The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-03-01

The President paved the way for his action last might and incidentally sur prised Congress by calling on Acting Chairman Pou of the House Rules committee, to provide the parliament tary machine for immediate consid- eration of the resolutions on the floor. Inasmuch as the resolutions have been held in the House foreign affairs committee by main force of the ad-
 ninistration leaders at the request of the President, because of fears for the results if they were allowed to come out for a vote, the Presidents action, taken without consultation with the leaders, caused no little amazement. At todays conference, however, to which the President summoned Chair men Stone and sFlood of the Senate and House committees dealing with foreign affairs, and Senator Kern, the Democratic floor leader, he explained his purposes fully.
 After the President, Senators Kern and Stone and Representative Flood had been in conference for an hour, Speaker Clark and Majority Leader Kitchin, of the House, were summon ed to join the conference. An effort was being made to decide on the form of action Congress should take.
 The conference agreed that in defer ence to the wishes of President Wilson q. vote would be takn en the near fu- ture :n both Senate and House on resolutions warning Americans to keep off the armed ships, but the form in which the resolutions would be presented would be determined later.
 Tmmediately after the conference, Chairman Flood went to the capitol and called his committee together to frame resolution
 The President made it clear that ne did not want a vote on a resolution expressing support of his coVauct or the diplomatic controversy and as a result of his position the vote will he taken on a resolution warning Americans off armed ships. Admin istration forces are sure they can beat it.
 The President also discussed the question with Acting Chairman Pou of the rules committee. he President a asl<ed that as, soon as the House for eign- affairs committee had prepared it's resolution the rules committee bring in a. rule for discussion and a vote on the floor.
 At the conclusion of the conference the leaders hurried back to the capi- tol It was almost certain that the parliamentary situation in both houses would prevent a vote coming up today.
 The President explained to the leaders that he had written to- the r11les committee not because he was dissatisfied with any action of the foreign affairs committee but because he thought it expedient as he realized that a special rule would be necessary to provide for immediate consid- eration.
 Chairman Flood said that after he had drafted a resolution he would confer with the President on it's ex- act form before it was presented to the House
 Speaker Clark and Majority Lead CT Kitchim said no action could be taken today in the House and that the conference had been devoted chiefly to discussing procedure.
 F'The habit of obedience has been developed to a high degree in Con gress,'' was MT. Kltchin's answer to a. question about prospects of a vote. He is one of those who have favored the resolutions. One plan discussed was for the House foreign affairs com nnittee to report adversely one of the pending resolutions and at the same time have the rules committee bring in a rule limiting debate. By that House tomorrow or Friday and the question would be taken up in the Senate immediately afterward.
 The President told the leaders the foreign situation was no more serf- eral weeks but he believed action world that the American government was not divided.