The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1917-03-02
Senate Expected To- Sdbsti-
tute Own Bill for Hossse
Measure Today.
HOUSE MEASUREsN0T
WHOLLY SATISFACTORILY
Congress Solidifies in Efforts
to Aid President-*Aayur.
lea First"

washington, March 1.--ArOuSed bv
the disclosure Of Germanys plot to
unite Japan and Mexico with her N,
war upon the United States and then
convinced by official evidences of its
authenticity. congress today abandoned
the delays and obstristions which have
checked President Wilson's efforts to
he clothed with express authority to
deal with the submarine mef,nce,
The house after a 10-hour debate
and by an overwhelming majority
passed a hill to empower the president
to arm merchant ships and providing
for n S100.00O,0 900 bond issue. The bill.
however. does not contain the grant Of
authority to use "other instruncntnii-
ties" which the president specifically
desires. and would prevent govcrtfmcnt
war insurance for munition ships, n
prohibition which sthe president does
not approve.
Want Senate eiil.
When the house bill is received In
he senate tomorrow. the senate bill,
which the administration fully CON-
mends. win be substituted, and that Ia
expected finally to he accepted by both
houses as tho law. Official announce
mcnt was made at tho White House
today that the administration stands
behind the senate bill First, last and
all the time" with its provision for
other Observation-Disclosures"
Authenticity Confirmed.
In The senate an attempt to nsk tho
source OF information Of tho attempted
intrigue with Mexico and Japan on tho
s,rrposition that II came from one of
6ermany's enemies WAS defeated after
n sharp and sensational debate. In.
stead. the senate merely asked for Of
fetal notice of the authenticity nf the
dispatch of instructions from Gernnn
Foreisn Minister zimmermann to'eser-
man Minister Won Eckhardt in Max,co
City. Tho president transmitted It
immediately with the atntcment that Il
would not be compatible with thu ,nNh-
lie Interests to reveal further "details
concerning It.
Congress soiidisiss.
Members Of both houscs OF conErcas,
some skcptlcal OF the authenticity OF
the astounding revelations Of Ger
many's intrigue. others feeling that Il
had been permitted to BECOME sptyhlic
for Its effect In congress and through
out the country. mot the situation with
mixed emotions. which, with FEW
possible exceptions. as tho days sle.
velopments were ,ufifolded. soliAilird
into decision to stand ibehind the
president.
congressmen classed with tho 90
called pacifist group in the house who
have been opposing a grant OF ,nutieP-
ity to the president on the ground that
1t. would he a1stcp toward war. an
nouncedr they would vote for the arsMsti
neutrality bin In the belief that to nu.
thoriae the president to prutect ,Amer-
lean rights might be the way to avoid
war. @
"Amsriea First"
Republican senators who have basn
filibnstering against the armed neu-
trality bill. not because opposed to 81.
but to force an extra session OF con-
gress. declared their conviction that
the situation demanded united support
Of the president. @
A congress badly divided and ID, rita
dying. moments, with its lesislative
program at skies and ,sevens and
charges of playing politics. flying
from every side. suddcnly took ON n
new aspect. .sEssa.t IS t,t&s5s;s
It was as IL the cry America FIRST
had rnns through tho halls ot both
houses and tho response had been sal-
most instantaneous. 4f
IN the senate, members who hnva on y
posed the. president In HIS manner Of
dealing with Germany nm the ground
that 1t was leading ID war. were found
CONTINUED on: la g,l ..