Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-02-19

GeSicd by the President giving him
authority to use the armed forces of
the nation to protect American rights
on the sea. during the coming week to
be rushed through the House and SEN
at" before the SiXty-Fourth Congress
dies on March {. two weeks from to-
morrow. With the authorization For
the use Of the nations war-making
achinery. will 70 Il great emergency
budget. To provide tho financial fuel
the machinery will need.
PREPARED TO HAVE WILSON
APPEAR BEFORE CONGRESS-
The details Of tho legislation ncces-
sarN TO provide tho authority whicI,
the President wants will he worked out
b. the administration leaders in Con-
grcss in conference with the President
and his advisers. The House and Sem
ate leaders arc prepared To have presi-
dent Wilson appear before joint sos
sion OF Congress within tho next two
days. and outline his demands There
is considcrabl concern among mem
bcrs OF both House and Senate as to
Just what form the Presidents request
for authority will take. The form OF
the legislation. they declare. will have
much 10 do with the time Congress will
need for its consideration. For this
reason tho leaders believe the presi-
dent should mako clcar his demands
as soon as he car. possibly morrow
Th" President made it clear to his
congressional advisers that he desires
greatly to avoid extra session OF
Congress. and that he, therefore. be-
licres Congress should vest him with
full and complete authority To take any
steps IN order to meet any situation
that may arise after March T. The
reluctance OF Congress to pass blanket
legislation delegating authority which
IL considers it's own prerogativc NAV
cause some opposition to this course
Therefore, administration leaders in
Congress believe that with hut two
weeks OF tho session remaining tho
President should get his emergency
program before Congress at once To-
night tho President was cloSctnd in
his study, hard at work. No announce
mont as tn what he was doing was
forthcoming. but i, was understood
hat h" was working over his emcr-
rcnCy plans preparatory 10 submitting
them {" Congress. With the exception
OF an hour at church, and brief auto
m"hil" ride this afternoon. the rrcsi-
dent spcnt the cnti-c day at work
Nv NEW RFsf'ONTS
COME FROM WAR ZONE
There were no now reports from the
war zone at tho State Department to-
day. and state Department officials
noted as somewhat significant tho gen
"ral reduction in thc destructivcnrss
"f tho German submarine rampaign
They pointed out that M TO date tho
ruthless warfare had failed hy wide
margin t" destroy shipping at the rate
"f l,ooo.0On tons n month fiNcd hv the
German Admiralty whom tho campaign
hogan. With H,c American frcichicrs
Orleans aud Rochester in the ncighbor-
hood Of the war zone to-niCht how
ever. Washington waited anNionsly for
reports Of their progress II was
stated that tho sinking OF either ono
Of these vessels without warning would
max" tho situation still more serious
TIL" Navy Department. il was learned
Tonight has practically completed de-
tailed arrangements for ars,iuG every
American merchant vessel sailing for
the war Z"nn. Orders for new guns
SI'"hl" for us" on merchant ships
have been ordered rushed hy the arrua-
mont manufacturers. and. meantime tho
Navy Department has arranged To use
r"s"rN" guns Ilans have hccn work ed
on; ia detail. even to assigning par
ti"ular guns tn individual shipa II
viii Il" matter of few weeks.
NAVY department official said Tonight,
"a arm every American mcrchantman
whcn tho President gives the word.
ORDER TO ARM VESSELS
Will. N0T BE LONG DELAYED
There were Indications tonight that
tho order 10 arm American vessels will
not long hr dclnycd Administrations
officials were clearly concerned over
the economic results of tho German sul,-
m;r'h" campaign II was pointed out
that tho holding IN Of American si,ips
IN various ports by the submarine
menace WAS practically an acuuicsccncc
in tile ,;crman blockade dcclaratio"
The President. it was UNDERSTOOD is