The Washington times., 1917-02-03

to the department. he was Joined by
Presidential Secretary Tumulty, who
had just returned from the Capitol
to arrange with House and Senate
leaders for the joint session this
afternoon.
Talks With TumuIty.
They stopped a moment and talked
together, in the face of the bitterest
wind that has swept Washington this
winter, but neither would make any
comment.
1.-The President is to address Con-
gress at 2 o'clock this afternoon-be-
yond that we can say absolutely moth
ing"
After Secretary Lansing left the
White House the President went over
to the executive offices, into the Cab
met room, and sat alone at his work.
He brought over a bundle of pa
pers, covering routine business, and
walked briskIy into the chamber
where yesterday the Cabinet met
with him in discussion of the historic
step taken today.
Speaker Not Mt Capitol.
Speaker Clark had not reached the
Capitol when the President sent his
request for a joint session.
Majority Leader Kitchin made ar
rangements for the historic affair.
The galleries, just beginning to NIL
when the momentous news came, were
Immediately emptied.
Not more than thirty members were
in the House when it met, at IL
o'clock.
To Receive Wilson's Message.
Kitchin offered resolution by the
House, the Senate concurring, that
the two houses assemble at 2 o'clock
in the afternoon to receive such COM
munications as the President of the
United States may be pleased to make
to them"
There was a listless chorus of
ayes" as the resolution was adopted.
Many members had not heard of
the Joint session: such as had heard
of the Joint session, had no informa-
tion excepting that given them by re
porters. elevator men. and attendants
generally In the building, who were
just beginning to hear and realize the
tremendous weight Of the break.
Cross Fire of Questions.
KItchin Immediately was subjected
to a crossflre of questions by most
of the members in the House. Majority
Leader Mann inquired whether any
action would be required of the House
at the joint session.
Kitchin said he understood no ac-
tion would be requested by the Presi-
dent.
Mann nodded. nervously. and sat
down, obviously trying to appear un-
impressed.
The House by this time, rapidly
filing, went into committee of the
whole, and a debate on the navy bill
started.
PacIhst Made Speech.
Congressman Oscar Galloway, of
''Commanche county, Tex, born at
Harmony Hill (Nip-and-tuck)," as de-
scribad in the Congressional directory,
began q speech.
81 am a pacifist member of the Ma
val Committee. 1 might even be called
. beIligerent pacifist. 1 am ready to
oppose even to the point of contest
any effort to drive us into this war.
say nov that, in my Judgment as an
American citizen, without any .Imbi-
tions of what may be said, 1 would
not go to war over a little zone of
twenty miles around Great Britain,
because of the method of warfare
carried on by Germany.
Discusses Navy.
Galloway went on to discuss the
differences between submarines and
ordinary warships," criticised the
Naval Committee for voting so many
big ships and said:
Now these warriors come here and
submit bill that will cost us S392.-
100000, based on estimates which the
committee brought down to about
S364,OOO,OOO, including fiat appropria-
lions for additional battleships of
x55,OOO,OOO when there isn't even a
contract let for any of the battle
cruisers provided for last year.
Won Little Applause.
Il hope war will be irreconcilabIe
to everybody" Galloway concluded.
Three Democrats-Stephe of Ne
braska, Bailey of Pennsylvania, and
Huddleston of Alabama-Meyer Lon
don, lone Socialist, and one member
OF the Republican side-heard but
not seen-applauded.
Congressman -Farr of Pennsylvania
expressed surprise "that in this great
crisis men arise here and try to re-
tard the navy" He said the navy ia
less ready to meet trouble than il was
in 1912.
He suspended while a messenger
from the Senate announced that body
had concurred in the House Joint
session resolution, and resumed:
we should not be confronted with
this crisis II we had followed the ad-
vice of Admiral Dewey and his as
socfates and had been prepared"