Evening star., 1916-01-04
Senate Adiourns in Respect
10 Justice Lamar's Memory;
YaIts Foreign Crisis Debate

The Senate reassembled today for the
first time since the holidays and within
a few minutes adjourned out of respect
to the memory of the late Associate
Justice Lamar of the Supreme Court
of the United States on motion of Sena-
tor Hardwick of Georgia.
The quick adjournment put an end
to the possibility of discussion on
the floor of the Senate of the serious
foreign situation, which has arisen
because of the attacks of submarines
upon merchant and passenger vessels
in the Mediterranean sea. The discus
sion may be precipitated tomorrow.
however. when the Senate meets again.
In the meantime, the Senate commit
tee on foreign relations will hold a
meeting. and at that meeting 1t will
have before ii the Hoke Smith resoiu-
ton calling for an investigation Of
the interference with neutral trade by
Great Britain and the allies, and also
the Lodge amendment to the resolu-
ton calling for an investigation into
the Lusitania and subsequent subma-
rine attacks, which have caused the
loss of American lives, and the alleged
consiracy within the borders of the
United States against the neutrality
of this country.
Senator Stone Sees President.
Senator Stone, chairman of the for
eign relations committee. was in con-
sultation with the President today.
and yesterday conferred with the Sec
retary of State. After returning to the
Capitol from his conference with the
President today he said the meeting
of his committee scheduled for to-
morrow probably would be deferred
until later in the week.
The purpose Of the postponement, it
was reported. was to give more time
for collection of facts relating to the
sinking of the Persia and other vessels
in the Mediterranean. The senator said,
however, that he desired to have a full
attendance of committee members, and
that some would be absent tomorrow.
Senators particularly interested in the
foreign situation, following the Pres
idents talk with Senator Stone and
Representative Flood. reflected the
view that all facts in possession of
the State Department bearing on de-
struction of ships would be sub
mitted to Congress without formal re-
quest therefor by resolution.
II is expected that strong line of
demarkation will be found in the COM
mittee There are democratic senators
outside the committee who believe that
the President should go very slow in
breaking of relations with Austria. They
do not hesitate TO criticise the administra-
toms course toward Austria. They feel
that 70 break of relations would be only
a preliminary to actual war and they
believe that Congress should have some
tnlng to say before such step is taken
Present Situation Intolerable.
strong feeling exists, however.
among both the republicans and the
democrats In the Senate that some
thing must be done to put an end to
the killing of American citizens on the
high seas. The present situation is in
tolerable. they say. They are opposed
10 the writing of any more notes to the
beIilserent powers stating that the
United states government intends to
roo the belllgerents TO strict account.
ability for the loss of American lives
ana property unless the government
mere is prepared TO back up these notes
ney contend that the United States Is
heing made ridiculous
At the same time, senators are
strongly opposed to any step that will
rush this country into the European
war. Members of both the political
parties today expressed thu opinion
that American citizens ought to keen
of belligerent owned vessels traveine
IN the war zones, and that IL they did
not OF their own accord keen off these
vessels. some means should be founA tt
Keep them off Among the senators
VINO believe that Americans would dr.
well TO keep off these vessels and who
expressed themselves TO that effect In
vigorous terms. were Senators Reed ot
Missouri. smoot OF Utah. Works OF
California. McCumber of North Dakots
and Jones OF Washington.
American citizens. II was contend.d
who desired TO travel for their owr
personal business or for their pleasure
should have regard for their country
ana rot by their acts put the ITnited
States In jeopardy of war. Those Amer
leans who disregarded this, II was said
were entirely selfish