The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-02-19
Congressional Leaders Plan 10
Support President With sug-
sestsd War Measures
EXPECT TO RECEIVE
HIS DEMANDS TODAY
Big Emergency Budget to Ac-
company Authority to Use
Nations War-Making Ma
ehinery
BY r. II. SARTWEIL,
y. s. STAFF CORRESPONDENT.

i. ~. >. 6tAH Correspondent.
| Washington. Feb. lS.-Congres-
sonal leaders today planned to place
behind President Wilson. at his re-
quest. all OF the power, authority and
financial support of the United States
In any move that he may deem neces
sary TO meet tho German crisis.
Legislation wilt be framed along lines
suggested by the president giving him
Authority to use the armed forces of
the nation to protect American rights
on the sea. during the coming week,
TO be rushed through the house and
senate before the sixty-fourth con-
tomorrow. with the authorization
for the use of the nations war-mak-
Ing machinery will go great emery
ency budget, TO provide the financial
fuel the machinery will need.
Tho details OF the legislation neces-
sary to provide the authority which
The president wants will he worked
ont by the administration leaders in
congress in conference with the presi-
dent and his advisers. The house
and senate leaders are prepared TO
have President Wilson appear before
joint session OF congress within the
next two days. and outline hts de-
mands There is considerable con-
eeru among members of both house
and senate as to just what form the
presidents request for authority will
take The form of the legislation.
they declare. will have much to do
with the time congress will need for
ITS consideration For this reason tho
leaders believe the president should
make clear his demands as soon as
he can. possibly tomorrow
Hasten Emergency Program.
- Il O.. 4
congressional advisers that he desires
greatly to avoid an extra session OF
congress- and that he, therefore, be-
Aeves congress should vest him with
full and complete authority TO take
any steps in order 10 meet any situa-
uon that may arise after March 4.
The reluctance OF Congress TO pass
blanket legislation, delegating au-
thority which Il considers its own
prerogative, may cause some opposi-
ton TO this course. Therefore ad-
ministration leaders in congress be-
lieve that with but two weeks of the
session remaining the president
should get his emergency program
before congress at once.
Tonight the president was cioseted
In his study, hard at work. No an
nouncement as to what he was doing
was forthcoming. but 1t was under
stood that he was working over his
emergency plans preparatory to sub
hitting them to congress. With the
exception OF an hour at church and
a brief automobile ride this after
noon. the president spent the entire
day at work.
Nothing From War Zone.
There were no new reports from
the war zone at the state department
today. and state department officials
noted az somewhat significant the
general reduction in the destructive
ness OF the German submarine cam
paign. They pointed out that up to
date the ruthless warfare had failed
by a wide margin to destroy shipping
at the rate OF a million tons a month
fixed by the German admiralty when
the campaign began. With the Amer
lean freighters Orleans and Roches-
ter in the neighborhood OF the war
zone tonight. however, Washington
waited anxiously for reports Of their
progress. 1t was stated that the
sinking Of either one Of these vessels
without warning would make the situ-
alton still more serious.
The navy department, II was learned
tonight. has practically completed de-
tailed arrangements for arming every
+ American merchant vessel sailing for
the war gone. Orders for new guns
9ufta Ole TOT use on HleICHdnt SHIPS
have been ordered rushed by the
armament measures. and meantime
the navy department arranged to use
reserve guns. Plans have been work
ed out In detail even to assigning par
ticular guns to individual ships. 1t
will be matter of a few weeks. a
navy department official said tonight,
TO arm every American merchantmen
when the president gives the word.
Ships to BE Armed Soon.
There were indications tonight that
the order to arm American vessels
will not long be delayed. Admins
tration officials were clearly concerned
over the economic results of the Ger
man submarine campaign. II was
pointed out that the holding up of
American ships in various ports by
tho submarine menace was practically
an acauiescence In the German block
AIDE declaration. The president. 1t was
understood. is extremely anxious that
American commerce should resume its
regular movement as soon as possible.
The state department was tonight
without further advices from Amer.
cans In the Teutonic countries. 1t
was stated. however. that the concern
az TO the safety OF Americans in Ger
many and Austria had been relieved
nv the assurances from Berlin that the
American consular offlcials and
other American citizens who had not
vet left Germany would he given an
nnportunity to leave via Switzerland
the turkish foreign ONCE expressing
the hope that friendly relations be-
tween Turkey and the United States
would continue were also accepted N
fcontinusd. on Third Paoal