Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1917-03-03
Hitchcock Takes Charge Of
Measure, Which Is Subject
of Long Debate on Floor
of the Senate.
cUMMINs FOR CoNvoYs
Would Authorize President to
Send Warcraft With Mer-
chant Vessels.
PROGRESS IS NOT RAPID

aSnllStol, March I.--lHc sciidte
took up late this afternoon the bill to
authorize armed neutrality, including
the armng OF merchant ships.
The measure came before the SEN
ate over the protest of Chairman
Chamberlain of the military commit
tee, who insisted that as an essential
defense measure the annual army ap-
preparation bill should have preced-
ence. His motion to substitute it was
overwhelmingly beaten.
Has Wilson's o. X.
The bill as taken up differs essen
TALLY from that passed by the house
last night. In addition to authorizing
the arming Of merchantmen. it would
extend authority to "use other instru-
mentalities" as requesed by the presi-
dent to defend American rights and
would not prohibit extension OF war
risk insurance to munitions-carrying
ships. 1t was drafted by the senate
foreign relations committee and has
the presidents unqualified endorse
ment.
Chairman Stone of the committee
offered an amendment to withhold
protection from munitions ships and
turned the leadership on behalf Of the
measure over to Senator Hitchcock,
the next ranking democratic commit
tee member. An effort by Senator
Stone to attach such provision to
the measure in committee had failed.
cummins Has Amendment.
Senator Cummins proposed to
amend Senator Stones amendment so
as to authorize the president also to
convoy armed merchant ships IF nee
essary to protect them and the men,
women and children who may be
lawfully upon them from unlawful at
tacks of submarines"
Senator Stone dsclaimed any per-
sonal Responsibility for the commit
tees measure.
"Candor compels me to say" he de-
clared, II am not in accord with this
bill as It has been framed and 1t Is
my purpose to offer what ! consider
an important amendment to it. In
that view Of the situation, do not
think 1t would be proper for ME to
continue furher in the management
OH the floor of the pending measure,
1t is my purpose now, therefore, Ito
ask the senator from Nebraska. Mr.
Hitchcock, to take it in charge" He
proposed his amendment and formally
turned the floor leadership over to
Mr., Hitchcock.
The Stone Amendment.
"Provded that nothing herein shall
authorize the president to employ or
direct any person to manage or oper-
ate any arms placed on any merchant
ship by the United States as herein
autorized. and, -
Provided further that it shall not,
be lawful for any merchant ship sup
piled by the president with arms as
herein provided to carry or convey as
a part Of its cargo any munitions Or
other supplies Of war destined for de-
livery to the armed forces OF abel
ligerent nation engaged in war, with
another nation with whichthc United
States is at peace. and,
Provided further that It shall not
be lawful for any merchant ship which
may be under the convoy or hnrnedi..
ate protection of any public vessel OF
the United States to carry or convey
as a part of its cargo any munitions
or other supplies OF war destined for
delivery to the armed forces OF
belligerent nation engaged in war
with another nation with which the
United States is at peace"
Hitchcock Move.
y~NSenator Hitchcock's first move was
10 obtain unanimous consent to have
the foreign relations committee re.
lieyed from further consideration OF
the house bill so that when the senate
is ready to vote the senate measure
can be submitted. Senate and adminis-
tration leaders believe the house then
will accept the senate bill in confer
ence.
). In his opening statement eSnater
Hitchcock said he regretted that Sem
ator Stone could not manage the bill,
recited the powers asked Of congress
by the president and continued:
when the committee came to con-
sider these requests, attention was
called to an old statute which pro-
hibited United States from resisting
by force public vessels of other ma.
lions. Therefore the committee added
authority to United States-yessels to
defend themselves against unlawful
attack. 1t was feared that il this law
was not repealed that United States
merchantmen would subject them
selves to treatment as pirates it they
resisted.
THE bill does not exactly repre-
sent my own views, but l have ac-