Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1917-03-04
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Washington, March 3.-Congress
was, in it's dying hours tonight, work
ing almost frantically to save most
important legislation from the last
minute jam in which it finds itself,
House and senate worked steadily
from early in the day and will work
all night and tomorrow
If when the clocks approach the
hour of noon-the time when the
sixty-fourth congress dies by law
there is still a chance Of doing some
thing more, the hands of the clocks
will be turned back and congress Of
ficially win make itself believe that
there is still more time.
House IN Better shape.
Tonight the house was in better
condition than the senate, where the
opposition to the armed neutrality bill
which President Wilson wants to deal
with the German submarine menace,
tied the legislative situation into
hard knot.
The opposition from the republican
side was negligible, but was pronounc-
ed from Senator Stone. democrat, and
chairman of the foreign relations
committee.
Fears we're expressed tonight that
ii
by O'Clock tomorrow morning, it
probably would fail, Even after the
senate acts it must go back to the
house for agreement.
The maximum which congress
seemed able to accomplish in its re-
naming hours is perfection of the fol-
lowing bills:
The armed neutrality bill.
The house resolution for a $780,
900, 900 bond issue for emergency
naval construction,
Final passage of the regular naval
bill.
Bills Believed Doomed.
1t seemed as if the following meas
ures must fail for lack of time:
The army bill.
Sundry civil bill.
General deficiency bill.
Military academy bill.
Bill to extend powers Of the ship
ping board.
Amendments to the federal reserve
law to increase the gold reserve.
All other general legislation.
BY leaving its work unfinished, con-
gress leaves also the possibility of an
extra session. While President Will
son has not decided to call one, most !
leaders think the new congress will
assemble probably in June, if the pres
ident concludes to call it before next
December.
Persistent Opposition.
The bill to empower President
Wilson to establish a policy of armed
neutrality developed such persistent
opposition in the senate tonight that
some of its warmest supporters be-
gan to fear it never could be passed
before the session ends at noon to-
morrow.
Virtually all the trouble came from
a small group Of progressive-republl-
cans, who blocked every effort to get
consent for limiting debate
or setting time for a vote. Demo-
cratic leaders appealed to the republt-
cans to aid them in swinging the lit
tie group into line, pleading that in
the present crisis failure of the bill
would mean national disgrace.
For the most part, the republican
leaders showed a Willingness to CO.
operate. AS the debate proceeded,
however, without evidence of break
IN the opposition, the administration
grew more and more dubi-
ous about the prospect.
The embarra ssment of the demo-
Gratis was increased by dramatic
speech by Senator Stone, chairman of
The foreign relations committee, OPP
Josing the bill as a war measure.
That however, was the only evidence
of detection in the democratic ranks.
The Men Blamed.
On behalf of the administration
senator's, Senator Simmons conferred
With Senator Brandegee, of the regu-
ar republicans, and Senator Kenyon,
the progressive republi-
cans, both OF whom have supported
he bill, urging them to intercede with
La Toilette, Norris, Gronna
md Cummins, the four progressive
who refused any propo-
'ition to expedite passage.
While the speeches were proceed
ng, several senator's sought to in Il
luce friends of the bill to refrain
rom discussing it, in order to force ,
he four progressive republicans to olt