Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1921-02-03
Effort to
Tariff
Bill Fails
Gates for Oratory Opened
When Petition to Limit De.
bate OH Emergency Measure
Is Defeated in Senate.
Motion to Fix Date Los,
By The Associated Press.

W dShington, FEB. Z.-ShoNlnS
aside all pending legislation, the SEN
ate voted to continue consideration
OF the Fordney emergency tariff bill.
The gates were opened for oratory
when cloturc petition was voted
down, so TO s., mastering far less
than the necessary two-thirds ma
iority.
In session marked by political
jockeyilk, attempts were made by
each side to lead the other into pit,
falls. Republican leaders sought TO
avoid cloturc, but the democrats
challenged that il be brought in
,and then marsI'alled their forces,
defeating it promptly. Minority
members then sought unanimous
consent agreement fixing a date for
a vote on the tariff, only to have
one of their own ranks enter OBJ
lection. -..
AS it stands, the measure has
precedence except from Il to
O'Clock. There were hints thrown
out. however, that the end was not
yet and that demand for dsplace-
ment of the tariff bill by appropria-
ticn measures might come at any
time, or that an attempt TO obtain
a vote might be made.
Motion to Fix Date Lost.
At the outset today. Senator Nc
Cumber. republican. North Dakota.
asked that all join in agreement for
vote February IS. His motion was
lost. Then the cloture failed. Sen
ator Simmons, democrat, North Car
DINA, countered the republican move
with proposition to vote Febru-
ary 1S and Senator Penrose tried
to prevail on his opponent to set
an earlier date, fearing a pocket veto.
Senator Williams. democrat, Mis-
sissippi, however, announced he
would object to any unanimous con-
sent
Senator Townsend, Michigan, re-
publican, called for consideration OF
the postoffice appropriation bill and
there were demands for vote, 6ut
the motion met defeat.
Then followed an hour of debate
unusual in the senate. Senator's
clasl1ed in their efforts to obtain
recognition. Senator Johnson, re-
publican. California, launched an at
tack against the cloture and assailed
all who favored it.
Johnson Against Gag.
st has come that this body is the
only enc in the world where free
speech can be had in unbridlcd
form,' he declared. II never nave
been for cloture, for the gag. if you
please. at any time | never have
been for cloture. 1t penalties those
who speak least. 1t does not give
anybody an opportunity to express
his thoughts fully. 1t ia wrong in
principle and stands against tradi-
tional American free speech"
After the vote Mr.. Penrose took
up claims that the tariff bill would
mean the failure of appropriation
bills at this session, He voiced the
opinion that I'VE shall have better
appropriation bills if some of them
do fail"
When the storm had subsidized.
Senator Gerry, democrat. Rhode
Island, began a lengthy discussion
of the naval building program, but
was interrupted by Mr.. Pcnrose who
inquired what relation the subject
had to the tariff. Mr.. Gerry ef1plain-
ed his speech had been announced
several days ago and he. purposed to
deliver it.
The senate recessed so the bill
would remain as unfinished business
tomorrow.
The house ways and means COM
mittee concluded consideration of
the wool schedule in its work on a
permanenttariff.