Omaha daily bee., 1917-02-18
PRESIDENT SEES
SENATORS UPON
GERMAN CRISIS
Administration is Considering
Means to Free Ships that
Are Tied Up by the
Kaiser's Threats.
MAY ARM ALL VESSELS
President Probably, Will Go Be.
fore Congress for Author
ity to Meet Situation.
ALL DEPoTs coNGEsTED

Washington, Feb. ia suggestion
that congress, before it adjourns, may
be asked to pass a resolution giving
President Wilson additional authority
to protect American citizens because
OF the German submarine situation,
was discussed by the president with
members Of the senate at the capitol
today.
While it was indicated that the
president had made no definite plan
the idea became current as result
of the capitol conferences, that the
president felt il would be a mistake
for congress to adjourn with the sit
uation in its present unsettled state.
Will Go Before Congress.
1t was the expectation that in case
OF decision to ask for such authority.
the president will appear before
joint session of congress in accord
ance with plans when relations were
severed.
The president earlier called at Sec
rotary Bakers Office and it was be-
lieved one Of the subjects he talked
over with the secretary, was the ques-
ton OF universal military training.
Washington. Feb. l7.--What has
virtually become a blockade of Amer
ican Atlantic ports by Germany's
ruthless submarine campaign was re-
garded by officials today as overshad-
owing the collateral issues OF the sit
uation.
That President Wilson soon will 60
before congress to announce steps to
relieve the situation was the generally
accepted view, but no time has been
set'for his action and there was no in
dication of how soon it will be taken.
The effect on the country OF the
shipping situation was reflected in the
receipt OF hundreds of kilograms by
government officials urging that some
thing be done to relieve the conges-
tion.
Officials recognize that the holding
of the majority Of American and other
ships in port fast is becoming intol-
cradle, Piling up OF freight on rail
roads, while believed to be largely due
to weather and other conditions, is
nevertheless looked upon as in part
the result Of the inability of export
ers to clear American ports of freight.
Means OF protecting American ships
against the submarine danger still are
under consideration. Many officials
believe the president has the power
to direct the Navy department to fur
nish these vessels with guns and gun
crews, nevertheless the possibility
that a clash with Germany might re-
suit is expected to cause the president
to go before congress before taking
such step.
Situation at New York Improved.
New York, Feb. l7.--Owners and
agents OF ships declared TODAY that
they were ready to do their part in re-
lieving the railroad freight congestion.
They predicted that exporters would
have no caus1 for complaint that they
could not find vessels TO carry their
Roods-at least no greater cause than
existed before the declaration of the
German submarine blockade.
Railroad men were. inclined tc
agree that the new submarine cam
paign played only small part in the
freight situation. The most import
ant fact or in the situation. they said.
was the weather, which had been the
worst in many years.
Twenty-one merchant ships arriy
ing here yesterday promised greater
cargo space than the port OF New
York has enjoyed for some time.
Fourteen of these came through the
war zone.
War risk insurance today showed
a slight reduction from the high rates
prevailing since the beginning of the
German blockade. Quotations that
had been invariably 10 per cent for
transatlantic voyages now range
3 toy per cent. Rates to the Mediter-
ranean are II to Il per cent