The New York herald., 1921-03-03
FIGHT IN SENATE
OVER NAVAL BILL
Efforts to Agree on 100000
900 Increase Fail; May
Withdraw Measure.
NO COMPROMISE IN SIGHT
Debate Long Delayed by Ac-
tions Of Borah Forces-OnIy
One Item Approved.
NO COMPROMISE IN SIGHT
SPECIAL Des,atch 70 THE Nzw YORK Hrn.tp

Special Despatch 70 THE NEW YORK HEnatp.
New York Herald Bureau.
Washington. ID. C., March 2.
The contest over the naval bill in
the Senate to-day centred around
efforts to reach a compromise be-
tween advocates of the 100000 900
increases recommended by the Sem
ate Naval Affairs Committee and the
contingent led by Senator Borah
Udahol that Is opposing those in
creases and insisting that nothing be
added to the total of about s400, 900, 600
allowed by the House bill. except an
authorization for two airplane carriers
with an initial appropriation Of s6,o0o.-
900 to buy new planes.
Senator Poindexter (Wash.), chair
man Of the committee, just before mid
night gave up his fight to get the bill
through before the present Congress ex-
pires at noon on Friday. He said that
unless there was q marked change in the
situation he would withdraw the bill to-
morrow and permit other measures o
take its place.
After the bill had been technically
before the Senate for twelve hours, only
one item had been agreed to, that Of s4.-
000. 900 for lot OF miscellaneous Incl
dental expenses FOR administrative pur-
poses. It was an increase OF $500, 900
over the House bill, and was adopted by
vote OF 3S 20 II. The eleven votes in
cluded the following Senators: Republi-
cans-Borah fIdaho). Cappcr and Cur
tis (Kan.) Kenyon Iowa). Lenroot
fWis.). Norris (Neb.,. Willis (ohio).
Dcmocrats-Dial IS. c.. King (Utahl.
Pomerene (Ohio) and Thomas (Col)
Nothing short OF a legislative miracle
can bring about the final approval of the
naval BILL" is the way one Senator put
It late tonight.
No real consideration was given to
the naval bill until nearly o'clock in
the evening. Senator Poindexter an
nounced when the Senate convened that
Il was his purpose . TO keep the naval
bill before the Senate until II was either
approved or defeated" He permitted
II to be laid aside temporarily. how
ever. for approval OF the conference re-
port on the agricultural appropriation,
involving the fight over the free seed
item.
Then Senator owen tokla.), Demo-
crat. was permitted to call up bill Of
Importance to his State. relating TO the
affairs OF the Usage Indians. which the
President had vetoed. The Senate passed
this over the veto without debate.
Senator Dial (s. c.. Democrat. tried
to obtain immediate consideration OF
legislation aimed 10 prevent Judge Lam
dis OF Illinois from drawing two salaries
while on the bench Debate tmmedt-
ately threatened. and Senator Poindex-
ter blocked it's consideration.
Senator Calder obtained the floor.
ostensibly to discuss the naval bill, but
confined his. attention TO urging ap-
proval OF his bill for Federal regulation
of the coal industry.
Then a recess was taken FOR the de-
livery of eulogies 70 deceased members
Of the House, Representatives Burnet
and Blackmon (Ala) and Browning
IN. ~.
BY this time It was nearly o'clock,
with no consideration whatever OF the
naval budget. Senator Jones IN. M
nearly succeeded in displacing IL with
the soldier bonus bill, which the Vice
President ruled had precedence over the
naval bill because OF the recess and the
fact that a calendar day had interviewed
since the bonus bill had been brought up.
In order TO get out Of the parliamen-
tary trap In which he found himself
Senator Poindexter FIRST appealed from
the ruling OF the chair. but on advice
from other leaders moved an adjourn
ment OF the Senate for ten minutes.
which was agreed to-
This permitted the discussion Of morn
ing business, and also required the
reading OF the journal, covering all
business since February 2t. Senator
Borah insisted that the journal be read
but withdrew the demand after half an
hour had been lost.
The Senate finally got down 10 the
real discussion OF the naval bill about
o o'clock;