The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-02-28
ANTS WIN TO
CURB WILSON'S
WAR AUTHORITY
Prohibits Desired Use of "Other
InstrumentaIities."
Also Eliminates MunitiOn Ships
From Insurance.
FILIBUSTERING IN THE SENATE
No Action There Until Lower
House Acts.
Allows President to Arm Amer
lean Merchantmen.
No Action There Until Lower
House Acts.

Washington. Feb. 2s.-The situa-
ton in congress fell into a tangle
again today and the prospects that
there would be no extra session were
not so promising as they were last
night The house foreign affairs COM
illttee reported the bill to empower
the president to protect American
rights against the German submarine
menace. but with changes which are
unwelcome to the administration.
1t declined to make provision for
the president to use other instrument
talities" which he desires, and pro-
hibited giving government war insur-
/ ance to munition ships.
The bill reported yesterday by the
senate foreign relations committee is
practically agreea BILE to the president
The two measures may be reconciled
in some way, altho the president has
given notice that he expects no ma
terial changes.
Prospects of a Republican filibuster
doomed up again in the senate. Sena-
tors who today began to insist upon
free and fulr' discussion of all meas
ures, openly assert that the reason
for the course IS to force an extra
session of congress.
Ants Win Concession.
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
probably a half dozen senators on
| the minority side opposed to it either
| in principle or because they regarded
/ it as too sweeping in character.
! Senator Watson, Republican of In
diana, who was prominent in en-
| gincering the filjbuster against the
revenue bill, said today that many
~fvtfse not cF1pose grant
/ ing the president merely the power to
arm merchant ships, and provide
funds for that purpose. but were de-
cidedly averse to authorizing him 10
use other Observation-Disclosures These
senators feel congress should be in
session if such powers are granted
I AS reported by the house commit
tee the bill would read:
THE president Of the United States
be and is hereby authorized and en-
/ powered to supply merchant SHIPS,
the property of the citizens OF the
/ United States and bearing registry of
! the United States, with defensive arms
and also with the necessary ammuni-
ton and means of making use of
them in defense against unlawful at
tack, and that he be and is hereby
authorized and empowered to protect
/ such ships and the citizens of the
! United States against unlawful attack
while in their lawful respectful pur-
suits on the high seas
Quibblc Over Munition Ships.
This eliminates the provision which
would have empowered the president
/ to employ other Observation-Disclosures
/ and methods as may in his judgment
! and discretion seem necessary and
adequate. The bill would provide the
/ S10,000,0O0 bond issue and authorize
J the president to transfer some of the
funds to the war risk insurance bu-
reau but contains a phrase prohibiting
insurance of munition ships. Mr..
/ Flood said the provision would per-
| nit the arming and protection Df
munition ships but would not permit
the insurance by the government. The
administration contends that NUM-
lions ships are protected by internal
I law as we'll as any others against ruth
/ less and unWarned destruction with
sacrifices of life.
/ No Action by Senate.
/ That the senate will take no ac
/ ton on the armed neutrality bill until
| the house has passed the measure was
practically assured today after a con-
ference between Senator Stone, chair
! man Of the foreign relations commit
! tee, and Representative Mann. house
Republican leader. Mr.. Mann declared
the senate could not act on a bill
providing for an issue of bonds until
it had been passed by the house.
The Berlin report that Germany
still holds the Yarrowdale Ameri-
|
transformation on the subject;
| the apparent imminence of a
| break with Austria; Chancellor Beth
manufactures belligerentIy inter-
preted speech against America; and
above all the clear cut overt act in
! the Laconia case all served to make
| Teuton-American relations more dan
| gerous than for a long time
Prepared to Go Ahead.
| The administration was pictured as
prepared to go ahead with it's plans
for arming American merchantmen,
whether or not congress gives Pres
ident Wilson the authority he asks.
The government spirit is one of
firm determination to guard American
rights and lives, regardless of any eff
fort congress may make to thwart
the administration will
LaFolIette. Chief FiIibuster.
The fate of the bills turns, mainly,
| however, on Senator LaFollette. He
has been inclined to filibuster against
the naval appropriation bill and the
two more men could block the bills
but the question today was whether
they wanted to take responsibility for
such a move.
While congress fiddled. the admin
istration had before it Germany's Of
fetal admission that she still holds
the Earrowdale men, because Of in
lection" al their camp. This was
looked upon as a fragrant insult by
some officials. 1t threatened to COM
plicate and hasten trouble officials
fear is all too near.
TIL Austrian situation remains i