The Morgan County press. (Wartburg, Tenn.) 1916-1926, 1917-03-08

Sends Measure Back After II Agai
Is Approved.
Western Newspaper Union News Service
Washngton.-Afterm more than eigh
hours debate on the armed neutraIit
bill in the Senate, leaders finally reach
ed an agreement for recess, withou
setting time for vote on the meas
ure. The agreement was reached afte
Senator La Toilette had withdraw
his objection to taking up the bill a
passed by the House, with view t.
substituting for it the broader Senate
measure approved by the President.
Democrats in charge of the bill pro
posed this step so it can 90 to con
ference Immediately after the Senate
acts instead of having to be sent bach
to the House.
Senator La Toilette, upon whose at
titude virtually depends when a vote
will be reached, declined to agree upon
a time to vote. Administration lead
ers are confident that the House will
accept the Senate substitute.
Washington-Pres Wilson's
bill to authorize policy of armed
neutrality moved toward passage in
the Senate with a debate running the
whole scale Of the nations foreign re-
lations
The measures which the White
House has announced It desires as
substitute for the less sweeping bill
passed by the House developed little
evidence of determined opposition. 1t
gave Senators long awaited opportu-
nifty, however, to declare their convic-
tons in the international crisis; and
the debate proceeded with delibera-
ton, despite the knowledge that it
now is Senate action on which the
President is waiting.
There were no party lines, and most
of the pacifist element of the Senate
declared willingness to fall in be-
hind the President in his move for an
armed policy.
Senator Stone, head of the Foreign
Relations Committee, however, by vir-
tue of his position the logical admin
istratiOn spokesman on such ques-
tons, withdrew from the task as soon
as the armed neutrality bill was
brought in by his committee. He said
candor would not permit him to take
the floor for the measure, and submit
ted an amendment to exempt NUM-
tons carrying ships from the protec.
lion to be extended other merchant |
men.
To Senator Hitchcock and Senator
Lodge, the ranking Democratic and |
Committeeman, fell the |
leadership. Senator La Toilette, about |
whose attitude there had been some
announced he would talk
1t length on the bill, but had no in
ention of filibustering.
The dramatic features of the stua-
ion we're heightened by crowded gal
cries and the attendance of several
yabinet members and many Repre-
entatives on the floor as spectators.
Imong those in the diplomatic gallery
vas Sir Cecil Spring-Rice, the British
The Senate bill, in addition to au'
horizing the arming of merchant
hips, would extend the authority re.
uested by the President for use Of
other instrumentalities" in protect
lg American rights. That feature
-as omitted from the House bill,
hich also contained a prohibition OBJ
to the President against
lie insurance by the War Risk Blu
Eau of vessels laden with munitions.
More than one Senator declared pas.
lge of the Senate bill would mean
ar sooner or later, but almost with
1t exception they added they were
lady. to accept war on those terms.
few insisted that it would not mean
ar u
None expressed any other expecta- o
On than that it would be passed, and I
en- be accepted by the House. h
Senator Cummins moved early in v
e debate to amend Senator Stones Ct
nendment by providing for conveys m
7 merchant ships, and later Senator "
cCumber proposed as a substitute
: the entire bill resolution declar-
g the rights of neutral merchant YES CT
Is engaged in commerce, including al
e right to arm for defense only. Bel tn
.erenfs would have the right under A