New-York tribune., 1914-08-05
Billion Dollar Emergency
Currency Amendment
Is Adopted.
MARINE MEASURE
TO PASS TO-DAY
O'Gorman Proposes Opening
Navy Yards to Merchant
Ships for Repairs.
fFrom The Tribune Bureau. J

Washington, Aug. 4.--Concentratlng
its activities upon legislation for the
relief of the United States and its elti-
zens abroad so far as they are affected
by the war crisis in Europe, the SEN
ate to-day hastened the enactment OF
the bills framed to meet the unusual
issue.
The conference report upon the
amendment of the Aldrich Vreeland
act, which makes more than Sl,000,0OO,-
600 available for emergency currency
to tide the banks and people Of the
United States over the crisis, was
promptly adopted The bill removing
the restrictions which stand in the way
of entering foreign built ships under
American registry was favorably re-
ported by the Interoceanlc Canals Com
mittee, with an amendment offered by
Senator 0'Gorman making navy yards
available for repairing and overhaul
ing merchant vessels. This bill prob
ably will be passed Immediately after
the Senate convenes tomorrow. Upon
objection by Senator Gsllinger consid-
Grafton Of the measure was prevented
to-day.
Secretaries McAdoO and Bryan sp-
pesred before the appropriations com
mittees shortly after the Presidents
message was received by the Senate to
explain the necessity for an appropria-
tion of S2,500,000 for the relief OF
Americans marooned abroad.
An effort was made to hasten the e
port on the Presidents nominations for
the Federal Reserve Board, but action
was deferred by the committee until
tomorrow because of the lack of
quorum.
New Marine Bill Offered.
To relieve the ST. gnation Of Ameri-
can trade through the suspension OF
sailings of Atlantic liners Senator
Williams introduced bill to authorize
the Secretary Of the Treasury, with
the approval of the President, to pur-
chase outright for cash ship belong
ing to citizens or subjects of belliger-
ent powers now in American ports or
hereafter brought to them. The bill
proposes that these vessels be officered
and manned by the navy or officers and
crews of the merchant marine, or Off
GERS and crews fit for the service, two
thirds of whom shall be American citi-
zens. 1t is also proposed that bread,
meat and other foodstuffs not contra
band of war be transported in these
ships, and the warning is formulated
that the United States would regard as
an unfriendly act any attempt TO in
jure, delay or interfere with its COM
merce on the high seas. The Williams
bill was referred to committee for
consideration.
The bill amending the Panama Canal
act TO authorize the President to sus-
pend the restrictions relating TO the
age of foreign vessels that may be en-
tered under American registry, the cit
izenship of the officers and the survey,
inspection and measurement by officers
of the United States, was approved by
the Senate committee substantially in
the form in which IL was passed by the
House, but with the following amend
ment:
"Under like conditions the President
of the United States and the Secretary
of the Navy are hereby authorized to
direct that the navy yards of the United
States and all of their equipment and
dockage facilities be used for the pur-
pose of repairing and keeping in sea-
worthy condition all merchant vessels
which are now, or hereafter may be,
registered under the American flag,
under such conditions as in their dis
cretion are just and equitable, provid-
ed that such additional use of said navy
yards and their equipment shall not in
any way interfere with the paramount
purposes OF the navy of the United
States"
Not Enough Private Yards.
az do not believe that the private re-
pair yards of the United States will be
adequate for the service of a great
body Of additional ships said Senator
O'Gorman, in offering this amendment.
"All Of the repairing of great ships is
done in Europe, where suitable dry
docks are now provided. Our navy
yards have the only shops capable Of
repairing ships for long reaches along
the coast, and therefore a ship dis
abled would be compelled TO abandon
its voyage unless the government aid
cd II through the navy ward repair IA