The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-03-01


surprised to hear Of such a letter." said
Leader kitchin.
Substantially the same statement was
made by Mr.. Flood and Mr.. Shackel-
ford. and It was evident they were sim
cere In their statements.
II was understood members OF the
Foreign Affairs Committee inwardlN felt
hurt that the President had suddenly
appealed to the Rules Committee for ac-
ton on a resolution which the House
leaders have been seeking to chloroform
In the former committee since the OUT
break OF the incipient revolt of last week.
These members were unable to under
stand whether the President had pur-
sued an unusual course through igno-
rance Of the machinery of the House. or
because Of an intent TO ignore the
Foreign Affairs Committee.
Indicative Of the injured feelings OF
That committee was the impetuous re-
mark OF one Of them. who said:
II am for action BY the + ,reign Affairs
Committee before the Rules Committee
takes any hand In his situation"
No Action ny Rules.
Another House leader Of great IN.
iuence who declined the use Of his name
said:
You may be assured that the Rules
Committee will take no action In this
matter In advance of consideration by
the Foreign Affairs Committee. which
has Jurisdiction over such resolutions"
A member Of the Rules Committee said
that with but one exception so far M the
recollection of the average legislator ex-
tends has the Rules Committee de-
hberately taken from another committee
= NAanI,slAsr s.-lGu- NEz.- a. THAI xasau
In the case Of the Aldrich-V reeland cur
rency bill, passed nearly ten years ago.
when the Rules Committee discharged
the Banking and Currency Committee
from consideration Of that measure and
sent II to the floor tor consideration
AT that time the chairman Of the
Currency Committee. Representative
Fowler Of New Jersey. had refused TO
report the bill.
Whether or not the Isesident sought
to-day the aid OF the Rules Committee
through a Misunderstanding of House
procedure or by intent. the fact that
the Chief Executive had apparently
gone over the head" of the Foreign
Affairs Committee added n seriou COM
plicatiOn to "A situation withou, parallel.
Three days x Speaker Clark. ac-
companied to the House by MIR. Kitchin
and Mr.. Flood. informed the President
that sentiment in he House was
strongly in favor OF a resolution OF
warning. At that time the Admins
tration clearly indicated its unwilling
ness 10 have Congress interfere in any
way with the Presidents handling OF the
submarine controversy.
With this impression firmly fixed In
tn, ir minds the three House leaders re-
turned TO the Capitol and there united In
their efforts TO soft pedal" the revolt
against n policy which som, House mem
beers feared was drawing the United
States into n war. Al that time IT was
generally understood that the speaker.
Mr.. kitchin and Mr.. FluU' were at heart
In sympathy with the purport OF the
McLemore resolution. but they agreed to
give tn, Administrators more time
The surprise OF these leaders was all
the greater to-day therefore when the
President reversed his position and asked
for n vote on an issue which the House
leaders had been endeavoring to side
track since last, Wednesday.
what VIII House 10.
What the House will do with the Pres
dents request no leader would prophecy
tonight. Mr.. Clark refused A statement.
pending the publication and his study OF
| the Presidents Letter. Members of the
Rules Committee said they might g-,
together tomorrow"
The CONSERVATION caused in the Sem
ate was almost as great in the House.
Among the advocates Of the Cor. reso-
luton In the Senate satisfaction was
undisguised. Those who oppose that
resolution and who have been trying
20 smooth out the situation in the Sem
ate hat arose IA week ago seemed almost
panicstricken at first. They felt the
whole disturbing question woul be re-
opened.
one Senator declared thai IL the two
houses adopted the resolution warming
Americans off belliger-nt ships the Pres
ident would he eliminated as "a candidate
for denomination.
The general belief Is that the Senate
will not pass such a resolution under any
circumstances
The Senate took a recess this evening.
which means the Gore resolution cannot
come up automatically tomorrow