Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1917-02-19
Administration Leaders Are
Urging Completion of Es-
SentiaI Revenue and Pre-
paredneSS Programs,
PRESIDENT EXPECTED
TO MAKE WISHES KNOWN
t Is Believed That Chief
Executive Will Soon Ask
Authority to Protect AIneri-
can Commerce,


! Washington, Feb. IS.--With the enc
of the siXty-fourth congress but two
weeks off, administration leaders arc
concentrating their energies to the
/ enactment of revenue and nationa
defense legislation Much long pend.
! ing general legislation everyone rec.
, ognizes must give way to appropria-
! tions and measures that relate to the
! preparation of the nation for even
Qualities which may grow out of the
| diplomatic breach with Germany.
! In the senate, the revenue and naval
| bills are to be given the right of way
as soon as the espionage and anti-con-
| spiraCy bill now under consideration
! is out of the way The house will pass
the army appropriation bill within a
/ few days and then devote its attention
to the sundry civil and general de-
ficiency appropriation.
President to Speak Soon.
What emergency legislation may be
enacted before adjournment depends
entirely upon the decision Of the pres
idcnt. Many members of the senate
and house believe he will communi-
cate to congress within few days his
plans for handling the International
crisis.
While there is no definite under
standing among congressional leaders
regarding the course of the admins
tration, the prevailing opinion is that
he will ask congrqss for authority to
use the armed fofccs OF the nation for
the protection of American seamen
and American rights on the high seas
not with the purpose of making war
but TO open the sea to shipping
Senate Hastens Action.
While awaiting the next step, what
ever it may be, the senate is determin-
ed to hasten action on the revenue
bill, the naval appropriation bill
amended by the naval affairs commit
tee to carry $533.000,000, an increase
of $165, 100000 over the house bill.
and the army appropriation bill. In
addition to these measures the ship
ping bill urged by the shipping board
extending the powers of the govern
ment to control commercial shipping
is of paramount interest.
Whether there will be time for
passage of railroad labor legislation
and other general bills IN view of the
of essential measures, is
doubted seriously by leaders of both
parties. It has been determined to
proceed with the most urgent matters
regardless of The possibility of an
extra session and there is confidence
that all the appropriation measures
except possibly the rivers and harbors |
bill can be enacted by March 4.
Euiogics on Dead Senators.
The senate was in session today for
to three members who died |
during the last session, former Sena-
tors Clarke Of Arkansas, president |
pro tempore; 9hively of Indiana, and |
Burleigh of Maine.
The postoffce appropriation bill, |
with its senate amendment for bone |
dry prohibition, may be called up in
the house Tuesday. When the com
mittee moves for non n-concurrence.
several members, including Repre-
sentative Randell of California, pro-
will move to concur in an
Effort to put the prohibition issue
;quarely before the house.