The Washington times., 1916-03-04

number Of members OF the House. and
particularly those from New York.
Embarrassment that might be caused
members OF the Indiana delegation by a
vote today on the armed ship contro.
Ssrsy; The Indiana primaries are to
The renewal OF the agitation for n
more direct vote on the armed slip
controversy. There are many members
o5 the House. who viii be dissatisfied
with mere vote 10 table the resolution,
although the Administration is said TO
be agreeable to the action of the foreign
affairs committee yesterday.
When an Administration leader who
forced postponement was asked about
the cause Of the delay he said:
1T looks to me like certain folks want
time to make a bed OF leaves at the
end Of the slidcway so that their fall
II was rufnored about the House that
tho Indiana primaries had not a little
erect on the postponement decision. Sew
eral members OF the Indiana delegation,
II IL understood, dreoded a vote on the
international situation just In advance
Of their primaries and when little op-
pcytunity would be afforded for ex-
Participating in the conference of
clark, Majority Leader kitehin, Chair
man Flood, OF the Foreign Affairs
Committee; Acting Chairman Pou, OF
the Rules Committed; Congressman
Garrett. Congressman Harrison, Con-
sressman Sheriey, and others.
IL was last Tuesday that the Presi-
dent In his letter to Mr.. Pou asked
for prompt action In the House on the
not TO use belligerent merchantmen.
The President asked for an immediate
showdown as to whether Congress was
behind him.
Following the rather unsatisfactory
performance of the Senate yesterday.
the House will now postpone action for
three days longer. and when the House
finally acts the Presidents request Will
have been before its leaders for an en-
tire week.
Situation Unsatisfactory.
This situation Is not regarded as en-
tirely satisfactory from the standpoint
of Administration supporters In the
House. The supporters were indignant
over the delay IN the Foreign Affairs
Committee, which finally acted late
yesterday afternoon.
II was assumed that the Rules Com
mittee would meet today and bring into
the House at noon a special rule maxi
ing the report Of the Foreign Affairs
Committee In order.
Differences. however. arc understood
now to exist in the Rules Committee as
to the methods Of procedure. and II be-
came apparent at o'clock today that
the House would not take up the Nc
Lcmore resolution this afternoon.
Only routine bills on the unanimous
consent calendar are I'm order on Mon
days, but the present plan Is that the
House will consider minor matters in
stead OF the grave international ques-
ton awaiting attention.
Just why the McLemorc resolution Is
to wait until Tuesday was mot satis-
factorily explained by and one In the
House tods.
Republican members of the Pennsyi-
vAnia delegation held a conference to-
day and practically decided to vote
solidly against the adoption of the
special rule.
Tho Republican view point still Is that
tho House | nsmaking n mistake in vot-
ing upon an International question, ana
that the President made In asking for
such n vote. This view Is expressed
privaSy by not a few Democrats. The
entire performance IL moro or less dis
tasteful to the House membership.
II a sufficient vote could be recorded
to defeat tch previous question on the
special rulo oolling up and proposing TO
table the McLGmore resolution. the stu
alton would be fraught with danger.
Such q defeat would open up the entire
question Tor debate and the offering OF
substitute resolutions.