Evening star., 1917-02-26
VIEWS IN CONGRESS
DIFFER ON POWERS
PRESIDENT ASKED
Some House Members Believe
=. Specific Authority Only
Should Be Granted.
COMMITTEES WILL ACT
PROMPTLY ON REQUEST
Galleries Filled With Spectators as
Executive Makes Appeal for
American Rights.

After President Wilson had
asked Congress for power to pro-
tect the rights OF the United
States on the high seas, at the
Joint session of the House and
Senate today, a meeting OF the
House foreign affairs committee
was called by Chairman Flood.
Chairman Stone of the Senate
foreign relations committee said
that committee would be called
together later this afternoon.
Il Think said Mr.. Flood to
Star reporter. that in the circum-
stances the suggestions made by
the President should be enacted
into law promptly. There will be
opposition to some suggestions
he has made, but | have no doubt
that the House will substantially
embody his proposition in a bill
which will pass the House by a
safe majority.
THE chief purpose of the en-
actment asked by the President is
the protection of American ship
ping, and republicans as we'll as
democrats are committed to this
policy.
"The Presidents request is rea-
sonable and proper; | am heartily
in favor OF granting it.
Divergence of Opinion.
AS soon as the President left the hall
there was a general exodus of representa-
tives on both sides of the chamber to
the cloak"oom lobby and committee rooms,
where they discussed the Presidents ad-
dress. The republican leaders disappear
ed and presumably were making arrange
ments for conferences.
From general and informal expressions
it was apparent Immediately that there
will be wide divergence of opinion over
the course to be pursued in following the
Presidents recommendations, and the ex-
tent to which Congress should CO.
1t was evident that there will be
great Discrimination on the part OF
many to give the President broader
powers than he has asked for in spe-
cific terms and that this feature will
be the subject of earnest consideration
in the House.
Many members declined to give an
expression at this time of their views
upon the subject. Speaker Clark was
among this number, and so was Rep
resentative Cooper of Wisconsin, the
ranking republican of the House COM
mittee foreign affairs.
Galleries Filled Quickly.
The galleries filed unusually quickly.
Speculation about his text led to SO
much talking among spectators that
Representative Gardner of Texas. who
was presiding. was forced to demand
twice that they refrain from talking.
The second time he called attention to
the fact that the spectators We're pres
ent only by courtesy of the House. and
this warning restored quiet.
The diplomatic gallery filled quickly.
Ambassador Bakhmeten OF Russia was
the first representative of foreign
government to arrive. More than half
the diplomatic seats were occupied by
women.
Ambassador Spring-Rice followed the
Russian Ambassador Counselor Polk
OF the State Department, finding all
seats occupied, sat in an aisle of the
diplomatic gallery.
At 1c:50 Speaker Clark resumed the
chair. Again the galleries became
noisy, and the Speaker threatened TO
clear them.
Business Laid Aside.
Pe-ding business before the House WAS
laid aside. the three front rows of seats