Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1917-03-05
President Issues Statement
Telling Why Rules Must Be
Revised at Once.
GRAVE CRISIS IS AT HAND
Some Method Must Be Devised
Which VIII Limit Debate
and Filibuster.

country IN statement that he is
without power to arm merchant Snips
and 'ake other steps to meet the Ter
man submarine menace in the ab-
scncc of authority rom congress and
that he was mistaken when he said
in his recent address that he could
act under broad constitutional au
thority.
An extra session of congress. the
president says. is required to clathe
him with authority. but 1t is useless
to call one while the senate works
under the present rules which per
NIT small minority to keep an over
whelmirg majority from ccting
The president proposes therefore.
that the special session of the serate,
which he has called to meet tomorrow
rCVise the rules, 80 supply the means
Of action and save the country from
disaster"
No Will But Own.
"A little group Of wilful mer," says
the president in his statement, rep
rcserting no opinion but their own,
lave rendered the great government
of the United states helpless ahi con-
temptibe."
The presidents statement in full
follows
"Tpe termination of the last ses-
sion Of the SiXty-fourth congress by
constitutional limitation disclosoS
situation unparalleled in the history
Of the country. perhaps unparalleled
IN the history OF any modern govern
ruent In the immediate presence ot
n crisis frauPht with more subtle and
far-rcaching possibilities Of national
danger than any other the govern
rncnt has known within the whole
history Of It's international relations,
the convrcsS has been unable t. act
to cafaonarI tho 1nHDfTN 10
viudicatc the elementary rights Of its
citizens More than five hundred OF
the 531 members Of the two houses
were ready and anxious to act; the
house Of representatives, had acted, by
an Overwhelming majority, but the
senate was unable TO act because Il
little group cf II senators had de-
tcrmined that 1t should not
Can Not Limit Debate.
"The senate has no rules by which
debate can be limited or brought to
an end: no rules by which dilatory
tactics of any kind can be prevented.
A single member can stand in the way
of action If he has but the physical
endurance. The result In this case
is a complete paralysis alike of the
legislative and of the executive
branches of the government.
This inability of the senate to act
has rendered some of the most neces'
sary legislation of the session impos-
sible at "A time when the need for it
was most pressing and most evident.
The bill which would have permitted
such combinations of capital and Of
organiZatio in the export and import
trade of the country as the circum-
stances of international competition
have made imperative-a bill which
the business Judgment of the whole
country approved and demanded-l
has failed.
Can't Get Supplies.
"The opposition of one or two sena-
tors has made il impossible to IN
crease the membership of the inter-
state commerce commission or to give
it the altered organization necessary
for its efficiency. The conservation
bill which should have released for
immediate use the mineral resources
which are still locked up in the pub
lie lands. now that their release is
more imperatiVely necessary than
ever and the bill which would have
made the unused water power of the
country Immediately available for in
dustry have both failed, tho they
have been under consideration thruout
he session OF two congresses and
have been twice passed by the house
of representatives.
"The appropriations for the army
have failed, along with the appropria-
tions for the civil establishment of the
government, the appropriations for
the military academy at West Point, !
and the general deficiency bill. 1t has
proved impossible to extend the
powers of the shipping board to meet
the principal needs Of the siuation
into which our commerce forces orl
to increase the gold reserve of out
national banking system to meet the
unusual circumstances of the eVisting |
financial situation.
Crisis ConfrontS Senate.
at would not cure the difficulty to |
call the SiXty-fifth congress in eXtraor- /
dnary session. The paralysis of the |
senate would remain.
"Thc purpose and the spirit Of
action are not lacking now. The con /
gress is more definitely united in thot
and purpose at this moment, | venture I
to say than 1t has been within the |
memory of any man now In its mem |
bership. There is not only the most
united patriotic purpose, but the OBJ /
jects members have in view are per- |
fectly clear and definite. But the
senate can not act unless its leaders
can obtain unanimous censent Its |
majority is powerless. helpless. In the
midst of crisis of extraordinary |
peril, when only definite and decided
action can make the nation safe or /
shield il from war itself, by the ag
gression of others, action is i'm
possible.
"Altho as a matter of fact the ma
tion and the representatives of the |
nation stand back of the executive |
with Unprecedented unanimity and |
spirit, the impression made abroad |
will, of course. be that ii is not so and |
that other governments may act as
they please without fear that this |
government can do anything at all |
We cannot explain. The explanation |
IL incredible.
Wilful Men Rule.
"The senate of the United States is
the only legislative body in the world |
which cannot act when its majority |
Is ready for action. A little group |
of wilful men representing no opinion |
CONTINUED ON PAGE FOUR