The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-04-18
President Hurries to Capitol
and Takes Active Hand.
Senate Committee FavOrs 1t;
House Committee Opposes.
HOT FIGHT ON IN CONGRESS
Threaten to Garry 1t to Last
Ditch jim Both Houses.
Empower President to Requisi-
ton Any Ship in War Time.

Washington. April 1s-Evidence
grew today that congress, in the end,
will grudgingly and in a modified
form that will let it "out from under"
pass President Wilson's universal serv-
ice bill for raising an army of two
million men.
Under personal pressure from the
president himself, who made a hur-
ried trip to the capitol to urge speedy
acton, the senate committee quickly
reported out the administrations
measure with promise of immediate
senate action. Several committee
members who will insist on the volun-
teer system, however, declared their
intention TO fight to the last on the
senate floor. The senate committee
vote favorably reporting the bill was
close, 10 to :.
House IL to Against Plan.
In the meantime, house opposition
to selective or any kind of conscrip-
iion-until volunteering is first tried
which hal appeared to crumble some
what over night. sprung up again
seemingly stronger than ever.
The military committee voted IL to
s in favor of trying out a measure
that would empower the president to
Put into effect his selective co-opera-
ton system.
After this vote, the military COM
mittee appointed a subcommittee to
draft a substitute measure with the
volunteer feature.
Such a plan means that congress-
men who fear the folks back home"
would never return them to congress
If they voted for CONSUMPTION can thus
let themselves out and put the whole
responsibility on the administration
shoulders, since the proposed bill
would empower the president to order
a cooperation system into effect with
out any more action by congress.
While the army fight was on a reso-
luton was favorably reported by the
senate naval committee authorizing
the president to requisition any ship
or water craft for use in war. Com
pensation is to be determined by the
president. In the event the owner is
not satisfied he is to get so per cent
of the price set and may sue for the
remainder.
Appoint Additional "NIiddics."
Another measure reported by the
same committee would increase the
personnel at the naval academy, each
senator and representative will there
by be permitted to appoint one addi-
tional midshipman
At the same time the senate began
consideration of the drastic spy bill
another vital war measure. The bill
provides the death penalty for viola
lions of the provision dealing with
transmission of military or naval in
formation to the enemy or injury to
the United States
While house members were plan
ming the best way to cast off all re-
sponsibility for a cooperation system
of raising an army, the following bills
were introduced by committee chair
men, this form of introducing meaning
almost certain passage in the near
future:
Increase Navy to 100000.
Increasing the navy from $1,000 to
$50, 600 men and the marine corps
from 1900 to 10000.
Authorizing the president to seize all
railroad, telegraph and telephone
companies and draft employees and
giving the president power to regulate
exports of foodstuffs.