Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-03-03
SENATE EXPECTED
TO PASS MEASURE
SOME TIME TODAY
Question of Arming Ships
Discussed at Session Last
ing Far Into Night.
TO BE BROUGHT TO VOTE
AFTER FULL CONSIDERATION
Little Opposition Develops, and
Leaders Predict Approval by
Tremendous Majority.
ESEcuTIt" IS READY TO ACT
/ Considers There Is Nothing More to
BE Done Until Congress Gives
Desired Authority.
TO BE BROUGHT TO VOTE
AFTER FULL CONSIDERATION
ESEcuTrHH IS READY TO ACT
Considers There Is Nothing More to
BE Done Until Congress Gives
Desired Authority.
IRv Associatcd prcss.l

ny Associated Press.
WASfflNiTpN. March ..--Arming OF
American ships to defy the German 4
submarine mnt:;i"c waits only upon au-
ihoriiy from Congress- which probably
VIII be given before another day
pa SSrs.
IT became known Tonight that Pres-5
ident Wilson is ready Ia give the order
ana that the Navy Department has
ihade Us preparations to begin equip
ping mcrchantm Ii for defense at a mo-
mcnt's notice.
The Senate debated far into the night
the bin approved by the President au-
| thorizinS the arming of ships and the :
employment OF "other imstrumentalf-
ties 10 protect Am marican citizens and
providing bond issue of 500, ,OOO, 600.
Little opposition developed. and Re-
publican and Democratic leaders pre.
dicted passagc of the ASSURE by an
overwhelming majority. The House tis
expected To accept the bill as n SUBJ
sHtute Tor It's own which does notl
carry the phase other instrume entali-t
ties" and prohibits the Insurance OF I
munition ships by the Federal War
| Risk Bureau.
discussed every phase Of the interna-
tional crisis. There was no annour>o..
mcnt after the meeting, though it was
learned that the administration con-
sidcred that there was nothing more to
be done until Congress acted
PRESSED TOWARD
PASSAGE IN SENATE
The bin To authorize policy Of
armed neutrality was pressed toward
passage III the Senate tonight with a
debate covering the entire scale of the
nations foreign relations
The measure. which the White
House has announced it desires as a
substitute to the less-sw weepine bill
passed by the House last night, de-
veloped little evidence OF determined
opposition 1t gave Senator's a long,
awaited opportunity, however, to de-
clare their conr.Stions in the interna-
'iohai crisis. and the debate proceeded
win deiiberation. despite the knowl-
edge that it now is Senate action on
which the President is waiting.
There were no party lines, and most
of the pacifst element Of the Senate
declared a Willingness TO fall in behind
the President in his move for an armea
pclicy.
senator stone. head of the Foreign
relations Committee, and. by virtue Of
ms position. the logical adminfStra tion
| SPOKESMAN on such questions. withdrew
from the task as soon as the armed
neutrality bill was brought in by his
committee. He said candor would nor
permit him to take the toor for the
measure, and submitted an amendment
70 exempt muaiiioa carrying ships
iroih the protce,.o.i 10 be extended
other merchantmen
IiTCncOCk AND LODGE
4
TAKE THE LEADERSHIP
To Senator Hitchcock and SenatoI
Lodge the ranking Democratic anal
republican committeeman, fell thel
leadership declined hy the chairman
senator La Toilette, about whose at-j
tst"de there had been some uneasin ess.
announced that he would talk at lengthll
~ 'hc o'ii. out mad no intention of
hlibustering.
rs the debate proceeded into the y
night there were many predictions that
II would be Well toward morning be-
fore vote could be reached
The dramatic features uf the situa- y
ton wee heightened by crowded gall.
icflcs and the attendance OF seyeralS
Cabinet members and many Represen-s
tatNcs on the itoor rs spectators
among those IN the diploma tic gallery
Was Sir Cecil Spring Rcc, the British
am ba ssador.
The Senate bin. IN addition to an
tn"ri"mS the irmins uf merchant ships
Woh.d tAleHd the authority requested
hs The President for use OF Other i'm
S'fhmchtaiit!es' in protecting American
iiShts. That feature was omitted from
The House BILL which also contained a
prohihltion Objectionable TO the Pres-iH
ihcht against the Insurance by tho
war RISK Bureau OF vessels laden with
munitions.
....ADh no ACCEPT WAR
UNDER THESE CONDITIONS
More than one senator declared
passage Of the Senate bii would mean
war sooner Or later, but virtually with
out exception they added that they
We're ready to accept war on those
terms.
y few insisted that II would not
mean war. None expressed any other
belief than that 1t would be passed and
accepted some time Tomorrow by tho
House. ls
The armed neutrality bin. which