The New York herald., 1922-05-26
Meets Strong Opposition
From Democrats and From
Some Republicans.
ABSENTEES ARE ASSAILED.
Republicans in Party Confer
ence Seek Away to Push
Bill to Passage.

WASHINGTON, May 25.-Cloture as a
means of cutting down debate on the
tariff bill was proposed to-day at a
conference of Republican. Senators
and was discussed later in TIE Senate.
Opposition developed on both sides Of
the chamber, Democrats warning that
any effort to put over a gag" rule
would be resisted to the utmost.
The proposal will be taken up at a
second majority conference called for
Saturday. 1t had been announced
that the conference would be held to-
morrow, but it was deferred to give
Senators more time to consider the
cloture rule as framed by Senators
Kellogg (Minn.) and Lenroot (Wis.)
and presented to the Republican mem
bership by the former.
Covers All Revenue Bills.
AS drafted the rule would apply not
alone to the pending tariff bill, but
to all revenue and appropriations
measures. 1t would not apply to any
other legislation and would leave sena-
tors free to discuss the Soldiers Bonus.
ship subsidy and any other sub
ject of special or general legislation,
including treaties.
Under the rule after a revenue ap-
preparation bill has been before the
Senate five days, sixteen Senators could
present a motion for cloture and II
sustained by majority vote the time
of each Senator desiring to speak would
be limited to one hour on the bill and
ten minutes on any amendment with
requirement that the debate be con-
fined to the subject matter before the
Senate.
Many Of the leaders on the Republi-
can side heretofore have opposed cioutre
and to-day some of them doubted the
advisability of injecting a cloutre con-
test into the tariff situation believing
that 1t would delay rather than ex-
pedite action on the BILL Advocates of
the cloture rule contended. however.
that time would be saved In the end
and It was indicated that a deter
mined effort would be made to have
the conference approve the proposal.
Warming by Underwood.
Senator Underwood (Ala.). the Demo-
cvratic leader and others on the min
Gritty side served notice during nearly
two hours of debate that any effort by
the Republicans to force through a clo-
ture rule would be resisted vigorously,
and that IL such a rule were proposed,
discussion of 1t would consume many
weeks. Chairman McCumber OF the
finance committee in charge Of the tariff
measure said that IL Senators would
remain in the Senate and confine their
discussion to the bill there would be no
need for cloture.
He referred again to absenteeism, par
ticularly on the majority side which
was discussed at the Republican confer
ence, resulting in the adoption of q
resolution urging Senators able to do
so to make themselves continuously
available.
The subject of night sessions was dis
cussed briefly in the conference, but no
action was taken. It was indicated.
however, that those in charge of the bill
were determined to continue indefinitely
sessions of eleven hours day.
Discussion of cloture brought varying
estimates as to the time that 1t would
take to pass the tariff bill. Senator
Kellogg and some others on the majority
side estimated that at the present rate
OF progress 1t would be from one to two
years. Senator Simmons of North Caro-
lima, thought 1t would be passed around
the middle of July.
The debate again brought charges
from Republicans Of a Democratic fill