Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-01-09
SENATE SEEKING
/. TO END DEADLOCK
OF POWER DEBATE
Motion to CurtaiI Time of
Discussions SWamped
in Arguments.
NO PROGRESS MADE
SINCE YULE RECESS
Night Sessions Impend Unless Ac-
ton Can Speed Up Legisla-
tive Measures.
BY G. GOULD LINCOLN.

Senate leaders today sought TO bring
to an end the debate on the Federal
Power Commission which has cramped
the legislative wheels of the Senate for
nearly week.
Immediately after the Senate as
Sembled at noon Senator McNary. as
sistant Republican leader, proposed
unanimous consent agreement provid-
ing that after 4 pm. today no Senator
should speak longer than is minutes or
more than once on the motion of Sena-
tor Walsh of Montana to request the
President to return to the Senate the
nomination of Chairman George Otis
Smith and Commissioners Draper and
Garsaud, and that at not later than 6
O'Clock the Senate should vote on the
motion without further debate.
Walsh Raises Question.
Senator Walsh of Montana immedi-
ately raised the question as to the form
OF the unanimous consent agreement.
pointing out that his motion was to re-
consider the vote by which these nomi-
nations were confirmed and at the same
time to request the President to return
them to the Senate.
Vice President Curtis expressed the
opinion that the motions should be sepa-
rated, and that the Senate should first
vote on motion requesting the Presi-
dent to return the nominations.
AT once there was apparent disagree
ment to this construction of the rules,
with Senators Walsh, Norris of Nebraska
and johnson OF California and the DEM
ocratic leader, Senator Robinson of
Arkansas, taking the view that the
unanimous consent agreement should
cover votes both on reconsideration of
the nominations and on the motion to
request the President to return the nomi-
nations.
Senator La Toilette of Wisconsin,
while he did not discuss the unanimous
consent agreement, announced that he
proposed to speak fer an hour in the
Senate today on a subject not related
to the power commission.
Night Voting Opposed.
Senator Hef1in of Alabama suggestsd
that the vote be taken at 73O IAN.
instead of 6. At this juncture, Senator
Robinson of Arkansas, Democratic
leader, proposed unanimous consent
agreement that the vote be taken b.
fore the Senate adjourned on this cal
endar day.
This proposal was accepted by SEN
ator McNary as substitute for his
original request for unanimous consent.
1t YES opposed, however, by Senator
Borah of Idaho and Senator Couzens
of Michigan, both of whom declared
they did not propose. if they could help.
it, to be kept in the chamber until
midnight tonight to vote.
Senator Couzens objected, and called
for the regular order, until unanimous
consent agreement proposals could be
written and submitted.
Senator McNary announced this
would be done, and he would ask the
Senate to agree to vote before adjourn
ment today.
Vigorous Fight Foreseen.
Senator Broussard of Louisiana be-
gan an argument in defense of Com
missioner Garsaud, who halls from
Louisiana. 1t is understood that Sen
ators Norris, Borah, Brookhart. Dill and
George all desire to speak before a vote
is reached on the Walsh motion.
Even if the Senate agrees to reach
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