The Ontario Argus. (Ontario, Or.) 1???-1947, 1916-02-24
VESSELS, IF ARMED,
! CALLED WARSHIPS
Germany and Austria Give No.
tiCe Of Policy Toward Mer-
Chantmen of Allies.


ships after March 1. That date wa
fixed to give the entente allies tim
20 signify their intention toward tn
recent note OF the United States pro
posing the disarmament of all MGR
chantmen.
The United States recently propos
ed TO all the belligerents that the de
velopment of submarine warfare hat
made IL desirable for all TO agree that
merchant ships should be absolutely
unarmed-dismountin even the small
caliber guns which they have hereto
fore been permitted to carry.
With the arrival OF the notice, the
American government faced one OF
the most serious and intricate diplo.
matte questions since the war started
Indications are that Secretary Of State
Lansing will admit the soundness of
the Teutons' contention that arming
merchantmen make the usual visit
and search impossible before attack
by submarines
| Already the allies-Great Britain,
France, Russia and Italy--haye filed
objections TO the change OF policy pro.
posed by the United States.
Federal Militia Plan ls Presented.
The proposals OF the National Guard
association for liberalization of the
state troops we're before the military
committee Of congress In the form OF
n bill drafted by representatives OF
the association at the request OF the
senate committee.
The maximum number OF troops
provided for by the bill is 500 for each
congressional district or a total peace
strength Of approximately 100000. an
Increase OF 10000 over the present
strength OF the national guard. They
would form a separate branch OF the
regular army In time OF war when
called into the federal service. The
net would take effect July 1. 1916.
The bin provides also for organiza.
tion OF a junior guard, composed OF
boys between ~ and rs. available for
active service only after every other
class OF militia had been called out.
An enlistment contract would be re.
quired under which the soldier would
bind himself 10 serve the federal gov.
ornment within or without the con.
tlnental limits OF tire United States"
for period Of two years or until dis.
charged, should the guard be called
out at any time during his three-year
enlistment period.
Garrison Quits Wilson Cabinet
Garrison resigned from the cabinet
because President Wilson declined 10
insist without compromise upon the
adoption OF the continental army plan
by congress. The resignation was
rendered and accepted. and with Mr..
Garrison, the assistant secretary OF
war, Henry c, Breckenridge. left the
service OF the government.
- The reasons for Secretary Garrl
sons resignation and its acceptance
by the president are disclosed In
lengthy correspondence made public
between them. The correspondence
revealed that while the secretary left
the cabinet principally because the
president would not "irreyoeably sup. |
port" the continental army plan, his
opposition TO the administrations pro-
gram for setting a definite time for
Filipino independence, as outlined In !
Senator Clarke's amendment to the |
Philippine bill, was an important fac.
tor,
y 6randels Inquiry to Continue.
In the senate this week the inquiry |
into the nomination OF Louis d. Bran
deis, to the supreme court will be re |
sumed by the judiciary subcommittee /
Tuesday, with Mr. Brandeis' connec-
tion with the United Shoe Machinery |
company the particular subject for in
yestigation,
, There will be a democratic house
caucus this week 10 authorize Major
ity Leader Kitchin, as chairman OF the /
house ways and means committee. to
press the bill he will Introduce, prob
ably at once. to repeal the free sugar
clause Of the Underwood tariff Pill, |
but for the repeal, the free sugar
clause would entail an estimated an,
nual revenue loss OF S4O,OO0OO be-
ginning May l next Mr.. Kitohin does
not expect TO bring up the repeal
measure in the house until about Feb !
ruary "a.
Homesteads Free Until Title Won.
The commissioner of the general
land office, Clay Tallman, of Nevada.
concurs in the opinion recently ex-
pressed by VIII r.. King, OF Oregon,
chief counsel Of the reclamation sery-
d., fhat thn rtafau cannot