Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1942-11-23
Anti.Po|I Tax Bill /
She|yed in Senate as
CIoture Move Fails
Measure Is Set Aside
After Attempt to Limit
Debute Is Defeated

The Senate today shelved leg
islation to ban the collection of
poll taxes as a requirement for
voting in Federal elections. The
action followed defeat of a mo-
ton to end a filibuster through
limit on debate.
The debate limitation proposal was
beaten on q vote of 81 ayes" to Al
noes" Approval of two-thirds of
those voting was necessary.
Majority Leader Barley, who had
moved for adoption of the cloture
rule limiting each Senator's discus
sion to one hour, had announced
previously that If the debate limita-
ton proposal failed he would seek
Immediately to have the bill laid
aside for this Congress. He said
he also would oppose any effort by
any other Senate to obtain consider
alton Of the bill.
Bill Dies Automatically.
The measure, already passed in
different form by the House, would
die automatically on the adjourn
ment of the session January 2. Sen
ator Barley had acknowledged 1t
would be impossible to obtain pas
sage of the bill, which he supported,
II fllibustering tactics engaged in by
opponents could not be halted by
limiting debate.
Before the Senate met opponents
of the Legislation said they expected
the vote to discourage future con-
gressional moves to outlaw the poll
taxes.
In brief debate before the vote,
Senator Connally, Democrat, of
Texas contended that adoption of
the debate limitation proposal would
deny the minority its rights in the
last citadel of democracy"
Connally Defends Collection.
The Texan told the Senate that
the Supreme Court had held, as late
as 1887, that the collection of poll
taxes was within the province of the
States in fixing qualifications for
voters. He argued that Congress
had no right to interfere.
Senator Connally urged his COL
leagues not to vote for cloture
which he said would deny the funda-
mental right of members in the mi
nority to express their views in
legitimate debate.
Senator Lucas, Democrat, of Illi-
nois said that while he would vote
for the bill If given an opportunity,
he would not vote to close debate
lest that action be used some time
in the future to force passage of
measure that might threaten the
stability of the State government
of Illinois.
MY country would have to be
threatened with virtual humiliation
before conscientiously could vote
for such rule" Senator Lucas de-
clared.
Senator Ships:ead, Republican, of
Minnesota said he had never voted
for cloture and certainly would not
vote now to close the door to minor
ity expression when we are fight
ing all over the world to preserve
minorities' rights"
Senator Reed, Republican, of
Kansas said he thought the anti
poll tax bill was unconstitutional
In a last plea, Senator Barley
called the poll tax "a hangover
from feudalism" and survival of
Bourbonism.
ITO require payment of a poll tax
in order to vote is a demand by
society that the right of voting be
bought" he declared. This ques-
ton involves the very foundation
of democracy and freedom"
Thomas Jefferson, "the greatest
liberal of his day and the profound
est political philosopher of them
ALL" Senator Barley continued,
held that governments derived "just
powers" from the consent OF the
governed.
IF what he said is true then all
powers not derived by consent of
the governed are unjust powers"
Senator Barley added. ANY one
deprived of the right to vote because
OF his inability to pay poll tax
can't be said to have consented
to the powers asserted over him."