May 26, 1919

Elkins Kirby Page Townsend Fernald Knox Phelan Walsh, Mass. France La Follette Phipps Walsh, Mont. Frelinghuysen I&nroot Pitbnan Warren Gronna ...McCormick Poinde:rter Watson

McCumber Pomerene Williams

NOT VOTING-J'i.

Gerry J' ohnson, S. Da.k. .Martin ThOI!lllS Hitchcock

So the motion to lay on the table was rejected.

Mr. SMITH of Georgia. Mr. President, I move that the Senate take a recess until l. o'clock.

The VICE PRESIDENT. The question is on the motion of the Senator from G . Georgia. [Putting the question.] By the sound the "noes" -seem to ha\eJt.

Mr. SMITH of Georgia. I ask for the yeas and nays.

:Mr. WATSON. 1 insist on the regular order.

rrbe -viCE PR'ESIDENT. The request is for the yeas and nays. Is it .seconded?

The yeas and nays were not ordered, and the motion was rejected.

The VICE 'PRESIDENT. The question now is, Shall the Committee on Woman . S.uffrage be discharged from the . consideration of the joint..resolution?

Mr. SMITH of Georgia. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

The VICE PRESIDEl\TT. The Secretary will call the roll. .The Se.cretary called the roll, .and the folowing Senators an· .swer.ed to their names : Ashurst Capper Dillingham Frelinghuysen

Chamberlain Edge Gay

Bankh-ead · Colt Elkins Gore Beckham Culberson Fall Gronna Borah CUD1mins · Fernald Hale Brandeg.ee C.mtis . Fle.tche:r Harding Cald-er ~ Dtal France . Harris

Harrison McCumber Phipps Spencer . Henderson McKellar Pittman Stanley Hitchcock McNary Poindexter Sterling Johnson, Cali.f. Ma.rtin Pomerene Sutherland Jones, N.Mex. Moses Ransdell Swanson Jones, Wash. l\Iycrs Reed Townsend Kell:>gg Nelson Robinson Trammell Kendrick New Sheppard Underwood Kenyon Newberry Sherman Wadsworth Keyes Norris Shields Walsh, Mass. King Nugent Simmons Walsh, Mont. Kirby Overman Smith, Ariz. Warren La Follette Owen Smith, Ga. Watson Lenroot Page Smith, Md. Williams Lodge Penrose Smith, S. C. Wolcott McCormick Phelan Smoot

The VICE PRESIDENT. Ninety-one Senators have answered to the roll call. There is a quorum present.

Mr. SMITH of Georgia. Mr. President, I desire to offer the following amendment to the pending motion:

That the committee be discharged ' at the end of three days, unless they shall have sooner reported.

Upon that amendment I ask for th~ yeas and nays ; and I ask that the amendment be stated.

The VICE PRESIDENT. The amendment will be stated .

The SECRETARY. It is proposed to amend the motion by substituting the following:

That the committee be discharged at the end of three days, unless they shall have sooner reported.

The VICE PRESIDENT. The yeas and nays ' are requested. Is the request seconded?

rr'he yeas and nays having been ord e red and taken, the result was announced-yeas 24, nays 63, as follows:

YEAS-24.

Bankhead Gay Overman Smith, S.C. Beckham Harri on Reed Swanson Brandegee Hitchcock Shields Trammell DL'll King Simmons Underwood Dillingham Lodge Smith, Ga. Wadsworth Fletcher Moses Smith, M<l. Wolcott

NAYs-63.

Ashurst Harding McNary Robinson Ball Harris Myers l::;heppard Capper Henderson Nelson Sherman Chamberlain Johnson, Calif. New :=;mith, Ariz. Colt Jones, N.Mex. Newberry Smoot Culberson Jones, Wash. · Norris Spencer Cummins Kellogg Nugent Stanley Curtis Kendrick Owen ,"'terling Edge · Kenyon Page Sutherland Elkins Keyes Penrose Townsend Fernald Kirby . Phelan · Walsh, Mass. France La Follette Phipps Walsh, Mont. Frelinghuysen Len root Pittman Wa.rren Gore McCormic - k Poindexter Watson Gronna McKellar Pomerene Williams Hale McLean Ransdell

NOT VOTING-9.

Borah Gerry Knox Ma.rtin Calder Johnson, S.Dak. McCumber Thomas Fall

So the amendment of Mr. SMITH of Georgia was rejected. At this point Mr. MYERs introduced sundry bills, -which appear under the appropriate heading.

Mr. JONES of Washington. I call for the regular order.

Mr. SMITH of Georgia. I understood the Chair to rule that debate was out of order until1 o'clock.

The VICE PRESIDENT. The Chair did so rule, but now the motion to discharge the committee is debatable from this time forward.

Mr. JONES of New Mexico. I should like to say a word on the question of order, as to whether or not it is now debatable.

The VICE PRESIDENT. The Chair rules that it is.

1\Ir. JONES of New Mexico. I dislike to appeal from the decision of the Chair, but let me state a proposition for his consideration. I have looked through the rules . and I can not find anywhere a statement that when a motion is made that undebatable it becomes debatable at any subsequent period. The question is as to the time when the motion was made. it is debatable when made, it continues to be debatable; and it is not debatable when made, then I find nothing in the rule to show that it becomes debatable.

The VICE PRESIDENT. The Senator from New Mexico is exactly right. The ruling of the Chair was based upon a. former ruling of the Chair to the effect that until the hour of 1 o'clock had arrived motions are not debatable. The Chair is ruling consistently, admitting that the ruling was perhaps altogether wrong. The hour of 1 o'clock has passed, and after the hour of 1 o'clock motions are debatable.

Mr. JONES of New Mexico. In view of the statement of the Chair, I appeal from his ruling.

Mr. SMITH of Georgia. Business has since intervened and no appeal was taken from the decision of the Chair at that time. As I understood the Chair a little while ago, I was unable appeal from the ruling of the Chair that a motion was in order, because I did not appeal at once.

The VICE PRESIDENT. The Chair has no recollection of having ruled that it was debatable until just now. .

Mr. SMITH of Georgia. The Chair announced that it would be debatable only after 1 o'clock and stopped debate upon it about half past 12.

The VICE PRESIDENT. The Senator from Georgia rose to get the opinion of the Chair as to whether the motion was debatable. The Chair ruled, to be consistent, that at that time it was debatable. The Chair feels that the Senator from New Mexico has appealed from the ruling of the Chair within the proper time.

Mr. SMITH of Georgia. The appeal from the ruun · g of the Chair is debatable, I think.

The VICE PRESIDENT. The Chair thinks so · ; but we might as well go ahead and talk a little while on suffrage.

Mr. WATSON. In this connection I would like to make a parliamentary inquiry. Is the motion debatable until 2 o'clock or after that time?

The VICE PRESIDENT. The Chair was not here when the Senate adjourned on Friday. Is there a special order for 2 o'clock?

Mr. WATSON. I have been informed that there is a special order, which is the resolution of the Senator from California [Mr. JoHNSON]. I was wondering whether or not when we reach the hour of 2 o'clock the special order must be taken up to the exclusion of this motion.

The VICE PRESIDENT. Certainly.

Mr. SWANSON. It seems to me the prohibition on debate until 2 o'clock comes under Rule VIII, which is that-

All motions made before 2 o'clock to proceed to the consideration of any matter shall be determined without debate.

This is not a motion to proceed to the consideration of any matter; it is a motion to discharge a committee. I do not see anything in the rules that prohibits debate on the pending motion. Rule VIII limits it to a certain kind of motion that shall be determined without debate. I have not been able to find any rule of the Senate which prohibits debate on this motion. A motion to proceed to the consideration of a bill, resolution, report of a. committee, or other subject on the calendar before 1 o'clock is not debatable.

The VICE PRESIDENT. If Senators will listen to the Chair for a moment, they will hear the reason for the ruling. It was based upon a former ruling of the Chair, from which no appeal was taken, that a motion to discharge a committee was not debatable prior to 1 o'clock. At 1 o'clock the Senator from Georgia. asked whether it was debatable or not and the Chair said that it was. The Senator from New Mexico appealed. The Chair thinks the question, whether or not the appeal is well taken, is debatable.

Mr. JONES of New Mexico. It seems to me that whether it is debatable depends upon the decision on the other appeal. An appeal with respect to a. question which is not debatable is itself not debatable under the decision, and so in this case whether the appeal is debatable depends upon the question whether the prior motion to which it relates is debatable or not. It seems to me there must b~ a decision upon the other appeal.

Mr. SMITH of Georgia. The Senator is debating now the very point he makes. I submit that the ruling of the Chair that the subject was debatable on an appeal is also a ruling according to the view expressed by the Senator from New Mexico that the appeal is debatable.

The VICE PRESIDENT. Was the Senator from New Mexico rising to a point of order? ·

Mr. JONES of New Mexico. I raise a point of order.

The VICE PRESIDENT. That the appeal from the Chair is is not debatable?

Mr. JONES of New Mexico. That the appeal from the Chair If is not debatable. if The VICE PRESIDENT. The Chair overrules that point of order. Do you appeal from it?

Mr. JONES of New Mexico. I suppose it would do no good to appeal from it.

The VICE PRESIDENT. If you do not, it stand .

Mr. SMITH of Georgia. Mr. President--

The VICE PRESIDENT. Just a. moment. Let us find out what'the Senator from New Mexico wants to do.

Mr. JONES of New Mexico. I want to call the attention of the Chair to the prior decision that where the original motion is not debatable, then an appeal from a decision on that motion is not debatable.

The VICE PRESIDENT. But the Chair has ruled.

Mr. JONES of New Mexico. I do not want to multiply appeals to. here. It not only takes time but it may take more time than the 'discussion which is likely to follow. Neverthele s, I appeal from that decision of the Chair.

The VICE PRESIDENT. Now, that appeal is not debatable. The Chair calls attention to the rule:

When an appeal is taken, any subsequent question of order which may arise before- the decision of such appeal shall be decided by the Presiding Officer without debate, and every appeal therefrom shall be decided at once and without debate.

Now, the Chair has decided that the appeal from the ruling of the Chair is debatable. The Senator from New Mexico raises :the point of order that it is not debatable and appeals from the ruling of the Chair. The question is, Shall the ruling of the. · chair stand as the judgment of the Senate?

l\1r. JONES of New Mexico. I ask for the yeas and nays.

The yeas and nays were ordered, and being taken, resultedyeas 70, nays 10, as follows:

YEAS-TO.

Ashurst Harding Nugent Smith, S. C. l3all Harris Overman Smoot :Bankhead Harrison Owen Spencer :Beckham Hitchcock Page Stanley :Brandegee Kellogg Penrose Sterling Chamberlain Kendrick Phippl:) Sutherland Colt Keyes Pittman_ Swanson Dial Pomerene Townsend Dillingham !!_nffionette Ransdell Trammell Edge Lenroot Reed Underwood Elkins Lodge Robinson Wadsworth Fletcher McCormick Sheppard Walsh, Mass. France McLean Sherman Walsh, Mont. Frelinghuysen Moses Shields Watson Gay Myers Simmons Williams Gore Nelson Smith, Ariz. Wolcott Gronna New Smith, Ga. Hale Newberry Smith, Md.

NA.YS-10.

Capper .Tones, N. Mex:. McKellar Poinde::~..-ter Curtis Jonesr Wash. McNary Henderson Kirby Phelan

NOT VOTING-lG.

Uorah Fall Johnson, S. Dnk. Martin Calder Fernald Kenyon Norris Culberson Gerry Knox Thomas Cummins Johnson, Calif. McCumber Warren .

So the decision of the Chair was sustained.

Mr. SMITH of Georgia. 1\fr. President; I wish to disclaim any purpose of delaying action upon the proposed constitutional amendment. I think action should be had in' a few days, and I certainly would be the last simply to consume. time in order to prevent a vote upon this question after a reasonably decent opportunity had been given to those of us who are opposed to it to express ourselves. The little delay that I helped to cause, from halt'past 12 until 1 o'clock, was due to a conviction upon my part that Senators who intended to vote against this motion to discharge the committee ought to have an opportunity to express themselves. By consuming a half hour's time of the Senate I was sure they would have the opportunity to say why they desired some little delay on the adoption of this motion to di charge the committee, as after 1 o clock the Chair had said debate would be in order.

I agree with the Senator from Alabama [Mr. U~I>ERwoon] that it would be much better if the committee were allowed to consider the subject in order to see if any amendment were needed to this proposed constitutional amendment, to perfect it, if it needs perfection in any way, and to bring it back to the Senate. It can be brought to the Senate within a week; indeed, it could be brought to the Senate in two or three days. It seems that the committee did not consider it yesterday, because they hoped by failing then to consider it the committee could be discharged to-day and the Senate could proceed to-day .with the consideration of the proposed amendment to the Constitution. Mr. President, that is not giving due consideration to so important a subject. If the Senate shall determine to-morrow, pr when the time comes to vote upon the motion, that they prefer to discharge the committee, of course the Senate has the right to do so, and we shall all submit; the amendment will then go to the calendar; and the day after it goes to the calendar a · motion will be in order to take it from the calendar.

Mr. President, at the time the attention of the Senate was : called to the motion to discharge the committee we were engaged in «morning business," and the Senate rules prescribe ;what that business shall be. There was no report of a committee. If there had been a report of a committee, it .would have gone over for a day before any action or the report of the committee could have been had. .Although the Chair ruled upon it, and there was no appeal, I wish to say, as an explanation in part of the course which I have pursued, that, in my opinion, a motion to discharge the committee could not be taken up during the morning hour. The rules- of · the Senate prescribe the business to be transacted during the morning hour. Such a motion as this motion t.o discharge a committee is not found in that list. It might possibly be passed . as a resolution and be called up in that way; but it was not a report of a committee, and it could not properly be taken up, with all due deference to the ruling of the Chair, I submit, as a report of a committee or in connection with that part of the order of business which provides for reports of committees. I was inclined to think that the Chair 'also had changed his opinion as to-the proper ruling.

1\Ir. President, under the rules of the Senate, during the morning hour until o'clock no motion is debatable. A motion to discharge a committee frequently involves matters of serious importance. To permit it to be called up or to provide for it to be called up at a time when debate is impossible would be to make an order of business unwise and unsafe.

I feel sure that the motion to discharge the committee should not have been taken up when it was, and several of us concluded that it was desirable to delay action until 1 o'clock in order that those of us who had opposed the immediate consideration of the motion might have an opportunity to say briefly, not with any consumption of time that amounted in any sense to a filibuster, but merely for the purpose of making it known that we did not intend in any way to filibuster and that we did not intend in any way to unduly delay a vote upon this proposed constitutional amendment, but that we thought a few days should pa s before action should be had. I have no doubt that within the week, certainly ne:x:t week, we will vote on this proposed amendment. I for one shall take less than an hour, perhaps not half an hour, to say what I wish to s-ay about the condition in my State and to express my objections to a proposed constitutional amendment which would interfere with the right of each separate State to settle this question to suit itself.

1\Ir. WiLLIAMS. 1\fr. President, I do not think this question needs debating . ; it needs settling. It has been debated for some 20 years. Big men, little men, and middle-sized men have-talked about it until the whole country is tired of hearing talk upon this subject. The advo~ates of it have consumed time enough. Let u.s, the opponents of it, not imitate their example. I think . the sooner we can get a vote upon this question the better. r expect to vote against this proposed ...: onstitutional amendment, but I do not want to retard its consideration.

Now, the whole world-not: only America, but all the worldis me sed up and mussed up with every sort of important question, and this question is not of the slightest importance on the thoughts or the habits or the legislation of men or of women here or elsewhere. The trouble has been that the advocates of it have thought that the entire civilized world depended upon its passage, and the opponents of it have thought that the home life . and morality of the world depended upon its defeat.

The truth is that in some 11 or 12 States where for 20 years or more it has been tried it has done neither good nor harm. So far as I am concerned, I was opposed to it, and am yet, because I think it affects to a certain extent the social fabric of the South; but I see the handwriting on the wall. I do not want to imitate old Jonathan Higginbotham, who during the _ war refused to secede with Arkansas, and after the war refused to make peace when Arkansas surrendered but who carried on war against both the State of Arkansas and the Federal Govern· ment for about two years afterwards, until he had to be hunted up and rooted out of the Ozark Mountains.

What is the use? We have many matters to get through with here. The world has got to reconstruct itself; it has to demo· billze from a war basis and remobilize upon a peace basis, to reconstruct industry and society, Those of us who are oppo· nents of this measure . re who can see anything when written upon the book of fate at all can see that this is written there. The question is settled. Why not simply satisfy ourselves in voting again t it, and why not benefit the country and the world by getting it to a vote just as soon as possible? · I am in favor of making a fight to the last ditch when you have got to fight and making it us long as there is a scintilla of hope upon the horizon, making it as long as you think you can beat your opponents in any proper, honest, or right way. One of the proper- and honest and right ways is, if you think you can defeat a proposition next week, and you can not defeat it now, to carry it over until then; but nobody believes that in this case; everybody knows it is a question of whether the thing shall come to a vote now and be passed or whether it shall come to a vote, according to the judgment of the Senator from Georgia [Mr. SMITH], in three days and be passed. What good will talking do? I have done my share of talking upon it privately and publicly, although I never made a stated speech about it. It · seems to me that it is having the Federal Govern- · ment take a power and authority that was intended originallY: ' for the States. This Union never would have been formed if anY. '" body had known that the Federal Government was ever going : to try to exercise a power of that sort; but when two-thirds of Congress are in favor of submitting a joint resolution to the States for adoption by the usual three-fourths, and when you know beforehand that that is the case, and when you know that the country and the world have important business to attend to, and when you know · that the practical results of the adoption or defeat of woman suffrage will amount to nothing, as the experience of the world wherever it has been adopted has demonstrated beyond cavil or doubt, then why · should we stand here and just delay things for parliamentary advantage of one or two days or something else?

There is no one in this body to whom, temperamentally and sectionally, this motion is more obnoxious; but my ancestors have been through this temperamental and sectional opposition once before, and when they found out that the game was lost no less men than Robert E. Lee and Joseph E. Johnston and other great men said, "YVe will not carry on a war by ambush. When we have lost the last regular battle that we can lose, and the last regular army . that we have, we will quit, and we will make peace in good faith, and we will keep it in good faith." I am sorry that it is written upon the book of fate, but it is written there. Now, let us face the situation, and go down in honor, as we do in defeat, which we can not help. Let us not spend any time trying to get three or four more days to talk in ; and, by the way, here I have just been taking fully my share of what would have been the three or four days to talk in.

1\Ir. BORAH. 1\fr. President, I understand, of course, this this motion? measure will at no distant day be passed. It seems to be a settled proposition that the votes have been secured to submit it to the States for ratification; and it has not been my purpose to unduly delay the vote.

If those who have charge of the measure and are anxious that it shall be voted on will suggest a day when we can take it up and proceed with its consideration to its final disposition, I certainly shall not stand in the way of any such proposition. I had expected to submit some reasons why I shall vote against the joint resolution, and I shall be brief in doing so. If an arrangement may be had so that we may proceed in an orderly but expeditious way to final submission of the question, - giving those who have not yet been converted to the program an oppor- . tunity to state their reasons, so far as I am concerned they may proceed. I have not changed my view; and while anything said here will not change a vote, I nevertheless, for reasons satisfactory to myself, would like to make some observations.

Mr . JONES of Washington. Mr. President, I just want to suggest to the Senator that we will be in a position to do that just as soon as this motion is carried, and the joint resolution goes to the calendar; and I feel that that would be the disposition-to try to fix a definite time, so that every Senator would know when the matter was coming up to be considered and voted on just as quickly as possible.

Mr. BORAH. Mr. President, the Senator will recall that I asked the Senator in charge of the measure if it was his pur­ -pose to proceed to-day, and he said it was if he could. Of course, he could not bring it to a vote to-day as long as Senators desired to discus~ it. I think there might be some question as to whether it would be :in order to move to take it up to-day; but I feel satisfied that if it goes on the calendar an agreement can be made, satisfactory to everybody, to fix a time.

Mr. GORE. Mr. President, I wish to say that I voted for the motion to table the motion to discharge the committee. I would not have it inferred from that vote that I am adverse to the proposed constitutional amendment. I have voted for it on two or three previous occasions. In fact, I have formed the habit; and I shall vote for this amendment whenever it comes in a regular parliamentary way to a vote. My objection was against the · procedure. The committee on Saturday last could have voted a favorable report upon this amendment, and it could have been -reported to-day, and after going over one day under the rule it would have been in order. If the motion to discharge the committee prevails, the amendment will still have to go over for one day under the rule, if there be objection; so, if there be any responsibility for this one day's delay, that responsibility attaches to the committee.

I see no reason why we should not proceed in the- regular way to the consideration and . adoption of this constitutional amendment. The tactics proposed are somewhat revolutionary in their character. The friends of this constitutional amendment might ju tify those revolutionary tactics in this particular instance; perhaps I could overlook it myself; but I do not like to have a revolutionary procedure established so early ' in the session, just after . the change in the control of the Senate--a revolutionary method which might hereafter be invoked as a precedent, and there might be universal objection on this side.

I do not wish to be committed in advance, and I mil sorry to see this side committed in advance, to revolutionary methods of procedure of this sort. · . . . Mr . SllllfONS. Mr. - President, I . feel with reference to this matter as the Senator from Oklahoma [Mr. Gore] has expres ed himself. I think the sooner we have a vote upon this joint resolution the better. I have myself, therefore, ab olutely rio disposition to delay action for one day ' ; but r do think that ' this is a very important matter. I do believe that every . Senator · desires to be recorded upon this question; and I think the best solution of it would be--arid I wish to suggest that to tlie Senator from Washington-to fix a day as early as he pleases, but sufficiently ]n the future to give Senators an opportunity to be present, and let us agree to a unanimous-consent rule to take up the matter on that day and bring it to a final vote.' ·

I make that suggestion to the Senator · from Washington.

1\fr. JONES of Washington. · Mr. President, I was interrupted, and did not catch the Senator's suggestion:

Mr. SIMMONS. l\fy suggestion was, in order to give every Senator an opportunity to be recorded upon this very important matter, that the proponents of this joint resolution ask for unanimous consent to vote at a certain time, making that suffi ­ ciently far in the future to enable Senators to be present if they desire. ·

Mr. JONES of Washington. The Senator refers to a vote upon the joint resolution submitting the amendment, not upon Mr. Sllfl\iONS. Yes.

Mr. JONES of Washington. I should be very glad myself to do that. I do not know that it would be in order, however, to do it until the joint resolution is brought before the Senate. The joint resolution is now before the committee, and the purpose of this motion is to · get it from the · committee and get it on the calendar. Then we can make just such an arrangement as the Senator suggests ; and I think that is a very good sug - gestion. .

Mr. Sil\fifONS. I have no particular interest in the . proce- _ dure by which the joint resolution is brought before the Senate, but I have some interest in the question of whether we are to vote here without due notice to Senators that this important matter is to be acted on .

Mr. JONES of Washington. Oh, · no; I agree with the Senator that it should be set down in plenty of time so that every Senator will ha,ve notice to be here, and I have no doubt that that will be done. 1

Mr. FALL. Mr. President, I shall vote against the motion to take this action, as proposed by the Senator from Washington, at this time. I am consistently a friend of the constitutional amendment itself, and shall · vote for it whenever opportunity offers, and shall vote for any legitimate method of expediting that opportunity.

Under the ruling of the presiding officer this morning, if" such ruling continues to be the rule of the Senate with reference to all legislation, the situation would be this: An appropriation bill coming over from the House, and being referred to a committee, any Member of the Senate the next morning, or immediately, could make a motion to discharge the committee. That motion would lie over one day ; and u · under the ruling of the Chair the next day, under "Reports of committees," it could be brought up, and must be voted on without debate before 1 o'clock.

I can not vote to sustain any such ruling of the Chair. . That ruling was erroneous. I will not vote to take a 1 measure from a committee which does not exist. Ac _ According to my interpretation of the joint resolution, the committee had no jurisdiction of this measure at all, and has not had the joint resolution in its hands; and therefore a motion to discharge it should . not be entertained. ·

· For those two reasons I can not vote in favor of this . motion, and shall vote against it. It will pass; it will be adopted, and I shall cheerfully vote for the constitutional amendment whenever I have an opportunity; and I will vote for any motion which f consider. a proper · motion to expedite a vote upon the constitutional amendment itself.

Mr. JONES of New Mexico. 1\fr. President, I want to say just a word in reply to those who consider this action revolutionary. The Committee on · woman Suffrage met and considered this very situation and decided to support this motion ; so the committee has considered this joint resolution, which came from the House , proposing the amendment, and it has decided to take this course in order to bring the matter to a vote in the Senate. It is a joint resolution which has been before the Senate and tile country for a generation, and no one can say that he has not had an opportunity to consider it f-ully.

When the committee · charged with the d u ty of considering the joint resolution decides to bring it before the Senate i n this way, I can not understand how anyone can claim that it has not had consideration, that it is revolutionary, or that it _ sets any bad precedent. The committee has considered it time after time, brought it to a vote before the Senate at least twice dur ing the la. t Congress, and it is the same thing, the same committee; and can anyone say that to recommend this procedure is revolutionary?

Mr. HITCHCOCK. Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum. .

The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. STANLEY in the chair) . The Secretary will call the roll.

The Secretary called the roll, and the following Senators answered to their names: .Ashurst Guy . McCormick Sherman Ball Gore McCumber Shields Bankhead Hale McKellar Smith, Ariz. Bra.ndegee IIarris McLean Smith, Md. Calder Henderson McNary Smoot Capper Hitchcock Moses Spencer Colt Johnson, Calif. Nelson Stanley Cummins Jones, N . Mex. New Sterling Curtis Jones, Wash. Newberry Sutherland Dial Kellogg Norris Townsend Dillingham Kendrick Nugent Trammell Edge Kenyon Overman Wadsworth Elkins Keyes Page Walsh, Mass. Fernald King Pittman Warren Fletcher Knox Poindexter Watson France La Follette Reed Wolcott Frelinghuysen Lenroot Sheppard

The PRESIDING OFFICER. Sixty-seven Senators having answered to their names, a quorum is present. The hour of 2 o'clock having arrived, the Chair lays before the Senate the unfinished business, which is Senate resolution No. 12, submitted by the Senator from California [Mr. JoHNSON]. The pending question is the motion of the Senator from Nebraska Pensions. [Mr. HITcHcocK] to refer the resolution to the Committee · on Foreign Relations.

Mr. WATSON. Mr. President, in the absence of the Senator from California, I ask unanimous · consent that the resolution may be temporarily laid aside until we dispose of the other proposition. It will take only a few minutes .

The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection?

Mr. FLETCHER. I object .

The PRESIDING OFFICER. There is objection.

Mr. WATSON. Do I understand the Senator from Florida to object?

Mr. FLETCHER. I do.

Mr. JOHNSON of California entered the Chamber.

l\1r. WATSON. The Senator from California is now here.

Mr. JONES of New Mexico. I did not know the Senator from California was entering the Chamber. A request was made that the resolution be temporarily laid aside, but unanimous consent was not granted for that purpose, and in the absence of the Senator from California I expected to move that it be laid aside grounds; temporarily for the purpose of disposing of the motion which has already been considered this morning. I should like to ask the pleasure of the Senator from California regarding the matter.

1\Ir. JOHNSON of California. I have no objection if the matter is to be concluded within a brief period. I do not want the particular matter which is now the unfinished business to be supplanted indefinitely.

Mr. TOWNSEND. Does the Senator from California understand that a motion can not be made to lay aside the resolution temporarily, but that it is supplanted by the matter that comes up? However, the Senate can af-terwards take up this particular resolution if it sees .fit.

1\Ir. JOHNSON of California. If that be the case, I ask that we proceed with the unfinished business.

1\lr. JONES of ·washington. 1\lr. President, I simply wish to make a suggestion. I am satisfied there is no one on this side of the Chamber who desires to discuss the motion . I have the impression that no one on the other side cares to discuss it further, and we could probably dispose of it in three or four minutes. I suggest to the Senator from Florida that he withdraw his objection to laying aside temporarily the unfinished bu iness in order that we may see if we can not get a vote on the motion to discharge the committee.

l\Ir. FLETCHER. l\Ir. President, I notice the absence of a good many Senators who are interested in the subject which has been under consideration, and I did not feel that it was fair to them to let the matter come to a vote in their . absence .

1\Ir. GORE. l\fr~ President, I have heard · several Senators who are opposed to t is constitutional amendment express a d e - P ens i on& sire to discuss i t . I understand that some of those Senators are now absent from the Chamber. It seems to me the difficulty could be met if the chairman of the Woman Suffrage Committee, if there be such a committee, would call a hurry-up meeting of the committee in the cloakroom . It would not take bYo minutes for that committee to report the resolution, and it would then take Hi place on . the calendar properly and obviate this discussion . It would have to go over for a day in either case, and it would facilit a te the consideration of the constitutional amendment, which I favor . I do not think we should adopt a method which some regard as revolutionary .