Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-02-28
. WILSON AWAITS !
FURTHER ACTION D
IN U-B0AT CRISIS
Gcrmany's Campaign of
Ruthlessness Reaches
! Climax.
| MEANWHILE, LAWMAKERS a
DISCUSS PHRASEOL OGsi
Make Little Progress TowaI
Granting Authority Asked
by President.
LEADERS PROFESS CONFIDENl8
Believe Measure Satisfactory to
ministration Will BE Passed n
Later I'm Week.
MEANWHILE, LAWMAKERS
DISCUSS PHRASEOLOG
LEADERS PROFESS coNFIDEN
Believe Measure Satisfactory to
ministration Will BE Passed !
Later in Week.
IRv !. ssnciated Pres.

Rr Associated Prcss ! s. -
WASHINGTON. February e7--Ths
administrative ton waits upon Congress IA
give the answer of tho United states
to tho German campaign Of ruthless,
ness. which has reached a climax in
tho sinking Of tho liner Lacona and
the killing of two American women - |
Official accounts Of the unwarncd |
night attack on the Cunardcr. regarded
as tho first clcar-cut case OF violation
or American rights since the severance;
Of relations with Germany, were laid
before President Wilson an. the Cab
met to-dayNby Secretary Lansing. III
was decided that no step would he
taken until Congress had time to grant
the request for additional authority to
protect the lives and rights OF Amer.
leans
In Congress little progress was made
toward cnactinE tho legislation for
which the President asked in his ad
dress yesterday. Tho senate FovcirS
Relations Committee, by n divi,l u,
vote. reported out a bill similar TO tn,
ono introduced in the House TO author.
i've tho President TO arm mcrch.s5sl
ships and employ such other instru-
mcntalitics as he may deem necessarily
ACTION rs BLOCKED
ny SENATOR ia FOLLETyTE
The formality OF referring the meas-
urc back TO tho committee was block cd
by Senator La Toilette. and the Sen
ate is working under AN agreement I'd
consider nothing except by unanimoua
consent until the revenue bill has been
voted on tomorrow night. rther
action is delayed until Thursday. On
the House side the Foreign Afrairy
Committee talked through two scs.
sions over phrascoloEy, those opposing
action Directing chiefly to tho words
other instrumentalitics." The cem-
mttcc finally adjourned until to-mor.
row without taking n vote
Tho administration leaders are not
disturbed over the situation in tile
House however, as it is well UNDER
stood tina; action under "a special rule
can he enforced whenever it is re.
gardcd as necessary.
Moreover. while there is some real
opposition in the committee and among
the pacifst group in the House. both
Republican and Democratic leaders in1
innate that it is deemed wise to della
putting through bill until 1t is clca
what the Senate will do. so as to prd
vent confusion.
Even iii the Senate the administ,
ton Spokesman profess full confidc
that n measure satisfactory TO
President will DO passed later in
week. Although most OF the Repui
cans favor stronger action than
been proposed. il is believed they
vote for the committee bill when
roll call comes.
Some Senator's believe that the
source OF doubt lies in tho attitude
Senator LA Toilette. whose course
Cd of
buster With adjournment only
days off, one Senator might ca silly I
the bill 10 death and force an ex
session. The Wisconsin Senator
not committed himself further than
say he did not think any action sho
he taken until the country was gil
chance TO see the proposed legiI
ton.
NO PRESENT INTENTION
or ADDRESSING CONGRi
After the Cabinet meeting it /,
stated that the President had no pr
cnt intention Of addressing Congr}
again; that he felt that the situat
rested with Congress. 1t is rather Sd
orally believed. however. that Ii de
continues until adjournment is at Ina
he will make a further move.
The fight in the House commit
VtHtelSu upon the ODJectlon or so
members to comforting broad author
OF the President and upon the efo
OF others to have il stipulated III
ships carrying munitions or contr
band should not he furnished arr
After the first meeting CHARM
Flood conferred with Postmaster-Gsn
cral Burleson and learned that thd
President would object TO any mate
rial change in the bill as presented
The State Department also let it be
known that an amendment exempting
vessels carrying contra band would be-
very objectionable. both because II
would be unwarrantable and because
il would open the way for endless
controversy over what was contra
band.
WOULD AUTHORIZE PRESIDENT
TO ARM MERCHANT VESSEL,
The bill agreed upon 10y the Seuat
committee would authorize the Presi-y
dent to supply merchant vessels with
defensive arms. fore and aft, ammUniy8l
ton and sunners, and also empowers
him to employ such other instrumen-