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Show priiUTT IP! DC Ml I. Ill G. O. P. Caucus Refuses to Indorse Filibuster; Individual Mem bers Obstructing Passage. All-night Session Probable, Prob-able, but Administration Administra-tion Leaders Profess Confidence in Victory. WASHINGTON", March 2. EoU call of the senate at 4:30 o'clock this mornlug revealed the lack of a quorum and a motion was adopted for tho anrest and enforced attendance atten-dance of all absent members. Tho point of no quorum was made after Senator Penrose had interrupted the debate with a motion to adjourn. WASHINGTON. March 2. Efforts of Democratic leaders in the senate to pass the Victory loan bill were temporarily blocked this morning by Senator La Foi-lette Foi-lette of Wisconsin, Republican, "who, at 2:30 o'clock, was In. the .midst of a lengthy speech. The Wisconsin senator, sena-tor, however, disclaimed any attempt to filibuster against the measure. Despite desires' of some Republican senators to block the bill in an effort to force Fresid3Tit "Wilson to call an early extra session of congress, both Republican Republi-can and Democratic leaders predicted that tho measure Mould be passed. Several hours after the measure was taken up no efforts at a filibuster had been made, although Republican senators in favor of obstruction tactics had been left free to determine their own actions by a conference of minority senators held late In the day at tho call of Senator Lodge to discuss the advisability of holding hold-ing up the bill. The Republican conference was held from 5:30 o'clock to 7 o'clock, while the senato recessed under agreement with Democratic leaders after a day of debate on tho league of nations and virtual defeat de-feat of the oil and coal and leasing bill by a singlehanded filibuster conducted by Senator LaFollette of "Wisconsin, Republican, Re-publican, who prevented it from reaching reach-ing a. vote. SHERMAN, PEEVED, QUITS THE CONFERENCE. In spite of the defeat, lli to 12, of a motion of Senator France of Maryland to conduct a filibuster, those attending the conference said individual Republicans Republi-cans were left free to filibuster if they should C3 elect. Senator Sherman of Illinois left the room in the midst of the conference and told newspaper men he had given notice that, because of the evident disposition "not to force an extra session and call the president's bluff," he was disposed not to return to Washington after March 4. . The net result of the conference, according ac-cording to Republicans, was that several senators who favor a filibuster were in a position to proceed, but without the formal approval of their party council. Some of these senators indicated tonight that they were disposed to obstruct the measure despite tho majority apparently against such action. Other Republicans declare they would nut be a party to any obstructive tactics, tac-tics, and, on the contrary, would assist the Democrats in passing the bill. Several Sev-eral prominent Republicans predicted that (Continued on Page 8, Column 3.) , j SENATE II PROLONGED FIGHT OVER LOAN BILL (Continued from Page One.) the measure ultimately would be passed. They also predicted that the wheat guarantee guar-antee and the general deficiency bill car-lying car-lying $760,000,00(1 for the railroad administration admin-istration would be enacted, but said there was little prospect of passing any other bills. In anticipation of a long session tonight to-night and possibly even further extension, the Democratic leaders had tho senate sergeant-at-arms bring in heavy army blankets and extra chairs, so senators could rest during the night if they desired. de-sired. Uncertainty of the senate Republican's plana suspended legislative plans in the house. After passing a resolution to repeal re-peal the 10 per cent, semi-luxury taxes in the war revenue bill, the house worked on minor conference reports and bills, ate, the leaders believing it useless to pass house bills if a senate filibuster on the Victory loan bill would prevent their consideration in the senate. TAX LIMIT REACHED, THE CHAIRMAN ASSERTS. "When consideration of the bond measure mea-sure began, Senator Kenyon of Iowa, offered of-fered an amendment providing for the placing of Theodore Roosevelt's portrait on the bonds and certificates -of indebtedness indebt-edness issued under the bill, but action on it waij postponed. In explaining the measure, Chairman Simmons of 'the finance committee declared there could be no further taxation, as the present limit had been reached. "The present rates," he said, "are recognized rec-ognized by everybody as being as high as it is wise to exact. Xo further taxes I know of are contemplated." The senator added, however, that five billion dollars must be raised, and this, he said, must be borrowed. After Chairman Mimmons of the finance committer had explained the loan bill in detail for more than two hours, pen-era! pen-era! debate began. Senator Lodge spoke briefly, opposing the granting of authority author-ity to the secretary of the treasury to fix the interest rates on tha $7,000,000,000 of short-term notes authorized by the measure. He declared tl.at this, together with the right to say how many are to be issued, were "enormous powers" and "wholly useless." Smoot Counsels Deliberation. Modification of the house bill so as to limit the bonds to two classes, with the interest rate of the first at 3fc per cent and that of the second at 42 per cent, according to tho amount of the notes exempted ex-empted Irom taxation, was urged by the senator, who declared "it seems to be the impression of the treasury department that when this congress adjourns there will never be another." Senator Sir.oot of Utah, Republican, deplored de-plored the demand for hasty enactment of the bill. "It could not pass in this form If it wore not in the closing days of the session, ses-sion, and I recognize that no amendment is to be allowed," he said. "There is no need to discuss its details. What ia the use when we know what Js before us?" Special criticism was given by Mr. Smoot to the vovers of fixing interest rates given the secretary of the treasury. Predicts Huge Expenditure. The Utah senator piedieted that this year's expenditures would be 20,000,000,-000 20,000,000,-000 and also that there would bo greaft delay in payment of allied loans. Senator Thomas of Colorado, Democrat, interjected the prediction that the money never would be repaid, declaring Great Britain still had outstanding debts contracted con-tracted in prosecuting the revolutionary war. Discussing the financial condition of the country. Senator Smoot said the government govern-ment was behind four months in its payments pay-ments to the railroads and that creditors of the roads were "carrying them" for millions of dollars because the accounts were not paid. Announcement that he would vote against thf bill was made by Senator Pentose Pen-tose of Pennsylvania, Republican, who declared it was being forced through "at the point of the bayonet." Rf forring to a newspaper article which said that President Wilson had urged enactment en-actment at this session of a bill prepared at his request by the stato department and introduced in the house to appropriate $,000,000 to meet the expenses of his European trip, Senator Penrose asked Democratic Leader Martin if it was planned to pass it before adjournment. "No communication has reached the appropriations ap-propriations committee regarding that bill," replied Senator Martin. "I know nothing about it except what I see in the public press." Amendment Defeated. The first amendment to the bill, proposing pro-posing that the vignette of former President Presi-dent Roosevelt be placed on the new se- I curitles, was voted down, 37 to 23. All of the Republicans except Senator La Follette of Wisconsin, voted for the amendment, and all the Democrats, except ex-cept Senator Heed of Missouri, voted In opposition. Senator Owen of Oklahoma, ! Democrat, said if the amendment would not jeopardize ihe bill he would favor It. After the vote on the a mend merit, Senator La Folletto began an address on the bill, advocating an amendment to prevent coercion in sale of the securities, securi-ties, lie planned to speak about one hour. The Wisconsin senator declared tho loan bill to be unconstitutional, as it would take from (.-ongrtss the power to fix rat ok of interest on government loans and would place the authority In the secretary sec-retary of the treasury. Congress, he said, would be setting an unwise precedent prece-dent in enacting a measure placing such authority in a department head in contravention con-travention of the constitution. Senator Sherman of Illinois said he planned to follow Senator La Foil et to with "considerable remarks" on the bill, and it was said that Senator France of Maryland, .Republican, also expected to speak. A n unofficial poll of the senate was said to disclose only four senators in favor of a filibuster against the loan measure. |