Evening star., 1953-01-07
Truman Reviews u. S. Progress
In State Of the Union MESSAGE:
FiIibuster Foes Facinq Defeat
Taft Expected
To Stop Debate
Late Today
By J, A. Oleov

The drive for a new rule to
curb filibusters appeared doomed
to failure today as the Senate
entered the second day of de-
bate on the issue.
A group Of liberals from both
parties is believed lacking in
votes to sustain their contention
that at the start of each new
Congress the Senate has the
same right as the House to re-
enact its rules with changes.
Arrayed against them are most
of the Republicans and a sub
stantial bloc of Democrats,
chiefly from the South, who con-
tend the Senate is a continuing
body. AS such, they argue, the
old rules are automatically in
effect in the Senate when a new
Congress meets.
SOuthernerS Hold Key.
If this viewpoint is sustained
and most observers expect it
will be-the only course left to
the liberals would be to try to
offer specific amendments to the
existing rules. But they would
face an almost insurmountable
obstacle in that event, because
even the present -filibuster
rule, which enables 64 Senators
to shut off debate, cannot be
applied to change in the rules.
Although Republican leaders
revealed in yesterdays debate
that they are ready to support
a change in the rules to let fewer
than 64 Senators break a fill
buster, Southern leaders were
cool toward the proposed amend
ment. If they presented organ
lied opposition there would be
little or no chance of bringing
it to a vote.
Senator Douglas, Democrat, of
Illinois conceded today that II
the Senate decides its old rules
are automatically in effect now,
I'VE may as well say farewell to
any chance either for civil
rights legislation or needed
changes in Senate procedure. In
slang parlance, we may kiss such
a possibility good-by."
Douglas Supports Anderson.
In a speech prepared for de-
livery this afternoon, Senator
Douglas supported the pending
motion of Senator Anderson,
Democrat, Of New Mexico, that
the Senate proceed to adopt a
new set Of rules for the 83d
Congress.
This is the only question be-
fore the Senate now, and Ma
jority Leader Taft hopes to bring
it to a head late today by moving
to table the Anderson motion.
II that carries the fight will be
over for the time being.
The vote may not be reached
before tomorrow, however. Sem
ator Russell of Georgia, a leader
OF the Southern Democrats, said
the debate may not be finished
today.
The motion to table also would
dispose Of the issue without CIV
ing Vice President Barkley a
chance to rule on the legal ques-
ton Of whether the old Senate
rules continue automatically in
this Congress. Senator Humph-
rey, Democrat, Of Minnesota, a
supporter Of the Anderson mo-
ton, said the liberals still are
searching for some parliamentary
way Of getting a ruling from the
Vice President before the test
vote is taken.
Jenner Discloses Plan.
The disclosure that the Re-
publicans are considering a move
later in the session to liberalize
the anti-filibuster rule came from
Senator Jenner of Indiana, who
will be chairman of the Rules
Committee. He announced he
has already drafted a proposed
amendment to let debate be shut
off by two-thirds of those present
and voting. The present rule
requires two-thirds of the entire
Senate, or 81.
The Jenner proposal would
make it possible for a minimum
of SO Senators to close debate,
assuming there was only q bare
quorum of 40 present and vot-
ing. The Jennef amendment