Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1923-02-21
DRx The Tnited Press

w slSiiiiik, NO''t
dent Harding was to be appeal
ed to today to stop the specta-
cular senate filibuster that is not
only slowly strangling the ship
subsidy bill, but is tying up
much other important legisla-
ton. 1t continued throughout
the morning session with no
signs of abatement.
| With the situation completely
in the hands of the filibusters,
some administration senators
planned to call on Harding either
to surrender on the ship sub
sidy, and permit it to be drop
ped, or to whip into line the
/ flibustering senators. As most
of these are democrats, Hard
ing has about as much power
over the filibuster as the wholly
powerless administration leader
shin of the senate itself.
Either the administration must
Weld. the filibusters' must be
won over to some compromise, or
the session will die in tangle
and lam that will destroy not
only the subsidy but much other
important legislation, including
some appropriation bills, leaders
feared.
The decision to go to Hard
ing was reached near midnight
last night, after a session last
ing twelve hours and half, IN
which the filibusters demonstrated
how complete was their grip on
the situation. They were not
strong enough to outvote the ad-
ministration forces, but they could
tie their hands, and this they
did with comic regularity through
out the evening.
A recess was taken at ll:5l p
M until II o'clock this morning
to permit two measures to DC
taken. One was the appeal to
Harding, the other, an attempt
to arrange a compromise with
the filibusters, whereby the tll!-
ed milk bill will be allowed to
come up, with the subsidy LAID
aside. and an understanding that
the filibusters will later permit
vote to be taken on certain
s.test amendments" TO the SUB
sidy bill. If these test amend
ments should be adopted, the
administration would no longer
desire to have the bill passed
and would withdraw it.
Last nights session ended a
session thoroughly enjoyed by a
big crowd in the galleries, which
was enabled by the recess mo-
ton to reach home only lit
tie later than those who PAID
their way into regular theaters'
The Senate's performance, partl-
cularly in the hour from 9:l5 to
1915 was voted by the galleries
one of the seasons most enjoy
able comedies.
Its title might have been Hide
Out, or Quorum, Quorum, Who's
Got the Quorum2"
Senator Jim Reed, democrat
had been speaking since 7:59 p
m. on the advisability OF the
U. S. buying the French and
British West Indies. Some of his
colleagues thought he was tired
Let me call a quorum, jim,
suggested Senator Robinson, lr
Curtis. watchful Republican whip
a loud whisper. Reed assented
made a point of order that Reed
couldn't yield without losing his
place. i.
The senate wrangled about ot
but finally the roll was called
and there was no quorum. Sen
ator Robinson, democratic leader
then moved to adjourn. This
motion lost, again disclosing that
there was no quorum.
The Democrats were lurking
behind the cloakroom doors. Sen
ator Lodge spied John Sharp
Williams peering out of the dem
ocratic clockroom, and like a
schoolboy pointing out a truan'
to teacher, he told on" Williams
in an effort to make him answer
the roll call. But Williams stay
ed in the dugout.
: The next hour was a sequenG
of quorum calls, points OF or,
der. motions to adjourn, anc
finally a demand by Senator
Jones that the absent senator:
be compelled to attend. Jones
took this step after the demo
: Gratis had several times broker
up a quorum five minutes after
it had been established, by mid
ing out" in committee rooms anc
: offices near the senate cham
. Der. In one Office group played
i. poker; in another there was
brown bottle going around.
: Jones' dragnet brought in th'