The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1917-03-08
PRESIDENT HAS
AUTHORITY TO
ARM VESSELS.
Seems Certain That He Will Take
Necessary Steps This Week
to Protect Trade
EXTRA SESSION STILL
BEING CONSIDERED
Wilson Advised That He Has Ad-
equate Powers to Meet Pres
ent Crisis ,e
ASSOCIATED PreSS)

| 0AV VI A0A0 ~ =
ASSOCIATED Press)
Washington. March S-Signs con-
tinued to multiply today that Presi.
dent Wilson soon will act to relieve
the suspension Of American shipping
caused by fear of the German submar-
inc campaign. 1t was to arm the ves-
sells, convoy them, have them taken
over by the government so they might
be armed as auxiliary naval craft, or
to call special session of congress
! to take up anew the armed neutrality
bill. Rapid progress of the senate In
formulating rule to prevent future
filibusters led some administration
! officials to believe the president would
choose the course Of calling q special
session. Majority House Leader Kit
chin, told his colleagues that ses-
sion would be arranged not later than
the middle of May. FL
Certain to Act.
In some administration quarters It
was believed that the president is
certain to act this week, but other ON
cials took the position that he would
wait until the senate has had an op-
porunity to revise its rules. Mr.. WILL
son has been advised that he has suf-
| ficient power to arm American mer-
chantmen without waiting for action
by congress and some officials believe
he will act on this advice forthwith.
Senator Martin, majority leader, In
asking unanimous consent. said that
by so doing he had no desire to shut
off full debate. ..,...,,..
Senator Sherman read a portion or
President Wilson's statement on tho
failure of the armed neutrality bill,
saying that it would be useless to call
an extra session Of Congress now %
pass that bill, as unless senate rules
were changed, filibuster could be
successfully maintained against It.
| Takes Issue.
"The President said Senator SheH-
man, ,:.intentionally seek to c0nyeyato
the country that only by change In
the senate rules can the neutrality bill
be passed at special session OF Con-
gress. That is not practically true.
however, theoretically 1t may be
sought to make 1t appear true" t71hJ
Senator Sherman added that a "por'
tion of the truth was deliberately
omitted" from the Presidents state
ment. &a"n trEod d aii l"a
Intends to Support It. lanu ii
II intend to support the armed neu-I
trality BILL" he added. "but do OBJ
ject to making few senator's the OBJ
| Iject of the Presidents wrath In q
statement sent out to the general pub
| lic.'
Senator Sherman said he failed to
see any reason to be hasty In the
matter and points to the sinking OF
the Lusitania nearly two years ago,
and the sinking of other ships since,
to show that the President had not
been in hurry to demand action.
Calls President. g.i
81 wish to remind the President"
said the Senator, when he seeks to
blame the senate and the senate rules
and few senators that during large
part of this time he has ridiculed pre-
paredness. He has ridiculed 1t In the
army and in the navy" -.
Mr. Sherman declared there was no
doubt in his mind that the armed
neutrality bill would give the presi-
dent the right to arm munitions ships,
and furnish warships to convoy.
When we do that he said, I'VE
are in de factO war without the for
mality that precedes the clash OF
arms .F.
Extra Session.
On the other hand, strong senti-
ment undoubtedly exists in the ad.
ministration for the president to take
action along the line of calling an
extra session of congress to meet in
the very near future. Reports given
to the president agree that the senate
rules will be revised quickly so that
If an extra session of congress is call
ed, it would be possible to get prompt
action on an armed neutrality reso.
luton
Waiting Announcement.
More than hundred members Of
the house of representatives from the
middle far west still are in Washing.
ton. awaiting announcement by tho
president as to whether he expects to
call an extra session of congress
soon. They fear that if they start
for home they may be intercepted on
the way by an extra session call and
have to return Immediately.
lnasmuch as the resolution taken
up is a general agreement that spe-
cial session is necessary sometime
before July I, because Of the failure
Of the important appropriation bills,
a disposition was apparent today
among officials to advise Mr.. Wilson
to call an extra session at once, and
raf ~ ovnr v,ifh