Evening star., 1949-03-13
Leaders in FiIibuster Fight
Have Hopes for Compromise

pIOpOSdl. t1t WOulO require JWOS
thirds of all Republicans and two
thirds Of all the Democrats to
apply cloture.
This would eliminate the
danger of partisan cloture, or of
sectional cloture," said Senator
Mundt. 1T would reserve, the use
of cloture to those times when
the best minds of both major
parties agree that it is necessary"
Would Ban Partisan CIoture.
Senator Mundt said it is the
South which today feels it's rights
are endangered by restricting de-
bate. At some future time it might
be the reclamation area of the
West, or the small States which
felt they needed freedom of de-
bate, he added.
AS to partisan cloture, Senator
Mundt pointed out, there have
been times when one, party held
80 seats and the other only Is
in the Senate. Under the exist
ing rule, two-thirds of those vot-
ing. regardless of party. may in
woke cloture on pending meas
ure."
The current demand grows out
of the fact that this rule has been
held as not applying to the pre-
liminary motion to take up bill,
and the South is in a position to
block the civil rights program by
f1libustering against that preli-
minary motion.
The f1libuster now in progress
has been carried on successfully
for two weeks against such a pre-
liminary motion to take up the
new rule that would enable two
thirds to close debate at any
time-on a motion or on a pend
ing measure.
Long Sessions Threatened.
Long sessions to wear out the
oppositions are the only device
left to administration leaders,
since the Senate on Friday OYER
ruled an attempt by Vice Presi-
dent Barkley to interpret the
present rule as broad enough to
end debate on a motion as we'll as
a bill.
Senator Lucas had served not &c
Of his intention to start an en-
durance contest tomorrow when
he arose in the Senate yesterday
afternoon and instructed the Off
cial shorthand reporters to start
rounding up an extra force Of
stenographic experts. recognizing
that the regular staff would not
be physically able to keep the
transcript going "a hours a day.
Senator Tydings. Democrat of
Maryland, touched off lively de-
bate with Senator Russell. earlier
yesterday when the Marylander
sounded warning that unsettled
world conditions make it impera-
tive that the Senate revise its
horse and buggy rules.
Recalling that the present clo-
ture rule grew out of a filibuSter
on the bill to arm merchant ships
at the start of World War I. Sem
ator Tydings said there is far
greater need for the Senate to be
in a position to act promptly in
the event Of another emergency
in these days of atomic bombs and
planes that circle the globe with
out stopping.
Unless loopholes in the rules
are plugged up. he said, they may
conceivably put the welfare and
security of the country in serious
jeopardy"
Russell Challenges Tydings.
Senator Russell arose to chal-
lenge the Tydings argument. As
serting that no action by Con-
gress is needed to set the armed
forces in motion defending the
nation in the event of attack,
Senator Russell asked:
Does not the Senator know
that the War Between the States
had been in progress for some
weeks before war was declared,
and that when war was declared
in 1917 the resolution stated that
q state of war had existed for