Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-02-27
TACOMA CASE "CLEAR-CUT ACT"
WILSON'S VIEW OF TORPEDOING

Continued from PAGE Ono
done. and how It shall be done--is alto
Eether in the hands Of President Wilson.
come from him
IA was strongly intimated that the Presl-
CANT had no immediate intention of again
going TO Congress.
The offcial Interpretation OF the Lacona
Incident as a "clear-cut act" did not bring
IN the word covert" but the manner in
which II was described left the impression
strong that covert act" was in tho mind of
the official who interpreted IT,
SPLIT ON FLOOD BILL
The House Foreign Affairs Committee.
split on President wilson's request for au-
thority in the International situation, failed
today to report out the Flood bill giving
the President that power
Instead several committeeman sought to
inject amendments. The upshot was that
the committee voted 10 send the amendments
70 the President for consideration this after
noon.
shortly after the meeting broke up Chair
man Flood make an appointment with Pres
fution.
1t Is probable the President will take
advantage of the opportunity afforded him
to. inform Flood of the new and critical
development resulting from the Laconia
sinking and urged reconsideration of the
resolution TO include exactly what he asks.
The committee is TO meet again at p. IN.
The main fight was against giving the
President power to arm American ships
carrying munitions.
WOULD ORDER" ARMlNG
Representative Augustus p. Gardner
Massachusetts,, Republican announced he
would recommend that directed be sub
stituted for authorized in the Flood reso-
luton gicing the President power to arm
merchant ships, This would make it man.
datory that the Presidentarm vessels.
In the meantime the same obstruction was
met In the Senate Foreign Relations Com
mittee session. After a two-hour session
behind close doors the Senate COMMITTEE
broke up. No decision had been reached.
Not all the minority men, however. joined
In the complaint against the measure. |
appeared likely that two Republicans woul,
swing In with the Democrats, while pos
sibiy one or more Democrats might joil
the Republican opposition.
Members who came from the session
about noon said that the Democrats prob
ably could and would swing things thei
way, but that vote did not then seer
near.
Representative Porter, Pennsylvania, Re
publican. sought to keep armament o
muniton-carrying vessels while Represer
tative Miller, Minnesota, Republican, OF
fered an amendment to strip Wilson q
"other instrumental lites" than guns, CUR
ners and money
MODIFIED AUTHORITY
Senate committeeman, while failing
act, said, however, that the measure woul
be reported out in modified form"
Representative Porter, backed by Repr,
sentative Shackleford, Missouri Democra
carried on the House Committee fight o
the munitions ships He suggested thrt
amendments which in substance would gi,
the President power to arm ships only
case they carried no war munitions COZ
traband.
Fer more than two hours the Hou.
committee members fought over the amen
ments of Porter Miller and Rogers,
Massa chusetts So strong was the fight c
5 the munition ship feature that the commi
tee felt 1t inadvisable TO try to force r