Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1917-03-02
NE RCHANT SHIP
ARNING BILL Is
O.K.IN SENATE


WASHINGTON. March IA bin to
empower the president to arm merchant
ships. but not extending the authority
he requested To use other insurumen
talities In defending American rights
against the submarine menace, was
passed t,y the house tonight by Nte
Of 403 to 13
Speaker Clark announced the vote
amid applause and cheering Opposi
ton 10 the bill had faded during the
day before patriotic appeals from
leaders on both SIDES Of the house. anG
when the roll was called only nine re-
publicans. three democrats and the
socialist voted in the negative. They
were.
Republicans-B Benedict Of California
Cary Of Wisconsin. Copper of Wiscon-
sin. Davis of Minnesota Helgesen Of
North Dakota, Lindbergh Of Minnesota,
Nelson of Wisconsin. Stafford Of Wis
consin. Wilson Of Illinois
Democrats - Decker of Missouri.
Shackleford Of Missouri. Sherwood Of
Ohio.
Socialist London Of New York.
The measure was sent over to the
senate where it is expected the senate
committees bill. approved by the
president and authorizing not only the
arming of ships. but the employment of
other instrumentalities," will be sub
stituted.
All proposed amendments to the
measure except those added in COM
mittee were rejected by the house un-
der an avalanche Of votes Never since
questions arising out of the European
war began to agitate the house almost
three years ago, has there been such a
display Of patriotic -partisanship
as was witnessed today in the cham
bers Democrats and republicans. even
most of the members who heretofore
have aligned themselves with the ex-
treme pacifist group, Joined in fighting
for the bill.
From the time the rule for considera :
tion of the bin was brought up in the
house shortly after noon until the final
roll call was taken ten hours later, the
/. resolution never was IN doubt. Predic-
tions that the negative vote would not
exceed a dozen were frequently heard.
Led BY Representatives Cooper of
Wisconsin and Campbell of Kansas.
both republicans. opponents Of the
, measure made a determined fight
however. They were not united on any
one specific objection.
The house leaders. expecting the
| senate to pass its bin as a substitute
say they can put through the sens<s
bill If il comes to them.
The house bill besides eliminating
the phrase other instrumentalities,
also carries IA committee amendment
which would prohibit insurance OF
of munitiOn carrying ships under the
war risk fund to which the president
is authorized to transfer part of tbs
/ sl00, 900. 900 derived from the bono
Z issue provided for in the bill. Sucf
vessels are not being insured by the
/ government now. but the amendment /.
considered undesirable by the admin
! istration.
The final vote was preceded by Z
roll call on motion of Representative
! Cooper to send the bill back to the for
eign affairs committee which was
beaten, 295 to 124.
! Representative Cooper, of Wisconsin
! ranking republican member of the for
(, eign affairs committed argued agains
the bill and declared that arming ;
munition ship going to belligeren
country would he an act of war. III,
unsusccessfully urged an amendment t,
prevent such ships from armng
Suppose we were struggling n,