Evening star., 1922-12-03

sixty-seventh Congress. which will
terminate March next.
The republican caucus was pre-
ceded by conference attended by
Senators Lodge Of Massachusetts,. the
republican leader; Curtis Of Kansas.
the republican whip. and Senator
Shortridge Of California. in charge of
the Dyer bill. Senator Shortridge.
who had been unmovable throughout
the filibuster. was understood to have
agreed at this conference to allow
the fate of the bill to be decided by
a majority caucus.
Debate Lasts Two Hours.
The question of abandoning the
measure which was passed by the
House last session, was debated in
the caucus for two hours with. it is
understood. a small minority holding
out for a continuation of the fight.
The final decision. however, was to
direct Senator Lodge to inform demo-
cratic leaders that the bill would be
pushed no further either at the spe-
cial session or at the regular session
converting Monday. This means the
death of the legislation, which the
democrats have attacked as "a force
bill" and as unconstitutional
Majority and minority leaders alike
were agreed last night that the fill
buster thus brought to an end by
the republican caucus decision will
take a. place as one of the most
notable in Senate history. 1t has
differed from previous filibusters in
that it involved no long speeches.
democrats having utilized the usual
routine action of approving the
journal. Under Senate rules no bus
mess can be transacted until the
journal or minutes Of the previous
session have been approved. and the
democrats took advantage Of this
rule, refusing approval, presenting
amendments, demanding quorum calls
and requesting the ayes and noes on
every question brought up.
More Amendments Ready.
The parliamentary effect of these
maneuvers may be gauged by the
fact that the Senate when it quit
work Yesterday had before it as un-
finished business the journals of
Tuesday. Wednesday and Friday
with Senator Harrison, democrat,
Mississippi, one of the democratic
floor leaders in the filibuster. stand
ing ready with a dozen or more
amendments to each journal. He
publicans realized the seriousness OF
the democratic moves ny tne na u'i!,n.nG.l nmenGn
ment Yesterday to consume two nours
of the Senate's time.
leaders on both sides were agreed
that the flibuster had had the ado1-
tional effect of directing attention 70
veil directed moves, may block any
Legislation and which Senator Cum
mins of Iowa, the President pro tenn
more, described as belonging TO an
other civilization" Although general
iv agreeing that some changes should
he made in the way of limiting debate.
leaders said any such action by the
nresent Senate was unlikely because
Of lack of time and that changes prop
ably would not be brought about oy
the next Senate because of the large
progressive group, which has as
rnie opposed limitation of debate.
Statement by Lodge.
Senator Lodge made the following
statement last night on the republi-
can decision:
1.-THE conference was in session nearly
three hours, and discussed the question
very thoroughly. OF course. the repub-
licans feel very strongly as do. that
the bill ought to become law: The sit
uation before US was 's.is: Under the
rules Of the Senate, the democrats who
are filibustering could keep up that fill
buster indefinitely and there is no doubt
that they can do SO.
IAN attempt to change the rules would
only shift the flibuster to another sub
ject. We cannot pass the bill In this
Congress and. therefore, we had to
choose between giving up the whole ses-
sion to a protracted alibuster or going
ahead with the regular business Of the
session, which includes the farm legtsla-
tion, the shipping and the appropria-
tion bills Tho conference decided very
reluctantly that It was our duty to set
aside the Dyer bill and go on with the
business Of the session..