South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-03-09
Assembling of Two Bodies
Would be Accomplished
Quickly As Members Are
Ready to Respond.
AMERICAN SHIPS ARE
CERTAIN TO BE ARMED
SeC'y Lansing and Atty. Gen.
Gregory Assure President
He Has the Author
ity to Act.
international News Service:

international News Service:
WASHINGTON. March 9.-Mem-
bers Of both houses of congress had
themselves in readiness today for
quick response TO Pres't Wilson's
call for an extraordinary session.
The summOning Of the legislators
back to the capitol is hourly expect
ed. IL may be temporarily delayed,
however, by Pres't Wilson's slight
illness, which kept him confined to
his bed all Of yesterday and from
which he had not recovered today
Administration leaders declared
that with the assembling of con
sress the resumption OF American
commerce on the high seas will
take place immediately No difficulty
is ANTICIPATED in jamming through
both houses the SPECIFIC authority
for the president 10 arm American
merchant ships and send them forth
in defiance Of Germany's submarine
decree.
sweep Away Traditions.
Pres't wilson's grip on the senate
was about as complete today as any
executive ever attained. Under white
house pressure the senate swept
away traditions Of century and a
quarter. and adopted change to
the senate rules which will here
after prevent any little group of
wlful men" from holding up BY
merely talking, legislation which the
administration considers vitality az
fecting the health of the nation.
Little delay will be exercised in
assembling the congress. The senate
already is in extra session and mem
bers of the ouse, new and old, have
been notihc, 10 be ready for the
call. II the president so desires the
machinery OF the entire congress
can be set i'm motion by March 20.
No obstacle remains in the path of
prompt enactment OF the measure
living the president power TO arm
American ships and to use such
other instrumentalities and meth
DDS" as he may deem necessary TO
merce on the high seas.
Administration leaders were ex-
ultant today. They declared the
senate vote on the cloture rule show
ed that the senate is eager 10 sup
port the president. Even the oppon-
ents TO the armed neutrality bill ad-
mitted that the measure could be
passed within IS hours after re-
assemblin of congress.
VIII Arm Vessels
Regardless. however. OF whether
there is an immediate call for the
congress American merchant ships
are 10 be armed. Both Cec'y OF State
Lansing and Atty. Gen. Gregory
have assured the president that ne
possesses the authority to equip
American ships with guns for de-
fensive purposes. What Prest VIII
son most desires TO show is that he
mas united congress and nation
behind him The little group OF
wilful men" who prevented the last
congress from giving him such au-
thority. afforded TO Germany much
satisfaction and 10 Washington
much chagrin. The fact that the
German press held up the "wilful' I
senators as representing the best
spirit in America" seriously disturb
ed the administration and made the
necessity for a new congress all the
more apparent in administration
eyes.
The adoption Of the clomre rule !
has also cleared the way for inn
pOrtant legislation. made necessary
by the German crisis. These meas !
ures can he forced 10 a vote within |
two days under the present rule or
whenever eventualities demand /
them.