The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-03-03
that the armed neutrality measure
would 20 through the senate as

that the armed neutrality measure
would 20 through the senate as
framed by the committee. and despite
the limited character of the similar
measure passed by the house last
night. the lower body would ulti-
snately agree to the broader bill The
senate measure, as framed by the
committee, provided:
That the commanders and crews OF
all merchant ships of the United
etates and bearing the registry OF the
United States, are hereby authorised
to arm and defend such vessels
against unlawful attacks, and the
president of the United States Is mere
by authorized and empowered 10
supply such vessels with defensive
arms fore and aft, and also with
the necessary ammunition and means
of making up of them, and that he be
and hereby Is authorized and empow-
. cred to employ such other instru
mentalties and methods as may, IN
his Judgment and discretion. be neces
cary and adequate 10 protect such
vessels in their lawful and peaceful
pursuits on the seas.
The sum of SOC. 900, 600 is hereby
Appropriated TO he expended m ne
president OF the United States for the
purpose OF carrying iHNp 'iS't ~
foregoing provisions. and said sum 70
he available until the first day OF
January 1918.
The bill would authorize bond is
sue 10 raise the 500 000 600. and
would authorize the use OF $4,000
eco Of the money TO aid the war risk
Insurance bureau IN handling present
war risks"
Hitchcock Surprises Senate.
Hitchcock surprised the senate
when he approved the granting Of
stronger authority than is given by
the bill which passed the house
II am sometimes classified as
pacifst" he said but | believe there
Is more safety for this country In
taking n definite position. than In tho
uncertain position we would occupy
without such q grant Of power TO the
president
al would rather trust him to he
moderate than TO trust this body IT.
self The president can be Judged not
only by his patient forbearHnce dur
ing the last three years hut by his
words OF February &c when he ad-
mitted he had the power he asked OF
congress but nevertheless asked oar
counsel am willing to take the
president at his word that he desires
to avoid war"
Reads Hoy Telegram.
Senator LodEe read the cableEram
sent the president by the son and
brother OF Mrs. and Miss Hoy, who
died in the sinking, or the Laconia
This to me ts painful reading" he
waid. Those two women were law
f',iiy on that peaceful passenger ship.
They didn't sacrifice their rights as
Americans by taking passage The
ship was torpedoed at night and with
OFT warning and they persisted miser-
ably in open boats. ! do not think
tits bill gives the president tho right
to convoy n foreign ship. but I do
think he has the right TO assert the
rights OF Americans in harmless.
peaceful pursuits
Senator Lodge called the attention
OF the senate to the national peril and
that II was useless 10 strain points
with view 10 limiting the pres, dents
powers.
eff we can't trust the president we
had better tie his hands altogether"
Does the senator expect that the
president Will commit an act of war
without a declaration Of war by con
gress?" asked Senator O'G'orman.
Il most certainly do not, but II has
been done" said Lodge.
Suppose one OF these armed mer-
chantmen sa W a submarine approach
ing INQUIRED Senator Cummtns.
II should be very sorry II the mer-
chairman did not sink the submarine
at once" reto-'ed Senator Lodge.
j don't want to debate that cues
don," said Cum Minis, because | for
one am In favor OF sinking submarines
ON sight"
The galleries broke into applause
and had to be admonished