lodge to discuss the advisability of holding up the bill.
 The conference was said by some Of those attending to have been a somewhat stormy one and Senator Sherman of Illinois left in the middle of it after serving notice that because of the evident disposition mot to call the Presidents bluff he was disposed not to return to Washington after this session of Congress ends.
 Should he not return the republicans afyould have only majority of one in he Senate.
 N Feeling among the republicans over the Legislative situation and reports that the ! President had said that responsibility for the failure to pass necessary legisla- tion would be placed on them continued to run high tonight. While the bill was under debate numerous discussions were held in cloak rooms between senators {. said to favor obstruction.
 LITTLE HOPE OF SUCCESS
 Without organized opposition. senators advocating filibuster conceded that it could be conducted with small prospect of success.
 Those urging filibuster, leaders stated, believed a patriotic duty would be done by forcing and extra session in view of certain failure of much im- ( IOitdHL tcS lSldLiOu anu COlSlOcili6 1 dustrial and other conditions over the 1country. Opponents of the filibuster de- clared obstruction would be misconstrued as partisan, and also that failure of the loan bill might cause serious unrest in financial circles.
 Enactment of the loan and the rail- road bills, it was believed, would leave the President free to postpone the extra session until May or June. Ina held from 5:30 to 2 o'clock, while the Senate recessed under agreement with demo- cratic leaders after a day of debate on the league of nations and virtual defeat of the oil and coal land leasing bill by single-handed filibuster conducted by Senator LaFollette, who prevented it from reaching vote.
 Tn spite of the defeat. 13 to F, of a mo- ton of Senator France of Maryland to conduct a filibuster, those attending the conference said individual republicans were left free to filibuster if they should so elect
 HOUSE MARKS TIME
 Uncertainty of the Senate republicans plans suspended legislative plans in the House. After passing resolution to repeal the 10 per cent semi-luxury taxes in the war revenue bill, the House worked on minor conference reports and bills. awaiting the outcome of affairs in the senate, the leaders believing it useless to pass House bills if a Senate filibus- ter on the Victory Loan bill would pre- vent their consideration by the Senate.
 After Chairman Simmons of the finance committee had explained the loan bill in detail for more than two hours. general debate began. Senator Lodge spoke briefly opposing the granting of authority to the Secretary of the Treasury to fix the interest rates on the $7,O00, 100000 of short-term notes authorized by the measure. He declared that this. together with the right to say how many are to be issued, were enormous powers and wholely use less"
 Modification of the House bill so as 10 limit the bonds to two classes. with the interest rate of the first at R per cent and that of the second at 4is N per cent, according to the amount of Hhe notes exempted from taxation, was urged by the senator. senator Smooth of Utah, republican. deplored the demand for nasty enact ment of the bill.
 Tt could not pass in this form if it were not in the closing days of the session and recognize that no amcnd- ment Is to be allowed" he, said. There s is no need to discuss it's details. What Iis the use when we know what is be- fore us?''
 Especial criticism was given by Mir. Shoot to the powers of fixing interest rates given the Secretary of the Treas ury. The Utah senator predicted that this
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