The Ordway new era., 1917-03-09
TWELVE SENATORS BLOCK MEAS.
URE FOR PROTECTION OF
U. S. CITIZENS AT SEA.
SAITH CONGRESS ENDS
PRESIDENT SIGNS $685., 900 900
BILLS PASSED BY SENATE
AND HOUSE..
Western Newspaper Union News Service.

| Western Newspaper Union News Service
Washington, March 5.-The Sixty
fourth Congress expired at noon Sun
| day without vote having been
| reached in the Senate on the armed
neutrality bill. Just as the hands of
the clock pointed to the noon hour
| Senator Hitchcock read a portion OF
President Wilson's address asking for
armed neutrality law and declared the
Presidents request had been defeated
| by twelve men in the most reprehen
sibe filibuster in the history of civ,
ilized government.
The administration bills which
failed of passage when Congress ad-
journed sine die at noon are:
President Wilson's bill authorizing
American ships to arm to repel Ger
man submarines; empowering the eX-
ecutive to supply arms, ammunition
and gunners and to employ "other in
strumentalities and methods" to pro-
tect Americans and American vessels
on the high seas.
The army bill carrying 1887 ,00O,-
900 for the enlargement, further
equipment and support of the land
forces of the nation during the next
fiscal year.
The espionage bills to prevent the
communication of information to the
enemy, to establish strict censor
ship and otherwise to regulate the
conduct of citizens in time of war.
The sundry civil appropriation bill
carrying millions of dollars for mis-
cellaneous departmental purposes, in
cluding many large items for coast de-
fense and other phases of prepared
ness for war.
The general deficiency appropriation
bill authorizing emergency expendi-
lures requested by the administra-
ton within the last few days.
The White House has intimated that
an extra session might be called in
June.
Approve $685., 100000 Bill for Navy.
The navy appropriation bill provid-
ing fund of s535,O00OO0 for new
warships, submarines, submarine
chasers, patrol boats and guns, ammu-
milton and other equipment was sent
|
report had been approved by both
Senate and House. Conferees had
agreed to reduce the number of ex-
ira submarines from fifty to twenty,
making the total number provided for
thirty-eight. The Senate conferees
yielded the provision for enlarging the
Charleston, N. c., drydock, which Sen
ator Tillman had fought hard to OBJ
tain.
The Senate also adopted the House
resolution providing for bond issue
Of s15O,OOO,OoO to expedite construc-
ton of naval vessels. That complet-
ed approval of the Administrations
naval program.
Although the bill authorizing the
President to arm American ships and
otherwise protect Americans on the
high seas would have passed the Sen
ate by an overwhelming majority this
egislation, modified form of which
was passed by the House on Thurs
day, was killed by filibuster con-
iucted by small group of Republi-
can and Democratic senators.
AS a last resort the large majority
Of the Republican and Democratic
senator's favoring the bill drew up
manifesto to the country and to the
world stating that the armed ship bill
has been passed by the House by al
most unanimous vote and that more
than two-thirds of the Senate favored
comforting full power upon the Presi-
dent to deal with the German sub
marine menace by measures short OF
war.
President Wilson went to the cap
itol at $50 o'clock and signed the
naval appropriation and other bills
passed in the final hours of Congress.
Administration leaders said the Pres
ident also signed the bill making the
bone dry clause in the postal bill
effective July l.