Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1916-04-02
ARMY BILL
N SENATE
DISCUSSIONS
Solons Hear More Testimony and
Receive Suggestions. Many
Amendments Await Action
"1NsURM0UNTABLE
BARRIER" SAYS BORAH
Militia Cannot Be Federalized
Senator from Utah States in
Upper House Saturday

washington, April LINE SeHate
debated the army increase bill again
today without any indication as to
when work would begin on the mass
of pending amendments. AS yet,
Senator Chamberlain, chairman OF
the military committee, has made no
effort to limit the general discussion
which began yesterday, and it prob
ably will continue several days.
insurmountable Barriers.
Senator Borah told the senate he
had found an insurmOuntable barrier
against the proposal in The bill for
lie gave many legal citations to sup
port his contention that under the
Constitution, Congress has no power
to enforce the discipline it has au-
thority to prescribe. Should any
state refuse to appoint officers, Or to
train National Gnardsmen, he sair.
Congress would be without any re-
course. 1t could neither provide for
the training OF the guardsmen itself,
or compel the state to act, and it
could not empower the president to
appoint officers nor compel the state
to appoint them.
Use as Mine Layers.
Another feature of national prepar-
edness was considered today by the
house Military committee, with Secre-
tary Redtield testifying in support of
the lighthouse bill. The secretary
said the Is seagoing buoy boats now
in service would be available as mine
layers or sweepers in time of war.
Their drag equipment for locating
pinnacle rocks, he added, would be
invaluable for mine sweeping or to
trap hostile submarines.
The house Naval committee was
not in session. Secretary Daniels is
expected to conclude his testimony
Monday, when the hearings will be
brought to close. Chairman Pad
gett hopes to have the navy bill be-
fore the house two days later
Reject 100000 Amendment.
The first attempt to add new pro-
jects to the $40,O00,000 rivers and
harbors appropriation bill failed in
the house today when an amendment
by Representative Teaue. to approp-
riate 100000 for a forty-foot channel
from President Roads at Boston to
the sea, was rejected overwhelming
ly. House leaders professeed to see
in the vote, forecast that the COM
mittee's recommendations against the
new projects would be approved and
that the bill would pass virtually as
reported.
Recent developments in connection
with the prosecution Of neutrality
cases, and the turn taken by the
Mexican situation have further i'm
pressed officials here of the necessi-
ty for extending the country'c neu-
trality laws, and a recommendation
for revision may be made to congress
within few weeks by the Neutrality
board
Since the European war began, the
department of Justice officials have
felt handicapped by a lack of stat
utes under which to prosecute cases
in which the evidence itself was
abundant. Many neutrality prosecu-
tions have been brought under the
Sherman antitrust laws conspiracy
section, but the department regards
that roundabout way eentirely in.
capable Of application to some cases
where prosecutions under more
specific statute would result in con.
VictiOn.