The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1921-08-10
PO|NDEXTER IS
Chief OPPONENT
..0F BALL BILL
Succeeds In Preventing II Be-
coming Unfinished Business
Of Senate by FiIibustsr.

Senator Miles Poindexter Is now the
chief obstacle in the path Of the pass
ago Of the Ball rent extension act by
the Senate.
He has thrown himself into the
breach to prevent any vote on the
measure being taken. and inasmuch
as Congress probably will recess In
the next fifteen days. his chances Of
success are good. Aiding him in the
fight il Senator Fletcher Of Florida,
who frankly describes himself ~ q
property owner" In the District.
The filibustering tactics OF Senator
Poindexter and other enemies Of the
bill were plainly revealed late yester-
day afternoon, when Senator Ball
made a vain effort to have the meas
ure made the unfinished business Of
the Senate. The motion to bring 1t
before the Senate never came to .
vote, because Senators Poindexter.
Fletcher and Willis talked II into an
impasse from which the Senate was
extricated only by q call for an execu.
tive session.
81 don't want to see this bill made
the unfinished business" said Senator
Poindexter.
Speaks Against Bill.
ut IL for Senators to decided wheth-
err they are willing to make II the I'M
finished business" exclaimed Senator
Ball. Indignantly.
It's not important that this bill
should pass" continued Poindexter.
II think II In vicious bill myself.
and I hope the Senate will not make
II the unfinished business. hope the
Senator will not insist upon his mo-
ton this afternoon"
Then followed a rambling discus
sion of forty minutes. getting no
where. Senator Balls motion died
with the end of the days session, and
must be renewed today to obtain
liamentary hazards Of Senate rough
and-tumble debate are such that II
In doubtful whether Senator Ball viii
obtain recognition to-. have his mo.
ton obtain prior Consideration.
The White House conference yes.
terday, resulting in 4 tentative agree
ment for a Congressional recess late
In the present month. has made
further delay in the consideration OF
the Ball bill extremely dangerous. The
bill Is apparently without any In
fluence behind II in the Senate save
that of the District COMMITTEES. There
is little doubt that II could pass with
a safe majority, but on Senator Balls
shoulders falls the entire burden of
managing the measure on the floor
and Of defending II.
Not q single speech has been made
In defense Of the measure on the Sem
ate floor except by Senator Ball. Sem
ators Poindexter. King. Fletcher
Willis. and Borah have already made
speeches i'm opposition to IL. The atti-
tude of Senator Borah, however, Is
simply on the broad constitutional
grounds that so-calied war legisla-
ton has no place In peace times. He
is not opposed to the purposes OF the
bill, although apparently he believes
they should be reached in p different
way.
Plight Not Understood.
There IL apparently no adequate APP
prehension on the part Of the majority
OF Senators OF the situation that will
exist In Washington 1.-THE Ball act ex-
pires on October %. The plight OF
tenants and rentors In the face Of in
creases which already are threatened
Is not understood in Congress, and
frequent statements are made by
enemies of the measure that there N
no need for such legislation" and that
1.-THE emergency has passed" Com
paratively few Senators have taken
the trouble to read the testimony
given before the District committee on
the subject two months ago.
Mess some united drive can be made
by the Government employees of Wash
ington, unless some powerful voice In
raised on behalf OF the rank and file
Of citizens, II would not be surprising
to see the Ball bill. upon which so
many hopes were pinned when the
Supreme Court justified the wisdom Of
Its authors. fall by the wayside.