ENDLESS TALK.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLII, Issue XLII, 22 February 1923, Page 5

ENDLESS TALK.

LEGISLATIVE PRACTICE,

BY CABM—PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT

WASHINGTON, Feb. 20. That interesting phenomenon in American legislative practice known as "filibuster," whereby a Senator can exert his traditional prerogative to talk endless until death cuts short the flow of words, is occurring just now. Several members of the so-called Agricultural Block, who opposed President Harding's Ship Subsidy Bill, have taken the floor in a determination to prevent the measure coming to a vote during the present session of Congress, ending on March 4. Senator Sheppard has just ended a speech of 11 hours in opposing the measure, and Senator MeKellar will take the floor. He promises to read a speech 14 hours' long. Each Senator, when weary, grant 3 the floor only to a colleague against the subsidy. The Senate is now sitting in continuous session, but the Chamber is virtually deserted, as no business can be transacted.