French Broad hustler. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1916-1919, 1917-02-08
CONGRESS READY TO 4cT O1IcK-
II FOR NATIONAL DEFENSE
leaders Already Have Cast Partisan
snip d Asldc-BilI Carrying $3.50.
OOU.OOO for Maintenance viii
PaSs at Once.


washington aroused to patriotic
support OF the President calmly awaits
developments IN the diplomatic breach
with Germany. S''oAA
Ready to act quickly and alternately
In any emergency, administration lead.
ers are IN constant touch with the ax
ecutive departments. While honafn1
that the break with the imperial Ger
man government will not force the
United States into war, leaders alreadv
have cast partisanship aside. legisia
tive squabbles over minor matters
haVt been tempered and the legislative
branch is standing by to respond to
any demand for protection of the ma
ZION IN the international crisis.
important measures bearing on the
situation already are under consider
aton III Doth houses, among them the
annual naVal appropriation bill. carrv-
ing more than $3.50, 100000 for naval
maintenance and construction. There
is prospects of its passage of its adj
Journment Tuesday night.
An amendment will be offered to an
proprlate an additional .$119,O 900
for the immediate completion of 113
war vessels heretofore authorized and
now is various stages of construction
IN government and private yards. An
other suggested by Secretary Daniels
would empower the President to com
mandeer private shipbu1Iding wards
and munition plants whenever in his
opinion the interest of the country ra-
qu1res such action. Speaker CLARK
and other house leaders tonight said
tney believed that the amendment
would be adopted.
In addition to the regular annronrI-
alton bill there is pending in. the sen
ate with growing sentiment in favor
OF us passage, special bill by Sem
ator Polndexter, providing for imme-
d1ate construction of 100 submarines
I'D addition to II carried in the regular
appropriation bill.
Inc crisis also finds the house mill
TRY committee ready with the current
army bill carrying $275, 200, 900 submit
10 any change that exigencies may de-
mand. 10y O0-
Under the existing law the Presi
dent mas authority to increase the
regular army to full war strength of
zS6,OOO in case of war or threatened
war. He also has authority to call nm
the national guard. now having some
10000 available men. The ouard,s
strength, 100000, cannot be acouirod
until the expiration of four years
champions of universal military SER
vice are renewing their advocacy of
pending legislation on that subject
hopeful that presnt changes may bring
action in the near future.
To safeguard interests of the nation
against conspiracies, consideration is
being rushed in the senate of measures
suggested by the attorney general tn
strengthen the statutes under which,
prosecutions may be brought against
Offenders within the United States who
further the interests of foreign govern
ments.
d while awaiting DEVELOPMENTS how
ever. both houses are expected to keen
up drive on general legislation and
TO go about regular business as calm
~ as possible. The senate will CON
TIME with the agricultural appropri
alton bill and tomorrow afternoon
VIII proceed to vote in an attemnt IN
attempt to pass the immigration bill
president Wilson's veto. The house
OVERRIDE the veto last week.
Administration leaders hope to pre-
vent discussion of international issues
but wear agitation from the pacifst
element in congress. Efforts to arouse
sentiment against participation in the
wa rare expected to come from the
so-called Bryan" or "pacifist" grol1p
and MI. Bryan's presence in Washing
ton and utterances on this subject yes
terday and today, together with the
arrival tonight of Henry Ford. have
served to Increase apprehension in this
regard Mr.. Bryan, who has some FOL
lowing in both branches of congress-
has been urging various alternatives.
including the referendum on the cues