The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1917-03-01

SENATE Committee
AGREES ON BILL
Measure Is Amended and Vote Is
Expected Today. :
EXTRA SESSION IN SIGHT
Opposition by La Toilette and Others
Expected - President Confident
Full Power Will Be Granted
by Congress.
EXTRA SESSION IN SIGHT

Washington, Feb, 2S.-The senate
committee on foreign relations unani-
mouSiy reported a bill for the arma-
ment of American merchantmen. con-
ferring authority upon the president
to employ such instrumentalities and
methods as he may deem necessary toI
protect American ships and American
citizehs and granting him a credit of
$lO0.000,0O0 for these purposes.
The housG committee held tworlong
sessions during the day and then adj
journed until late today.
The senate will begin consideration
of the hill iWmediately after the reve-
nuc bill Is disposed Of, The bill will be
kept before the senate until it is
passed. There will he opposition Of
fered by Senator La Toilette and one
or two others, and they are hopeful of
filibuStcr;ng until the expiration Of the
session, thereby precipitatng an extra
session.
To Hurry Dill in House.
The house is expected to pass the bin
shortly after it shall be reported by the.
house foreign affairs committee. With
this committee during the day sat the
rules committee. The latter commit
tee is preparing to bring in rule linn
iting debate, fixing tlie time for Il vote
and preventing the consideration of
whole stack Of Amendments. such as
general embargo, which are in course
of preparation.
Changes in Senate Bill.
The WcaSiire provided in the first
section THAT the president he and
hereby is authorized aud empowered
to supply merchant ships, The prop
crty of citizens OF The United States
and bearing American registry, with
defensive arms, should il. in his iudg-
ment, become necessary for him to do
SO, and also with the necessary am
mtnnipa and means of making use of
theElisin defense against unlawful at-
tack"
The committee bill provides THAT
the commanders and crews OF all
merchant vessels of the United
States aud hearing the registry of the
United States are hereby authorized
to arm and defend such vessels against
uUlawful attack and the president is
hereby authorized and empowered to-l
supply such 4 vessels with defensive
arms fore ana aft and also with the
necessary ammunition and means OF
making use of them"
.Mu5t Wait for Request.
The president, under the senate bill,
therefore, cnIalot at his NrtiJn arm
merchantmen. He must. however, rec. ,
ogn"c the right 9C American ships 10
Grru, and I've may. upon their request,
furnish them with guns, ammunition
and gunncrs. ...
What senator's and members of the
house objected to particularly was
that provision Of the first section of
tho administration hin authorizing
and empowering the president ito
employ such other inStrumcntalitieS
and methods as may in his Judgment
ana discretion seeG necessary and
adequate to protect such ships and
the citizens Of the United Suites In
th@r lawful and peaceful pursuits on
the high seas.
That provision appears in the com
mittce bill exattly as worded in the
administration measure. The credit
Of $iOOGG0,G00 is extended through the
saIc of 3 per cent bonds. but the com
mittee bill specifically limited to $25,-
100000 the amount available for war
risk Insurance.
Committee Backs Wilson.
The senate committee considered
for several hours the meaning of the
language of the administration hill
aud finally began consideration of
the amendments offered by Senator's
Borah Of Idaho and Sutherland of
Utah, intending to clarity and re-
strict the presidents authority under
the first section.
The president fo.' wed the proceed
in.S IN congress wiki the greatest at
tentiun. At his Instance Postmaster
General Burlcson was in consultation
during the day with Chairman Flood
OF ;he house committee and Chnir-
man Stone Of the senate committee
Later in the afternoon Secretary Tu-i
nulty was in conference with Demo
cratic Seuators.
Wilson ls Confident
Is II result, the president is salts
fed lhut congress will give him the
authority he seeks. The house bill
may differ in one or two respects
from The senate bill. In this case the
measure will 20 to conference, where
1t will he worded in . fashion to suit
the chief executives.