Ogden Daily Standard | 1917-03-09 | Page 3 | Senate Changes Long-Time Rule

SENATE CHANGES i LONG-TIME RULE i Two-thirds of the Members Can Put an End to a Filibuster. Washington. March 8. After more than nine years the rules permittinc debate limited only by tho physical' endurance of senators and the pro-rlslons pro-rlslons of ihe constitution, the senate sen-ate tonight by a vote of 76 to 3 put, power in the hands of two-thirds of Its members In the future to limit discussion and to say when a vote shall be taken on a pending measure. The organized filibuster as recog-1 Olxed in the senate is dead. Action came unexpectedly after six hours' debate on the new rule, drafted by a bi-partisan committee Although ho'h Demoerats and Republicans had approved the change in caucus, and Senator Martin, the majority floor leader, had given notice that the senate sen-ate would be kept in continuous session ses-sion until a vote was taken, nearlv every one looked for a much longer discussion. Senators La Follette and Gronr.a. two of those who opposed the armed neutrality bill, and Senator Sherman, who favored it. cast the negative voles. Senators Cummins, Kenyon. lane, Norrls. Stone and Vardaman. who were against the armed neutrality bill, voted for the amendment. Colleagues Col-leagues of most of the senators absent said thai if they had been present ihey would have supported It. The exact use of the rule will not become apparent until it is enforced, but li probably cannot bo successfully ; used umess a one-man niiDUS'er come .(bout or pending bills In the closing hours of a session are consigned to a legislative grave, The filibuster probably proba-bly cannot be prevented until It Is foreseen, but an organized affair. Which musi be planned two days or more ahead of a session, is disposed of easily In brief, the new rule provides that on petition of sixteen senators to close debate on a pending measure the senate sen-ate by a two-thirds vote on the following fol-lowing day, but one, may limit debate thereafter to one hour to each senator. It includes provisions to prevent dilatory dila-tory taeties and the introduction, after cloture la ordered, of amendments not germane to the pending bill. rn