The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-03-06
Ubiquitous Regulation Permit.
ting Handful to Control Body
Probably Be Abolished
PRESIDENT SEEKS TO
LEARN HIS POWERS
Secretary Lansing and Attor-
ney-General Gregory lnves-
tisating Right Of President
to Arm Ships For License
Il, T.. r. SARTWhI4L.
International News service stan
Correspondent.

by T.. X SARTN ELL,
International News service stan
Correspondent.
Washington, March Undermined
to protect American rights at sea,
President Wilson tonight sought to
fix the exact status Of his power to
arm and convoy American merchant
vessels to brave the German war zone
or submarine ruthtessness. Al the
same time administration leaders In
the senate planned their fight to so
alter the rules OF that body that an
opposing minority could not prevent
the enactment of legislation 10 extend
and amplify the presidents powers to
deal with the international situation.
Secretary of STATE lansing and At
torney-Generai Gregory tonight made
close detailed study of the consu-
tuition and all ofsthe statutes from the
inception OF the government. bearing
en- the question of armed ships. There
was a clear conviction in Washington
tonight that the cabinet law officers.
who expect to call on experts in in
.ernational law from private life to
aid In their researches, would hold
that the constitutional powers of the
president were sufficient TO allow him
to act. The president urged the
ca binet members for an early report
on the matter. and II they uphold his
authority. 1t was stated tonight. there
would be little delay in placing gov
eminent guns and government gun
fcrs aboard the ships Of the Ameri-
can line. and such other America n
vessels as request similar protection.
C1oture Under Discussion.
Meantime Democratic leaders in
~ ,o5 fat,. a Fter fha
upper house organized in special SEES
sion today. called caucus of senate
Democrats for tomorrow morning at
1920 o'clock 10 take up the question
of altering the rule of unlimited de-
bate. which last week allowed eleven
senator's 10 defeat the armed neu-
trality author ization demanded by the
president Following the president
denunciation of the filibuster which
prevented action on the measure, the
Democratic leaders sought TO arrange
tor an immediate change in the sem
ate rules.
The caucus which will name + ma
ioritv leader to succeed Senator Kern.
who retired from the senate yester-
day, will consider sidetrackiEg al!
ether business before the senate and
concentrating Democratic efforts IN I
night for cloture.
Proposed Coture Rule
Senator Owen. of Oklahoma. who
has been fighting for cloture for years.
will endeavor to secure a caucus en-
6orsement for his resolution, rel ort =
ed TO the last senate by the rules
committee Under this resolution the
senate by a majority vote could limit
each senator to one-hour speeC'4
on the pending question. If ado .,ted.
this rule would undoubtedly "lea- the
way Tor the passage Of an au'hori2a-
ton resolution in an extraorllnarV
session Of congress should the pre3i-
dent deem it necessary to call one
How far the presidents denu-,cia-
ton of the senate filibuster rule ma.
strengthened the support of c,cturJ
was the question bothering the nd
ministration leaders. In the past clio
ture has been vigorously opposed by
both Democrats and Republicans.
Sporadic attempts to amend the rules
in this regard for twenty years have
met with failure. Senators tonight
expressed grave doubt that Il cioture
measure could be forced through the
senate even In the present emergency.
The first fight will undoubtedly
come in the senate tomorrow, when
the cloture supporters Will seek 10
prevent the automatic operation az
the rules OF the past congress. Here
tofore it has always been held that
the senate was continuing body and
that the rules automatically eortin
uea. Several senators. incluiine Sen
ator Owen and Senator walsh. ~
Montana one of the legal authorities
In the senate. have commended. how .
ever. that the rules must be formally
adopted by the senate at the begin.
ming of each congress. This confer
ton, If sustained. would open the wny
for general revision of THO rules.
ava the adoption of cloture pro
posal.
Tonight the navy department wa
ready to move AT once to arm Amer-
can ships. While no definite or ie~-
have been given FOR placing run
aboard the vessels all pralin hue
steps have been ta.en. The yurs ard
moupts have, been assembled. an,,
twenty-four hours sftar the order i
issued the big 49, IAN line ships
will be fully protected.
Predict Char - RulcH.
The tremendous initiative given the
movement by the presidents rehvke
10 senators who caused failure Of the
armed neutrality bill also has had II
feet. and there are predictions that
the rules OF the senate. aftNr years OF
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