Evening star., 1949-03-16
Delay Is Likely
0nCompromise
C|oture Action
Speeches Nay Put OF
Vote in Senute Until
Tonight or Tomorrow
By J. A. o'leoN

asked the senate 10 mold anOther
night session, If necessary to
complete action on the new COM
promise debate-curbing rule which
a coalition is ready to put through
over his opposition.
The 15-day filibuster ended last
night when 50 Senators from both
parties put their names on the
compromise. under which two
thirds of the entire Senate, instead
of two thirds of those present.
hereafter will be able to shut of
debate on virtually all Senate
business.
The only exemption in the COM
promise would be debate on any
future change in the rules, which
could be filibustered as in the
past.
Many Plan to Speak.
Although approval of the COM
promise is a foregone conclusion,
many Senators planned to take
the floor today to make their posi-
tions clear.
1t Is even possible the debate
may continue tomorrow, thereby
delaying a vote on the compromise
still longer.
Eleven Democrats outside the
solid South joined the Southerners
and most Republicans in pledging
to support the compromise. This
left Senator Lucas leading a
minority still in favor of a more
stringent gag rule.
II don't mean we are going to
filibuster," Senator Lucas said,
after mentioning another night
session. Those of US opposed to
the compromise do not believe in
filibustering."
He added. however. that it will
be necessary for Senators to make
the record clear today Ito show
who surrendered"
After a majority had signed q
petition to back the compromise.
Senator Johnston. Democrat. OF
South Carolina. stopped talking
about II o'clock last night, and
the filibuster was over.
Third Blow for Truman.
The Senate then voted. 78 to 0,
for the melton which had been
pending since February % to!
make a rule-changing resolution
in order. This paved the way for
the formal offering Of the COM
promise.
The revolt against administra-
tion leadership in the Senate rules
fight was the third blow dealt Mr..
Truman in rapid succession on
Capitol Hill yesterday.
In the morning the Senate
Armed Services Committee re-
fused to report out the name of
former Senator Mon c. Wallgren.
a close personal friend of the Presi-
dent. for chairman of the Ma
tional Security Resources Board.
In the afternoon the House
voted the President a watered-
down rent control bill, by giving
States and local subdivisions the
option Of Withdrawing from Fed
eral rent supervision.
President Truman, on vacation
In Key West, Fla, maintained Of
ficial silence on the Setbacks.
Lucas Is Pessimistic.
Senator Lucas bitterly told re-
porters the 64-vote compromise
"closes the door on any civil rights
legislation" His view is based on
q belief 1t would be almost impos-
sible to get that many to curb de-
bate.
But Minority Leader Wherry
replied the new rule "opens the
door for legislation that we have
not had before the Senate in
years. It will give us an effective
debate-limiting rule"
The present rule, adopted in
1917, allows two-thirds of those
present to curb debate on a
pending measure" but it has
proved ineffective in efforts to
take up civil rights bills because
the South could filibuster the pre-
liminary motion to make those
bills pending measures"
1t was just such q f1libuster
against the preliminary motion
to take up q new rule that has
kept the Senate tied up since
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