El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1917-02-27
LIMITS WILSON
To SEA FORCES
Committee in Congress Cuts
Down Resolution Asking
Authority.
Continued From Page L.

in their own ranks and more Dy Inc
opposition of Republicans to giving the
executive blanket powers on the eve
Of adjournment
Meetings OF the committees on Tor
eign affairs had been called early IN
the day to discuss drafts OF Dill
which would do just what the presl-
dent asked in his address yesterday
empower him to furnish guns and
gunners to American ships ana 10 EN-
ploy such "Other Observation-Disclosures IS
he NAV think necessary, and PROVIDE
for n bond issue of 500. 100000 TO meet
the expense The president himself
drafted the bill
The fight probably will center in the
house. where the bill was presented
last night by chairman Flood OF the
foreign affairs committee
Republicans Oppose Blank Check.
The chief objection Of the Repu9-
licans is to the phrase otner i nsIru-
mentalities". Several of the leaders
express Willingness to vote Tor any
specific authority sought by the presl-
dent, but say they do not want to sign
blank check
Then there are many who strongly
/ favor directing as well as authorizing
| the arming and protecting OF ships, IN
sisting that the necessity already exists
and that the United States cannot win
/ seIf-respect wait longer to assert its
Want an Extra Session
/ Back of all their objections most OF
the Republicans want an extra session
and contend that congress should not
/ be away from washington when the
nation is on the brink of war. Another
| filibuster IN the senate is threatened
and the Democrats fear it. although the
! president is represented as fully conf
, DENT that the power he asks will be
| granted and that there will be no extra
Text of Flood Bill.
| The text of the Flood bill follows;
I ~
house of representatives Of the United
| States of America in congress assem-
/ bled that the president Of the United
! States be, and is hereby, authorized
and empowered TO supply merchant
/ ships the property of citizens of the
| United States and bearing American
/ registry, with defensive arms should
\ it, in his judgment become necessary
for him to do so. and also with the
| necessary ammunition and means OF
! maKfne. use of them in defence against
! unlawful attacks. and that he be, and
| is hereby. authorized and empowered to
4 employ such other instrumentalities
| and methods as may in his Judgment
/ and discretion seem necessary and ads-
| ouate to protect such ships and the
| citizens of the United States in their
! lawful and peaceful pursuits on the
/ high seas.
Big Credit Provided.
! Section 2-The sum of Sl0O.OO0.OOO Is
| hereby appropriated out of any moneys
/: in the treasury not otherwise approprl-
ated to be expended by the president
/ of the United States for the purposes
herein stated. the said sum to be avail
| able until the frs day OF January,
! 1918: and the president is authorize
I 10 transfer so much thereof as he may
deem necessary to the bureau Of war
/ risk insurance, created by act Of con-
! eress. approved September ,. 1914. for
the purpose of insuring vessels. their
! freight. passage moneys and csrgoes
| against loss or damage for the present
! risks of war.
Bond Issue Authorized.
Section 3-For the purpose OF meet
| ing the expenditures herein authorized,
! the secretary of the treasury, under
| the direction OF the president is au-
! thorized to borrow on the credit Of the
United States and to issue therefor
I bonds of the United States not exceed
ing in the aggregate 500, OOO.0 600. said
[ bonds to be in such form and subject
to such terms and conditions as he
J secretary OF the treasury may prescribe
! and to bear interest at the rate not
| excepting three per centum pre- annum
| provided, that such bonds shall be sold
at not less than par. shall not carry the
| circulating privilege. and that all CHI
zens of the United States shall be giver
an equal opportunity TO subscribe
therefor. but no commission shall be
| allowed or paid thereon; that botf
principal and interest shall be payable
| in United States gold coin of the pres
]
from all taxation of the United States
as well as from taxation in any form
| of all state, municipal or local authOri-
ties: that any bonds issued hereunder
may. under sucn conditions as tbs
! secretary of the treasury may pre-.
scribe, be convertible into bonds bear-
ing a higher rate OF interest than three
per centum per annum If any bond:
| shall be issued by the United States a
! a higher rate than three per centuu
per annum by virtue of any act passei
| on or before December 81, 1918
Section I'm order to paw the neces-
sary expenses connected with the sad
| issue of bonds, or any conversions
thereof. a sum not exceeding one-fiftr
of one per centum Of the amount 81
bonds herein authorized to be issued
or which may be converted. is hereby
| appropriated out OF any money in tn,
! treasury not otherwise appropriated. q
! be expended as the secretary of the
| treasury may direct"
LacOnia Incident Serious.
Official details of the sinking OF tn
liner Laconia are awaited here witt
! grave interest.
Today's dispatches indicated the los
of Mrs Hoy and her daughter Of Chica
| go, passengers on the Laconia. anS
| the vessel. all Of whom died OF eX
| posture after leaving the ship
| 1t was indicated in Official quarter
! that no immediate action would b.
! renewed pressure would be brought L
bear on congress TO grant the add
! tional authority requested by him yes
7 terday-
| While Official comment was with
held. pending a fun investigation. tn
LacOnia incident was looked upon a
| serious.
Guns Are Plenty; Gunners Few.
| Guns and mounts sufficient to arm
any reasonable number OF american
| merchant ships are now stored at navI
/ yards. it was stated officially at tn
navy department Efficient gunner.
| are lacking, however, unless they arr
to be taken from active ships, which
can ill spare them
Naval officers pointed out that me-
| Of special skill, trained to the minute
would be required as gun pointers 70
| anti-submarine work At best a Z
boat is difficult to hit as there is littl
] exposed Often a periscope, hardl!
/ visible at more than a few thousa1,
| yards. is the gunner's only target
Men Are Scarce.
Recent figures show that 25O ship
| under American registry are engaged
| in transatlantic trade. but it is esti
mated that not more than 100 wOul'
| apply for guns and take the risk o
| crossing the German submarine zones
There will be no difficulty in furnish
ing that number Of vessels wit