New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-06-20
The Value of an Extra Session
of Congress.

sion is meddlesone and uncalled for, and
if it were carried out might produce re
suits other than those who make it say
thew nave in mind" The "other results
about which "The Times" is apprehens!ve
include a possible attempt on the part OF
Congress 10 influence the attitude which
the administration has taken as cham
pion of American rights on the high seas
and TO interfere with negotiations pend
ing with the two sets of European
belligerents.
If there were nothing more important
for Congress to do than to discuss our
foreign policy, no sensible person would
favor an extra session. Interference by
Congress in negotiations with foreign
powers is improper and undesirable, and
such interference is always resented not
only by the Executive Department, but by
the people. The President should have
a free hand in conducting foreign rela-
tons up to the point at which treaties
are signed or other action is to be taken
which needs approval from one or both
houses of Congress. Even if Congress
happened to be now in session, the Execu-
tive would retain the sole power Of mi
tiative in matters of foreign policy.
But the vital question now before the
country and the one on which the prompt
est possible action by Congress is needed
Is a domestic one. 1t is the question of
strengthening our national defences. Out
side the peace-at-any-price group hardly
anybody will say that we have an army
and a navy adequate for our needs in case
we become involved as a champion of
neutral rights in a war with first class
military power. In an article immediate
" following that in which it deprecated
the calling of an extra session The
Times" admitted that our navy is far
below the proper standard Of strength.
1t said:
Mr.. Truman Fl. Newberry, who was Secre-
tary Of the Navy in 1909, joins his voice
with many others in the demand for the up
building Of our navy. His statement that we
lack fighting ships Of the speed Of many in
foreign navies cannot be refuted Excepting
the destroyers, our only fast ships are third
class cruisers, which could not safely give
battle 20 modern battle cruisers we'll
srmored scouts. We certainly need
more ammunition ships, golfers and subma-
rines
The army is far weaker relatively than
the navy is. If our naval efficiency were
to be put at 60 per cent Of the standard
the efficiency Of the army would be only
10 or Is per cent
The object which those who advocate
an extra session have in view is the ip-
mediate strengthening of our military re-
sources. President Wilson has apparent
" discarded Mr.. Bryan's theory that in
enforcing our rights on the high seas
we can depend exclusively on pacific
instrumentalities, on diplomatic persua-
sion or on arbitration. He has made de
mands on Germany which, unless the Ger
man government reyerses its position and
alters the spirit Of its diplomacy, may
have 70 be backed up eventually by force.
We do not now possess the force neces-
sary TO make good our words, and the
only way iii which increases in our mill
tary strength can be effected is through
action by Congress. The administration
alone can 90 nothing but maintain the
status quo. 1t has no authority to in
crease the navy or TO reorganize the
army, and no money with which to pay
for increases.
Mr.. Wilson has a competent and en-
lightened Secretary Of War, whose plans
for military reorganization are sound, but
who failed utterly last winter TO get sup
port for them from ar indifferent Con-
gress. The present Secretary of the
Navy, on the other hand, is an opponent
of proper naval development, milestone
about the neck Of the navy. He asked
from Congress last year even less than
Congress was willing to give him and
actually did give him. The alternative
10 an extra session is, therefore, a con-
tinuance Of our present state Of I'M
preparedness for six months TO come,
which is equivalent TO giving notice 10
the world that the threat Of an appeal TO
force in our diplomacy is threat with
nothing substantial behind it.
The country is entitled to know whether