Evening star., 1917-03-08
Convinced Senate Rules Will
Be Amended to Pass "Arm- 7
ed Neutrality"
ADVISED OF HIS POWER :.
TO PUT GUNS ON SHIPS
Since the Appropriation Bills Must
Be Enacted, Extra Session Soon
Is Probability.

Indications accumulated today that
President Wilson is likely to act at
any time in the situation caused by
Germanys announcement of ruthless
submarine warfare. Although the
President was kept in bed by a cold, it
was said he was still considering the
subject.
In some administration quarters 10
was believed the President is certain
to act this week, but other officials
took the position that he would wait
until the Senate has had an opportunity
to revise its rules.
Mr.. Wilson has been advised that he
has sufficient power to arm American
merchantm without waiting for action
by Congress. and some officials believe
he will act on this advice forthwith.
On the other hand. strong sentiment
undoubtedly exists in the administration
for the President to take action along the
line of calling an extra session of Con-
gress to meet in the very near future.
Senate to Revise Rules.
Reports given to the President agree
that the Senate rules will be revised
quickly, so that if an extra session OF
Congress is called it would be possible
to get prompt action on an armed neu.
trality resolution.
Ina asmuch as there is a general agree
ment that an extra session is necessary
some time before July i, because OF the
failure of important appropriation bills
during the last session. a disposition
was apparent today among officials to
advise Mr.. Wilson to call an extra ses-
sion at once and get 1t over with.
More than hundred members OF the
House of Representatives from the
middle and far west still are in wash
ngton awaiting announcement by the
President as to whether he expects 10
call an extra session of Congress soon
They fear that If they start for home
they may be intercepted on the way
by an extra session call and have to
return Immediately.
To Express Opinion of Senate.
Senator Lewis, democratic whip. will
introduce a resolution today declaring
it to be the sense of the Senate that
the President, by virtue of the power
Of his Office has the right to protect
commerce to foreign nations equally
with commerce between the states.
The resolution is not considered to
have any effect. except as an expression
of the sentiment of the Senate if it 10
adopted.
The resolution further declares the
Presidents authority is not related 10
the power to declare war. but is de-
rived from his right as head civil officer
of the federal government to execute
the laws fostering commerce. The text
follows:
BE it resolved by the United States
Senate. That it is the sense OF the Sen,
ate that the President of the United
states has, by virtue of the power OF
his Office, under the Constitution and
laws of the United States. the right 10
protect commerce destined from the
United States to foreign nations. to
the same extent that he had to pro-
tect interstate commerce between the
states and in the naviGable waters of the
United States.
BE it resolved That II is the sense
of the Senate that this power is not de-
rived nor necessarily related to any
of the provisions OF the Constitution or
laws that have to do with declaring
war but is derived from the power
vested in the President as head civil
officer of the United States government
to execute those provisions of the Con-
stitution and laws which relate to the
fostering of commerce between the
United States and foreign nations.
BE it resolved that to secure proper
protection of commerce between nations
the President of the United States has
the power to protect commerce destined
to foreign countries by all the means
he has the right to employ for the pro-
lection of commerce between the states"
American shipbuilders engaged on gov
ernment work have entered into an
agreement with Secretary Daniels to ac-
cept new contracts at a fiat rate OF 10
rer cent net profit, and pledged co-opera-
tion To the fullest extent of their ability
in rushing to completion the narys con-
Struction program
All Private Plants Represented.
Virtually all Of the larger private
plants in the country were represented
in the conference The builders. who
have been netting from 20 to 30 per cent
on merchant steamers, said they were
willing to turn to government contracts
at 10 per cent as a patriotic duty, and
the Secretary on his part agreed to pro-
,ect from undue loss. As result for
the present at least, the government will
not consider exercising the authority
given by Congress 10 coi'ihahueer
plants. Ill,
The next step of the department wiz
be to call upon builders not engaged IN
work to undertake sucn
tasks as they are equipped to carry
cut For the most part this VIII con-
sist of building submarine chasers and
nossihly some destroyers. An under
standi1g also will be sought TO prevent
wards doing private work from drawing
Non from those with navy contracts.
The department is in correspondence
with steelmakers and other manufac-
turers who supply material for navy
ships Similar assurances Of co-opera-
tion are expected from them. Mr.. Dan
iels said he hoped to interfere with
building just as little as
nossible but that nothing would be al
lowed ito stand in the way of supply
ng the navy with ships and munitions
as rapidly as is possible.
Another element of the speeding-up
,ropram is the task of securing labor.
samuel Gompers. president OF the
American Federation of Labor. and
member Of the National Defense Coun-
iii advisory commission, has called a
abor conference in this connection.
All of the conferences and other pre-
iminary measures are preparatory to
he issuing by President Wilson of a
declaring that national
emergency exists which requires the
,se of the unusual powers granted him
w Congress to hasten naval construc-
ion. After that step has been taken
he emergency fund of more than
1 90. 900 900 provided for the purpose
will be available to pay for high-speed
and the department VIII
,e in q position to require any ship