Evening star., 1949-01-26
South Willing 10 Curb
HIibuster on Defense
Bills, Stennis Indicates
By J. A. O'Leory

"A strong hint that Southern
Democrats may 60 along on a
new rule to prevent filibustering
if,its use is confined to national
defense, was given to the Senate
Rules Committee today.
Senator Stennis, Democrat, of
Mississippi, told, the committee Il
gladly support proper provisions to
always insure a vote on emergency
matters affecting the physical secu-
rfty of the Nation"
Senator Stennis was the first of
group of Southern Democrats sched-
uled to go before the committee in
the next few days to defend the
principle of unlimited debate in the
Senate as a protection for minority
groups of Senators.
= Civil Rights Brought Up.
He also brought directly into the
hearings the civil rights issue, which
list the main reason a strong coalition
of Northern Democrats and Repub-
licans are making determined
drive to curb filibustering in this
Congress. In recent years the South
erns have been able to sidetrack the
evil rights bills by protracted debate.
ssSenator Stennis questioned the
constitutionality of the anti-poll tax,
anti-lynch and the FEPC bills. The
Contention Of the South is that they
deal with subjects limited to the
jurisdiction of the States.
Later, Senator Russell Long of
louisiana followed this up by tell
ing reporters he regarded as "rea-
senable" proposal he said Senator
vandenberg, Republican. of Michi-
san made last year that it should
at least be possible for 80 per cent
Of the Senate to close debate.
Senator Sparkman, Democrat, of
Alabama fatty asserted a flibuster
can be broken under existing rules
"at any time the country wants it
broken" He said he meant a fill
buster could be ended by majority
keeping the Senate in continuous
session and by the effect of public
opinion.
While analyzing major bills that
have been f1libustered in the last 80
years, Senator Stennis said time has
demonstrated that only one could
reasonably have been considered as
dealing with an emergency of ma
tional importance. He referred to
the armed ship bill, defeated by fill
buster in 1917, just before American
entry into World War I.
Backs Proper Provisions"
I'm this instance the authorities
went on and armed the ships on an
other law" Senator Stennis said.
Then he added his willingness to
support proper provisions" to in
sure a vote on national defense
measures.
Senator Stennis argued that even
If the Rules Committee confines it.
self at this time to closing loopholes
In the rule allowing two-thirds to
shut of debate, that will be lust a
step" toward a later effort to let
. simple majority end debate.
The Stennis suggestion comes on
the heels of yesterdays argument
by Senator Morse, Republican, of
Oregon, that important national de-
fense policies faced a temporary
filibuster threat last year. The sug-
gestion also recognizes the fact that
major foreign policy steps awaiting
action this year might strengthen
the demand for q curb on fllibuster-I
ing.
Others to Testify.
Other Southern Senators due to
testify are Senators Maybank of
South Carolina, Robertson and
Byrd of Virginia, Hill Of Alabama
and Connally of Texas.
One Southerner who favors a
stronger rule for curbing debate
Senator Pepper of Florida-said yes
terday that "abuse of the power of
unlimited debate is a threat
to our institutions"
A majority of the Rules Commit
tee Is believed ready to report out a
resolution to make sure that two
thirds of the Senate could close de-
bate. Some Senators want to let a
simple majority apply cloture. but
they have little chance of going
that for