Evening star., 1948-07-29
Poll Tax Bill Hits
FirstSenateSnaq
I'm Quorum Call
FiIibusterine Tactics
Storted by Russell;
Speakers Reudy
By the Assoeioted Press

Anti-poll tax legislation was
brought up in the Senate today
and Southerns Immediately be-
gan filibuStering tactics.
1t was evident that this first
measure to get consideration in the
special session of Congress would
draw a lot of talk, but probably no
action.
The anti-poll tax legislation would
outlaw payment of State poll taxes
as requirement for voting in Fed
eral elections. 1t has passed the
House.
Senator Wherry,. Republican. Of
Nebraska, moved that the Senate
consider it, saying he did so in
hopeful spirit"
Quorum Call Asked.
Senator Russell. Democrat. OF
Georgia. promptly asked a quorum
Gala call of the roll to determine
whether a majority of the Senate is
present Senator Stennis, Demo-
crat. of Mississippi was ready to
make long speech.
Senator Russell promised that
group of 81 Southerners would de-
bate the issue for days, weeks or
months If necessary. The debate
will be on whether the bill should
be taken up at all and not on the
legislation itself
We're hoping for the best and
preparing for the worst" Senator
Russell said
Numerous cloakroom conferences
yesterday failed to produce any
agreement which would avoid a
Southern filibuster. Senator Rus
sell said the Southerners would call
off their plans if the Republicans
would agree Cd to call up'only the
poll-tax repeater at the special ses-
sion and ~ change House,
passed bill on that subject to pro-
posed constitutional amendment.
A constitutional amendment would
require ratification by So of the 48
States. The II Southern States-if
they stuck together. contingency
by no means certain-Would require
support of two States additional to
reject it.
Conferences Futile.
However, the conferences pro-
duced no results, and Senator
Wherry, emphasizing the cleavage,
said, Even if we passed the poll
tax, we still must consider antilynch
and FEPC legislation"
1t was obvious that the Senate
Republican leadership was not ad-
verse to a Southern fllibuster, as
that would make it easier for them
to give consideration" to Mr.. Tru-
mans anti-inflation program and
other proposals and then wind up
the special session "as soon as pos
sible."
Recalling that Mr.. Truman had
said the Republicans can pass the
anti-poll tax bill If they want to.
Senator Taft of Ohio, chairman of
the Senate Republican Policy Com
mittee, said We'll exhaust every
parliamentary effort to do So
No Plans for Night Sessions.
He added that the Southerners
are entitled to "a reasonable time
for debate. He explained that ses-
sions will probably run only until
about pm. today and tomorrow
and indicated that no plans for
night sessions next week had been
made.
With Senator Taft conceding that
it would be difficult to break fill
buster participated in by 81 Sena-
tors, there seemed to be only two
ways Of avoiding flow OF Senate
speeches on the poll tax legislation.
One would be to wear out the
Southerners by continuous session
"a hard task in view of the number
lined up against the legislation. The
other would be to withdraw the
legislation entirely
Senate Standardization of de-
bate-does not apply to motions TO
take up a bill. 1t takes two-thirds
majority to invoke 1t in any case.
The constitutional amendment
proposal on the poll tax bill found
little favor among House Republic
cans. Representative Bender. Re-
publican, Of Ohio sponsor OF the
pending measure to outlaw poll tax
for voting now required in seven
Southern States and New Hamp-
shire. said the substitute plan was
"a shabby device to evade the issue"