The sun., 1917-02-20
HOUSE WANTS
WILSON TO ACT
Democratic Leader Says Ma
j0rity Don't Ask Him to
Consult Congress.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 19.-The situation
in the House. where the pacifsts are
still active, again attracted attention
to-day. The feeling seemed to be that
it has been made pretty plain to Presi-
dent Wilson what he may and may not
expect from that chamber in the way Of
support in the German crisis.
One of the Presidents closest friends
and admirers on the Democratic side
admitted to-day that Mr. Wilson could
not obtain even the approximation OF
a united House on any, proposal the
carrying out of which might lead TO
hostilities with Germany. This member
said he voiced a majority OF the House
in declaring that 1t would be the part
Of wisdom for the President to assume
that the Executive now has sufficient
authority to arm or convoy merchant
men and place Immediately into opera
ton, without going to Congress. plan
for the protection Of American lives and
property at sea.
There ts no reason to doubt. however.
should President Wilson go before Con-
gress before the close of the session and
ask for authority and money to use the
naval forces of the United States for
the protection OF American lives and
property that this authorization would
be granted in some form or another. But
II is apparent that there will be a material
division in the vote unless by that time
Germany shall have committed some
overt act against American lives or
shipping.
Extra SessiOn Not Favored.
Satisfied througi, interchange OF views
last week that they can now control the
extent of the Presidents war authoriza-
tions, the paciflst group Joined to-day
with the group supporting the President
In his desire that an extra session be
avoided. The House Is not n unit OH
this, but there IS little doubt that an
extra session will be avoided unless a
more serious situation than is now ex-
pected arises before March 4.
Meantime the pacifist party. using
Representative Moore of Pennsylvania
as spokesman, intends to keep the peace
or war issue as broadly before the
public AS the rules OF the House and
the assistance Of leaders like James r.
Mann and Claude Kitchln make 1t pos
sible. Mr.. Moore vainly renewed to-day
his demand for the immediate consid-
GRAFTON of his resolution to investigate
the charge that certain newspape have
been subsidized He then launched a
'pceSh tdluils dttcntlOn n recent
change in the editorial policy Of the
Washington Post, drawing the inference
that the British subsidy which Repre-
sentative Galloway charged has pur-
chased twenty-five American newspapers
Is responsible for this change The
change in policy las been attributed by
every one but Mr.. Moore to the death
OF the owner and publisher. John r.
i Mclean.
Representative Moore apparently has to
substantiate the Galloway charges he
/ has supported is Information that the
London correspondents of one or more
/ great American newspapers have Offices
in the building occupied by the London
Times. 1t was pointed out to Mr. Moore
that the New York representatives of
many Chicago, st. Louis. PHILADELPHIA,
San Francisco, Boston and far Western
dailies have their offices in buildings oc-
cupied by the big New York dailies SIM
ply as matter of convenience. Mr..
Galloway probably will not be called on
ofhcially to make good his charges.
Threatens Daily Demand.
Mr. Moore served notice that he would
renew his demand daily for tho investi-
CATION until the adjournment OF Con-
gress. but this will be done, IL il is done.
: purely to keep the spark Of life glowing
in the pacifist movement In the House.
The legislative situation, while not
impossible is st!ll such as to require
real pressure or the abandonment Of all
except appropriation measures in order
to avoid an extra session. The sundry
civil bill was reported to-day and the
urgent deficiency measure will follow
probably next week. These will have TO
be passed by both houses, The Senate
has yet to pass the army, navy. Mill
tary Academy and pension appropria-
tion bills and conference reports have
to be made on virtually all appropria-
/ ton measures and the revenue bill
! Then there Is the Presidents railway
legislation, which no one in the House
cares about in Its present form; the cur
rency amendments. for which a rule is
asked and may or may not he granted
the shipping and harbor protection and
espionage measures--all of which will
consume considerable time. There are
/ exactly nine legislative days of nine
hours each, plus two sundays and Wash
| ington's Birthday. in which to conclude
| this programme. 1t looks very much as
though the President will not be able to
have his programme and his recess OF
| Congress 100.