The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1917-02-05

AROUSED To
HIGH PITCH
PRESIDENT WILL
RECEIVE SUPPORT
Extraordinary Defense Meas
ures to Come UpBefore
Congress.

WASHINGTON. Feb. 4.-ConsreSs
aroused TO patriotic support OF the
President, calmly awaits develop
ments in the diplomatic breach with
Germany.
Ready 10 act quickly. and adequate,
ly in amy emergency. admnistratlo.
leaders are in constant touch vita
executive departments. with leGisla-
tive machinery prepared for rNpeul'
tious disposition Of extraordinary rev
enue and defense measures.
While hopeful that the break with
the Imperial German government VII!
not force the United States into war,
leaders already have cast PARTISAN
ship aside, Legislative squabhleS over
minor matters have been tempered
and the legislative branch is stand
ing by 10 respond 10 any demand for
protection of the nation IN the IN
ternational crisis.
Important measures bearing on Inc
situation already are under consider
alton in both houses, among them. an
;nual naval appropriation bill to which
emergency amendments have been
proposed since the President address
ed Congress yesterday.
The bill. carrying more than
$3.50, 900, 900 for naval maintenance and
construction, will BE- taken up again
Tuesday with d prospect of passage
before adjournment that night.
An amendment 10 be offered by ite
preventative Hritten of Illinois, would
Inappropriate an additional ST 9r0OO'eus
for the immediate completion OIL IL:
war vessels already authorized and
~
In government and private yards. An
/ other. suggested by Secretary Daniels
and shaped by Representative Padgett
chairman of the Naval Committee
would empower tho President 10
commander private ship building
yards and munition plants whenever
! in his opinion the interest Of the coiin
jtry REQUIRES such action. Speaker
Clark and other House leaders tonlgh;
said they believed that the amendment
would be adopted.
For 100 Submarines.
In addition TO the regular appropra
ton bill there is pending in the senate
with growing sentiment ID favor or It's
passage, special bill By Senator
Poindexter providing for immediate
construction of 100 submarines IN ad
dition to II carried in the regular ap
lpropriation bill. -,
The crisis also finds the house mill
!tarr committee ready with the cur
rent army. bill carrying $275,o00,o00
subject, however, TO. any change ina
exigencies may demand The commit
Tee Will meet tomorrow to CONSIDER
new legislation and suggestions ma!
be received from the secretary or war
! Under the existing law the presl
dent has authority to- increase the reg
.ular army 10 full war strength OF 2S6,
600 officers and men In case OF wal
or threatened war. He also has author
ity 10 call on the National Guard. now
having some 10000 available men,
Under the law the guards full
strength, 100000, canno; he acquired
until the expiration OF four years
Emergency military defense changes
Will be urged
In Case Of Hostiltes.
To safeguard interests Of the nation
against conspiracies, consideration Is
being rushed in the senate Of meas
ures suggested by tho attorney-gen
eral 10 strengthen the statutes under
which prosecutions may. be brought
against Offenders within the United
States who further the interests ol
foreign governments. The Judiciary
committee OF the senate, urged &c
action BY the administration, Will
meet tomorrow 10 consider favor
able report from Il subcommittee or
seventeen Of these measures.
While awaiting developments, how
EVER. both houses are expected TO kee[
ND 4 drive OH general legislation and
10 20 about regular business as
calmly as possible. The senale will
continue with the agricultural appro
prjation bill and at 1 o'clock tomor
row afternoon will proceed 10 vote ir
an attempt 10 pass the immigration
bill over President Wilson'S veto
More than the necessary two-thirds
vote TO carry the measure 10 the
statute books is expected to be cast
The house orer-rode the veto last
week.
Administration Leaders
hope TO prevent discussion Of interna
tional issues. They are somewha
disturbed. however. lest tranQuilit!
NAV be disturbed by agitation from
the pacifst element in Congress. Ef
forts TO arouse sentiment againS
American participation in the war ART
expected to come from the socallet
BRYAN" or "pacifist' group, and Mr
Bryan's presence in Washington ant
utterances on this subject YESTERDAY
and to-day. together with the arrira
tonight of Henry Ford, have served
to increase apprehension in this re
gard. Mr.. Bryan, who has some fol
lowing In both branches Of the Con
greSs has been urging various alter
natives, including a referendum OF
the question Of war with Germany
In view of this agitation. administra
tion leaders would not he surprised Il
have the issue raised by the iniroduc
ton of resolutions embodying the Bry
an ideas.
Railroad labor legislation. 80 earn
estlv desired by the President, Sti:t re
mains in embryonic shape, despite con
, slant pressure for action.
The emergency revenue Dill, 10 lake
care of the extraordinary military ant
naval expenditures already incurred
now Is before the Senate finance com
mittee, having passed the House las
week. Senator Simmons, chairman O
the committee, hopes TO report th'
, measures, with possible amendments
, before. the end Of the week
-,.UA Al an M