Omaha daily bee., 1915-02-03
STEPHENS OPPOSES
MUNITIONS BILL
Congressman for Third Nebraska
District is Against Measure to
Oppose Sale of Arms.
SHIPPING BILL SEEMS LOST

(From a Staff Correspondent
WASHINGTON. Feb. 2.-(special Tele-
gram,)-Congfessmsn Dan stephens Of
Fremont missed the hour he expected to
address the house in opposition TO a joint
resolution pending before It proposing an
embargo on arms and ammunition des-
tuned for the belligerents now at war in
Europe by twenty-four hours. Mr. Steph-
ems had expected to speak yesterday, but
when he reached the house he found the
order of business called for unanimous
consent day." and accordingly he could
not command the attention OF the body
of which he is n member until after
o'clock today. when the navy bill held
the right-of-way.
Having been given ten minutes with
leave to print the rest OF the speech"
Mr.. Stephens took occasion TO state that
he was a full-blooded German by descent
on his own account, and that on the ac-
count Of his wife there were several
first cousins, natives CT Germany by
naturalized parents who are now fighting
in the kaiser's army, IL they have not
already given their lives for their coun-
try.
VIII Not Favor II.
1t was Mr.. Stephens contention that
If it were wrong to sell arms to bellig-
erent nations now Il was wrong to sell
arms and ammunition to them in times
of peace. when they were preparing for
war, and he had no part in the Tesolu-
ton that would stop the United States
from selling arms to belligeronts while
the same people who are now agitating
/ a It'd k,N f.,or
their own nation in maintaining a rea-
sonabie army and navy against the day
we may want to begin the slaughter Of
the innocents on our own account"
Mr.. Stephens stated that he had re-
ceived many letters from correspondents
in his district urging him to support the
joint resolution prohibiting the shipment
of arms or ammunition to belligerent ma
lions from the United States, but the
more he had examined the question the
moro he was convinced that it would bk
the height Of folly TO pass such a resolu-
tion and he would not stultify himself
by supporting 1t.
shipping Bill In had.
Tere seems to be no hope for the adj
ministrations shipping bill. If the dem
ocratic caucus accepts the amendments
proposed by Senator. Norris and supported
by Senators Kenyon, Poindexter and La
Toilette, then, according to one of the
democratic leaders, there, will be enough
democratic defectiops to defeat the
measure, In other words. the difficulty
for the bill! rests in its compromises.
Senator Hitchcock, who will go Gown
into history as one of the seven demo-
| cratic senators standing against the ad-
| ministration's pet measure to create q
merchant marine BY the purchase OF in
termed vessels Of a belligerent. wants his
bill to prohibit the sale of arms and
ammunition to belligerents made a part
of the measure. He also insists. but not
| as powerfully" that there should be
i provision made that vessels be leased tc
private parties on public bidding. subject
to government regulations as to route,
| Gering Men In Capital.
and rates.
A. N. Mathers and Robert F. Nealy Of
Gering have arrived in Washington TO Co
operate with f. n. Sands and ]. z. West.
ervelt in their efforts TO secure an ex.
tension OF time in which payment must
be made by water users under the North
Platte irrigation project.
Representative-eleet Steele of Sioux
City, who will remain in Washington
until after the caucus OF the democrats
called to elect officers for the sixty
fourth congress. is hopeful that he will
secure place on the agricultural cons
mittee.
Tom steele was owner of a paper in
Wayne. Neb., years ago, and says out
side the money ne sunk in the venture
Nebraska is a powerful good state to be
next to Iowa.
NJ. F. Rohrer OF Council Bluffs Is in the
city.