Norwich bulletin., 1917-03-02
House Votes to
 ArmMerChantmen
BY OVERWHELMING MAJORITY
 AFTER 10 HOURS or DEBATE
sloo,ooo,o o,ooo BOND ISSUE
Bill as Passed by the House, Excludes "othsr InstrumsptaIitiesv Which President Wilson Specifically Dssirsl --ooes to the Senate Today,

Washington, March l.--Aroused bs the disclosure of Germany's plot ts unite Japan and Mexico with her in war upon the United States, and then convinced by official evidence of itI authenticity, congress today abandon ed the delays and obstructions which have checked President Wilson's eff. forts to be clothed with express au. thority to deal with the submarine menace.
 Ten Hour Debate.
 The house after a ten hour debate and by an overwhelming majority passed a bill to empower the president to arm merchant ships and providing Tor hundred million dollar bond is- sue. The bill, however, does not con. tain the grant of authority to use other instrumentalities" which the president specifically desires and would prevent government war insur- ance for munitions ships, prohibition which the president does not approve
 Senate Bill Will Be Substituted.
 When the house bill Is received in the senate tomorrow, the senate bill which the administration fully com mends, will be substituted, and that is expected finally to be accepted by both houses as the law.
 Official announcement was made al the White House today that the ad- ministration stands behind the senate bill first, last and all the time" wits
 
 ties"
 Astounded by Revelations. Members of both houses of congress some skeptfcal of the authenticity oi the astounding revelations of Ger many's intrigue, others feeling that il had been permitted to become public for its effect -n congress and through out the country, met the situation witb mixed emotions which, with a few pos sfble exceptions, as the days develop ments were unfolded, soIidifed into a decision to stand behind the presi- dent.
 CIashed With Paeifist Group. Congressmen clashed with the so. called pacifist group in the house wihs have been opposing grant of author | ity to the president on the ground | that it would be a step toward war, announced that they would vote for that to arm the president to protect | American rights might be the way to avoid war.
 FtTbuster Abandoned. Republican senators who have been fihbustering against the armed neu- but to force an extra session of con- gress. declared their conviction that the situation demanded united sup port of the president. A congress badly divided and, in it's dying moments. with its legislative program at siXeS and sevens, and charges. of playing politics. flying from every side, suddenly took on new aspect.
 America First"
 It was as if the cry America l first' had rung through the halls of both houses and the response had been almost instantaneous. In the senate members who have opposed the president in his manner of dealing with Germany on the ground | that 1t was leading to war were found | fighting influences which the presi- dents supporters declared were calcu- lated to emoarraSs him. Chairman Stone Voted Down. There were bitter references in de- l bate to senators to whom the presi- dent would be expected to look for advice on foreign matters. Chairman Stone of the foreign relations commit tee was voted down in his own com | mittee on his own draft of a resolu- | tion asking the president to disclose | if the American governments infor- | nation concerning the latest phase of German intrigue came from one of Germanys enemies.
 With the authenticity of the now celebrated Zimmerman instructions officially established to the senate, and the armed neutrality bill passed, the house tomorrow Is expected tc stage-the perfection of an armed | neutrality bill acceptable to the presi- dent in all respects.
 Extra Session Unsettled. The question of an extra session of l congress is still undetermined. PresiS dent Wilson told inquirers today he ! did not expect to call one, although it developed that democratic whips in | the house were advising members and members-elect to be prepared to att | tend on March 4.
 ! AMERICAN STEAMER