The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1917-03-03
Senate Adjourns After Eight
Hour Debate on Armed
Neutrality Bill.
NO TIME ARRANGED
FOR A FINAL VOTE
Little Opposition Is Expected
HOwever-SenatOrs Air
Opinions.

Washington, sMarch 3.-Early this
morning. after more than eight hours
debate on the armed neutrality bill in
the senate. Leaders reached an
agreement for n recess until 10 n. n..
without setting time for vote on
the measure.
At l2:45 o'clock the recess was TAX
en-. The agreement was reached after
Senator La Toilette had withdrawn his
objection to taking up the bill as
passed by the house. with a view TO
substituting for 1t the broader senate
measure approved by the president.
Democrats in charge of the bill pro-
posed this step so it can go to con-
ference Immediately after the senate
acts instead of having to be sent back
to the house.
Senator Ia Toilette, upon whose at
titude virtually depends when vote
will be reached. declined to agree upon
time to vote. Numerous senators
have speeches to make and it probably
will be late tomorrow before the bill
goes to conference. Administration
leaders are confident that the house
will accept the senate substitute.
Washington, March 2.--President
Wilson's bill to authorize policy Of
armed neutrality was pressed toward
passage Il, the senate tonight, with a
debate running the whole scale of the
nations foreign relations.
The measure which the White House
has announced 1t desires as n substi-
tute for the less sweeping bill passed
by the house last night developed lit
tie evidence of determined opposition.
It gave senators long waited oppor-
tunity. however, to declare their con-
victions in the international crisis, and
the debate proceeded with deliberation
despite the knowledge that 1t now Is
senate action on which the president is
waiting.
No Party Lines.
There were no party lines and most
of the pacifist element of the senate
declared willingness to fall behind
the president in his move for an armed
policy.
Senator Stone, head of the foreign
relations committee, however, by vir-
tue OF his position, the logical admin
istration spokesman on such questions,
withdrew from the task as soon as the
armed neutrality bill was brought In
by his committee. He said candor
would not permit him to take the floor
for the measure and submitted an
amendment to exempt munitions car
rying ships from the protection to be
extended to other merchantmen.
To Senator Hitchcock and Senator
Lodge. the ranking Democratic and
Republican committeeman, fell the
leadership. Senator La Toilette, about
whose attitude there had been some
uneasiness. announced that he would
talk at length on the bill. but had no
intention of filibustering.
No Vote in Sight.
AS the debate proceeded into the
night, there were many predictions
that 1t would be well towards morning
before n vote could be reached. Tho
dramatic features of the situation were
heightened by crowded galleries and
the attendance of several cabinet
members and many representatives on
the floor as spectators. Among those
in the diplomatic gallery early In the
night was Sir Cecil Spring Rice. the
British ambassador.
The senate bill in addition to au-
thorizing the arming of merchant
ships would extend the authority re-
"other instrumentalities" in protecting
American rights. That feature was
omitted from the house bill. which also
contained prohibition Objectionable
to the president against the insurance
by the war risk bureau OF vessels Ia
den with munitions.
War Must Como.
More than one senator declared pas
sage OF the senate bill would mean
war sooner or later, but almost with
out exception they added that they
were ready to accept war on those
terms. A few insisted that II would
not mean war. None expressed any
other expectation than that it would
be passed, and then be accepted some
time tomorrow by the house.
Senator Cummins moved early in the
debate to amend Senator Stones
amendment by providing for conveys
for meHhant ships and later Senator
McCumbcr proposed as a substitute