FILIBUSTER IN CONGRESS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18803, 5 March 1923, Page 5

FILIBUSTER IN CONGRESS

DEADLOCK IN HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. SPEAKER’S DECISION RESENTED. Frees Association—By Telegraph—Copyright WASHINGTON, March 3. (Received March 5, at 0.5 a.m.) With many important Bills awaiting action during the closing hours, Congress, which will adjourn to-morrow at noon, was marked by a filibuster, which caused a deadlock in the House of Representatives. The filibuster was engineered by the southern Democrats, who resented the Speaker’s refusal to permit consideration of a Bill for the purchase and sale of nitrates to farmers at cost, whereupon “long-distance” speechmaking began with a prospect of continuing all night unless the opposition yields. Upon learning of the situation in the House of Representatives, Senator Heflin began a companion filibuster in the Senate, in which other southern senators joined earnestly. Meanwhile the Republican leaders were exerting vain efforts to olacate and cajole the House. The filibuster leaders are Messrs Campbell and Mondell, both of whom will retire from Congress to-mor-row, having failed to secure re-election for their constituencies. Indignant members declare that it is a shame that two men so rejected should frustrate the apparent will of the House. —A. and N.Z. Cable.