The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-02-27
Representative Floods Com
mittee Gets His Bill Giving
Executive Full Power
$500, 900, 900 TO PUT
PROGRAM IN EFFECT
y fcnsive Guns and G,unnefs
For American Ships and In
surance to Protect Owners
to BE Provided

Wastuag ton. u G.. Feb. 20 Mir
Flood. chairman of tho house com
futttee on foreign relations, offered q
bill ina tne house of representatives to-
might which Was referred hv tht
sl eaker To she foreign relations com,
|Inittee. which VIII doubtless prompt.
Us report the bill out favorabiy,
The bin provide. that the pres
idcnt of the United state, be. and
T. hereby. authorized and cmpow-
cred to supply merchant ships
which ARE the property of citizens
Of the United states. and are of
United States reg istry. With de-
ten%iNe arms should ID in his
Judgment bccomss necessary 10 do
"a, and also 10 furnish ammuni-
ton and means of making Use of
the same against unlawful al
tacks. and IN, authorized and en-
Powered 90 employ such tnstru-
meats and methods as he may
In his judgment and discretion
dtEsn ncecs>ar, and adequate To
project such ship, aud the citi-
xcn- of the United states In their
lawful and peaceful pursuits on
the high seas.
section > pro, ide- uhat the sum
of one hundred million dollars Is
fei Shy appropriated tn he cxpcnd-
cd by the president for the pur-
pts~t stated. the said sum To Ike
available I'LL january I, 1918:
the president - authorized to
transfer a. much OF this sum rs
he May deem necessary To the
bureau of Insurance created nv
congress III September. 1914. for
the purpose of in~urine ships and
cary oe>.
section 2 authorizes the secretary
|cf the treasury To issue bonds 10 The
amount of one hundred million 81
b. further authorized. II Ii il ~ Is.
Fary 10 do SO. to spend one-fjf;h al
|pne per cent Of the fact of the bonds
20 noat tho same
Mr. Flood thinks that the house
|~il pass the bill speedily and that IL
|wil also pass the senate before the
End of the week.
Washington. FEB. rs. Fun and
komplrts authority TO take The fate
Fuf next STEP in the German crisis
|was demanded OF congress today by
president Wilson \ grizzly siIen,
Ijolnt session Of the houae and sen.
kte listened intentiv as the preslden,
demanded the power TO place the
Il rnited States on a basis Of armed
to meet the German cam
Apaign Of submarine ruthlessness De
Sriaring that he did not propose or
war. tho president asked
khe CONTINUOUSLY attentive representa-
ives Of the people of the United
States to do these things:
THAT You authorize me To suppl,
bur merchant ships with defensive
Rrms. should TINT become necessary
md with the meaas of using them
Md to employ any other instr,t.
mcntalitic~ o. methods that may IN
nc<s.ssary and adequate to protect our
ships and our people in their legiti.
mate and peaceful pursuits I'm ths
|aras.
"That you will grant n,c n sufficient
tvcsiit to enable me to provide adc.
s,uatc means OF protection where the,
-rc l-eking including adequate in
surnncc against the present wa,
Risks"
TO meet these demands congressional
headers tonight in hurried conference
bought to start legislation comforting
'pn tho president the authority hs
Bought In his message
| The net result in the chaotic state
|of congressional sentiment which fol
howea the presidents speech was ths
Introduction of a resolution in the
house by Chairman Flood OF the
Foreign affairs committee. The reso-
hutton carried all of the authority
demanded by the president and ar
,nnropriation of 500. 10000 to be
k,sed In his discretion. 1t was referred
y the foreign affairs committee.
Would "hear From the Country"
Republican opposition to the
hlanket authority requested by the
president forced the postponemep'
6ntil tomorrow of meetings of the
house foreign affairs and the senate
korcign relations committee. called for
carly tonight to speed up the emery
pnrv legislation.
1ut of the chaos in cong go came
- apparently determined II of Re-
Dnblican opposition, and c0'''rr ession-
n leaders settled .l down e wait to
Pshear from the country" before maxi
Snr any definite move. 1t was APP
sarent that Republican opposition. II
hrranixed. could force change in
- program or could delay enough
Imperative legislation to make an ex-
~ session Of congress after March 4
k6pplutely necessary. Democratic
Ru-...
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