New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1917-02-28
House Foreign Affairs Committee Sour
Death Knell to "Other Instrumentaliti(
Feature of MeaSure--Senate Not 10 VI
Until Bill Is Disposed of by Lower Hou|
NO INSURANCE FOR VESSELS CARRYING
MUNITIONS OF WAR TO BELLIGERENj

Republicans Admit Filibuster For
Purpose Of Forcing Extra Session
of Congress on Ground They Want
to Be i'll Washington During Pres
ent Situation-Pacifists Call at
White House.
Washington, Feb. 2S.-The situation
| in congress fell into a rang1e again
| today and the prospects that there
| would be no extra session were not SO
promising as last night. The house
foreign affairs committee reported the
bill to empower the president to pro-
tect American rights against the
German submarine menace but with
changes which are unwelcome to the
administration. 1t declined to make
provision for the other instrument
talities,'' which the president desires.
The bill reported yesterday by the
senate foreign relations is practically
agreeable to the president. The two
measures may be reconciled in some
way, although the president has given
notice that he expects no material
changes. Prospects Of a republican
filibuster doomed up again in the
( senate. Senators, who, today, began
| to insist upon free and full discus
sion of all measures, openly asserted
that the reason for this course is to
frorce an extra session of congress.
The major part Of the republican
opposition apparently does not lie
| against the bill to grant the president
broad powers to deal with the sub
marine situation although there are
probably a half dozen senator's on the
minority side opposed to it.
Senator Watson, republican, Of
Indiana, who was prominent in en-
| cheering the f1libuster against the
revenue BILL said today that many re-
publicans would not oppose giving the
president merely the power to arm
merchant ships and provide funds for
| that purpose, but were decidedly
| averse to authorizing him to use other
Iinstrumentalities.'
House Committee Bill.
AS reported by the house committee
| the bill would read:
1.-The president of the United States
! be, and is hereby authorized and en-
powered to supply merchant ships, the
property of citizens of the United
States and bearing register of the
United States, with defensive arms and
also with the necessary ammunition
and means of making use of them in
defenses against unlawful attack, and
that he be, and is hereby authorized
i
and the citizens of the United States
against unlawful attack while in their
lawful and peaceful pursuits on the
high seas
This eliminates the provision which
would have empowered the president
to employ such other instrumental
ties and methods as may in his judg
ment and discretion seem necessary
and adequate
The bill would provide the $780,
O0O, 900 bond issue and authorize tho
president to transfer some of the war
risk insurance bureau but contains
this phrase: "Said bureau of war
risk insurance shall not insure any
arms or ammunition or any Vessel
carrying arms and ammunition con-
signed to Abelligerent countries or any
citizen thereof" -.
Mr.. Flood said this provision would
permit the arming and protectlon ol
munition ships but would not permlt
their insurance by the government.
The administration contends that mu-
nitions ships. as we'll as any others,
are protected by international law
against ruthless and unWarned oe-
struction with sacrifice OF lie.
Iaconia Attack Open Defiance.
No doubt now remain i'll the minds |
of state department officials that the |
sudden attack on the Laconla en- !
bodies an open defiance of the prln- !
ciples for which the United States
has contended. 1t was stated no ad-
ditional step would be taken pending |
action by congress to grant President |
Wilson the authority he asks.
Reports that the German govern |
ment now is OBTAINING the Yarrowdale |
prisoners on the excuse that an in !
fectious disease has been discovered |
at the place where they are living |
were received here with feeling APP
preaching evaporation. In addition |
to this irritating incident it was dis
closed that the state department feels |
a break in relations with Austria |
Hungary is so inevitable that Ambas-
sador Penlield at Vienna has been in |
structed to make all arrangements for |
departure of American departments |
and consuls from the country.
Administrations forces in the senate |
We're trying to get the bill reported |
yesterday by tho foreign relations
committee referred back to the COM
mittee formally but Senator La Fol
lette stood in the way with refusal
to give unanimous consent. Many