The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1917-05-14
WORDS, WORDS,
WORDS, HALT
ALL ACTION
First Thirty Nine Days of War
With Germany Is Verbal
Contest Only
CONGRESS DELAYS ALL
IMPORTANT BILLS
Unless Body Speeds Up It Will
Be Months Before Nation
Can Give Aid

Washington, May 14.-The United
States has been at war with Germany
80 days and practically all the mea.
sures, through which this government
Is to do its nart in the, world battle
for humanity and civilization, sti1l
are in the talking stage in congress.
The actual accomplishment since
President Wilson convened the spe>
cial war session on April has been
the passage of resolutions declaring a
state of war with Germany, and an
nouncement of the seven billion loan
law. So those who predicted con-
gress would provide the nation with
the means of making war successfully
and adjourn by June have extended
their estimates to the middle of Aug
ust.
J. Must Act Soon.
Pressing for speed are the admins
tration on one side and on the other
constituents at home demanding ac-
ton, congress faces many things to
do and do quickly If tine aid in the
world war is to be of it's full value.
AS congress today went into it's
thirty-seventh working day the war
program stood this way:
Under Debate.
War tax BILL, Under debate in the
house, and up for public hearings in
the senate finance committee. At the
present rate, Of progress it will prob
ably be before one house or the other
for at least a month. -5t.'
Army bill: In conference again to
thresh over the action of the house
in restoring the so called Roosevelt
amendment. 1t provides the army
the allies need in France.
Food Control.
Food control bills: Debated one
day in the house, and an entirely diff.
ferent form of bill has been intro.
duced in the senate.
Shipping bills The bills to vest
legal title to the seized German ships
in the government has passed both
houses, but it is in conference for
reconsideration Of differences; the
bill to appropriate $400,000,O00 for a
start of the great merchant fleet to
overcome the submarine menace has
not yet been introduced and may not
be, while plans are being discussed
of paying for the ships out of the
81, 600, 100000 loan. The bill to au'
thorize the taking over of shipbuild.
ing facilities and ships building for
foreign account has been introduced,
but it is not yet under consideration.
Espionage Bill. r"
Espionage bill: The house, in pass
ing the bill, retained the newspaper
censorship section demanded by the
administration, but did not enact an
embargo section, which the admins
tration wants to keep supplies from
going to Germany through neutrals.
The senate still has its bill under
debate retaining such embargo Sec
ton. but entirely without a censor
ship provision. The real enactment
of this bill probably will be in confer
ence where the administration Will
bring pressure to have embargo ana
censorship provisions inserted in ac-
ceptable terms.
Use Of Grains.
Prohibition: As an amendment to
the espionage bill the senate has at
tached a section prohibiting the man.
ufacture of intoxicating liquors from
food grain.
Various prohibition proposals are
pending in the house. The normal
strength of the prohibition forces in
congress-, coupled with the rising
prices of food, present Likelihood
of some action to prevent toodstuns
from being manufactured into ilquor'
at least during the war.
"Pirates" and robbers were terms
applied by Senators to food speculat-
ors during Senate debate today on pro-
posals to abolish future tradings IN
foods. Lamp post hangings as
remedy we're again referred to.
Senators who opposed the Thomas
amendment argued that the OBJECT
should be accomplished in another
way and some thought it would stfhe
commerce. The great majority or
opinions expressed, which for force
and range of adjectives had seldom
been heard in the senate chamber
favored some drastic action to stop
speculation which had for its result
the boarding of foodstuffs.
A motion to lay the amendment OF
the table was carried, 54 to q, but a
motion to reconsider also carried
without a roll call and opened the de-
bate again.
WANT AMERICANS
M EITED NAVV