West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1914-08-06
HOUSE PASSES
UNDERWOOD BILL
Admits Forelgn.BulIt Ships to
American Registry
URGED BY THE ADMINISTRATION
notwithstanding Doubtful Attitude OF
International Law Experts Measure
Receives Unanimous Vote--lntend.
ed to Relieve Embargo on American
Commerce-Some Fear II VIII In
voivc Us In Complications.

Washington, Aug. 4.-The admission
OF foreign built ships to American reg.
istry has received the unanimous ap.
proval OF tho lower house OF congress
and will doubtless pass tho senate
and be approved by tho president. at
whose suggestion the action was TAX
en-. The measure is designed to re.
feve the embargo on the foreign com.
morce of tho United States which
has resulted from the war I'm Europe.
The measure was messaged to tho
senate this morning and will receive
immediate consideration in that body.
IL Is understood that the usual divi.
sion on party lines will not be permit.
ted to hinder tho progress OF the bill.
International lawyers expressed the
opinion that the passage of the bill
Will not yield any substantial relief in
the present situation. The danger lies.
II was pointed out, In tho fact that any
ships transferred under the proposed
arrangement will run the risk OF seiz.
uro. inasmuch as the probabilities are
that the belligerents will not recognize
the transfer OF the flag as valid.
The bill was supported by Repre-.
sentative Mann OF Illinois, who de.
clared that II would give Americans a
chance to invest In foreign ships.
The alarmist views were secuted by
Representative Underwood. He de.
clared that the provision repeating the
law admitting to American registry
only ships OF foreign build of not more
than Ave years and waving the law
that ships flying tho American flag
must be oiilcered by American citi
zens and prescribing federal survey
inspection and measurement. might af
ford temporary relief to the present
ocean situation without putting the
United States in the danger OF invit.
ing trouble.
He warned the house that II the bill
failed TO pass American goods would
be bottled up I'm American storohouses,
cotton would drop to cents pound
and wheat to 25 cents n bushel. He
declared that everything possible
should be done to prevent such ca.
hmity from falling on the country.
Mr.. Underwood produced figures
showing there are many foreign ships
owned by American citizens and cor.
porations that might be brought under
the American flag.
The secretary OF the navy was given
authority In bill passed by the SEN
ate to use navy vessels to carry pas.
sengers, mail and freight to South
American countries and to Europe.
AS introduced originally by Senator
Weeks, the bill authorized ships to be
used between the United States and
South American ports, but whom IL was
called up Senator Williams amended
It 20 authorize the extension of the
lines to European countries as we'll.
Secretary Daniels is strongly in
sympathy with the Legislation ard
probably will favor taking Immediate
steps to press some OF the fast naval
vessels into service.
President Wilson sent a special mes
sage to congress asking immediate ap-
preparation of $250,000 for relief Of
distressed Americans abroad. The
house passed tho t250,o00 appropria-
ton without debate or a roll call The
senate also passed tho bill without de-
bate or a diggpntinR vote