Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-01-09
johnson Backs
New Fi|ibuster
1t Limits Debate by
Two Thirds Vote
Of Those Present

BY the Associated Press
Senate leaders of both parties
linked up today in a move to
change the Senate's rules so as
to make it easier to choke of
filibusters.
Senator Lyndon B. johnson of
Texas. the Democratic leader,
announced he would co-sponsor
a resolution drafted by his Re-
publican counterpart, Senator
Knowland of California. to allow
two thirds of the Senators pres
ent and voting to order a time
limit on debate.
The existing rule requires the
votes of at least "a of the SEN
ate'S Sc members to limit debate
This rule holds even though there
may be only Cd Senators. or even
fewer, present at the time.
Co-spOnsOrs Move
Senator johnson, in his an
nouncement. said:
Il have decided to join in CO.
sponsoring a proposed change in
Rule %. I am doing so because
l believe that the change would
expedite the business of the Sem
ate but would retain legitimate
safeguards of minority rights.
THE proposal, of course, will
go to the Senate Rules Commit
tee where it can be studied
thoroughly. 1t will have the
careful consideration of men
who are trying to do good job
for their country and who will
consider the issue on the basis
of its merits rather than on the
basis of temporary eXpediency.
THE proposal appeals to me
as being based upon the middle
ground which is the strongest to
stand upon. 1t would permit an
orderly change of the rules but
would recognize that the rules
are continuing and not subject
to change merely because of a
temporary gust of political wind.
II have always believed that
there are orderly ways of solving
problems before the Senate.
also believe that unless the Sem
ate takes advantage of the or
Iderly procedures that are avail
able, disorderly procedures will
eventually prevail to the harm
of the Nation and the different
sections of the Nation.
For these reasons, I am join
ing with Senator Knowland on
this resolution"
Resolutions Purposes
Senator Knowland had an
nounced last week plans to in
troduce the resolution today. His
substitute for the present dis
puted rule would provide the
new formula for limiting debate
strike out a provision forbiddine
any time limit on debating pro-
posals to change the rules, ano
provide that rules would con-
tinue from one session of Con-
gress to the next.
Opponents of the present rule
contend that it provides no eff
fective way to shut off filibusters
of the type which Southern Dem
Iocrats have employed in the past
to talk to death civil rights bills.
Senator Humphrey. Democrat
OF Minnesota, one of these oppo-
lnents, called on the new Con-
gress to assert "a claim on his
tory" by passing "the first mean
ingful civil rights legislation in
80 years"
He said he sees IAN excellent
chance" Of success for those who
advocate such legislation.
Senator Humphreys comments
were made in a statement an
Inouncing he and a group of COL
leagues. both Democrats and Re-
Ipublicans. were introducing IL
civil rights bills topped by a
measure to provide Federal pro-
lection of voting rights.
He called that provision "the
key to all the rest of our human
rights detectives"
His statement did not say how
many Senators were joining as
Ico-sponsors.
Include Presidents Program
The measures include the
civil rights program advocated
by President Eisenhower intro
duced in the Senate on Monday
by Senator Dirksen. Republican
of Illinois. and earlier in the
House by Representative Keat-
ing, Republican of New York.
The Eisenhower program also
provides for court action to pre-
serve voting and other rights
along with establishment of q
civil rights division in the
Justice Department and of &
presidential committee to in.
veStigate civil rights.
Other Humphrey proposal.
would seek to end all discrimina.