LONG SENATE SESSION

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27410, 24 July 1954, Page 7

LONG SENATE SESSION

Debate On Atomic Energy Bill

(Rec. 10 p.m.) WASHINGTON, July 22. A marathon session of the United States Senate kept going around the clock today, with foes of the Eisenhower Atomic Energy Bill showing no signs of wearing out, and the Republican Leader in the Senate, Senator William Knowland, threatening to invoke the debate-limitation rule to break *this full-fledged filibuster.” The pending measure would rewrite the atomic laws. Among other things it would invite private industry into the atomic power field; share some atomic information with United States allies, and sanction a contract with a private electric power combine to supply power in part of the Tennessee Valley area. Repulsed last night in an effort to knock out the private power contract, opponents directed heavy fire today at the terms of the provision for private companies to enter the atomic energy field. They described it as a gigantic ‘‘give-away” of national resources. Senator Knowland served notice that he would seek to invoke the closure (debate limitation) rule. But his chances were considered slim, because he would need the support of twothirds of the full Senate, or 64 votes, to put closure into effect.

Southern Senators are traditionally opposed to any sort of “gag rule,” and all attempts to invoke closure in the recent past have failed. Senator Knowland began marshalling his forces for the test after Senator Wayne Morse (Independent, Oregon) announced there was a determined band of Senators devoted to the proposition that the Administration Bill “shall not pass.” “I think we should hold the line until Christmas, if necessary,” Senator Morse said. Senator Morse spoke for six hours and 14 minutes. The Senate has been in session continuously since 2 p.m. yesterday, with many Senators napping on cots in the cloakrooms. Senator Knowland slid he would keep the Senate at work until it completed action on the bill.