Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-03-06

Loose, Of Massachusetts, reintr..
doeed IN the senate today the
armed ship bill. Senator Thomas
MADE the point Of order that con.
sress was not in session, which
Woe President Marshall sustained
washington. March 6-President
Wilson. it was stated with authority
today, will do everything possible to
find a way to arm American ships and
protect them in other ways from sub
marine danger In spite OF the failure ne
the senate to pass bill giving him
power.
A final decision on whether the pres
ioent can legally arm the ships without
specific authorization is expected short
~. The opinion expressed during the
senateis debate of the bill that without
action by congress the president has
no right to arm American merchantmen
was taken into consideration and the
president will not act until he is GER
tain.
In deciding the legal status OF the
question the president and his advisers
are considering the intent of the old
statute passed in 1919, as cited in tha
senate, prohibiting the arming of mer-
chantmen for defense.
Extra Session Later.
An extra session Of congress before
July !, to pass appropriations, If for no
other purpose. seemed today to be Ger
tain. II the senate amends Its rules so
prompt action can be taken on an
armed neutrality bill AN extra sessicn
OK congress- may be expected Within
two or three weeks .s g
Messages which came to government
officials today froom all parts OF the
country criticized in bitter terms the
senators who prevented action OF the
armed neutrality bill.
Kenyon Says He Didn't Filibustsr.
Senator's Vardaman. of Mississippi,
and Kenyon. of Iowa, two OF the twelve
senators who did not sign the manffesto
in favor of the armed neutrality bill
and who were referred to In the group
by the president as "a little group Of
wilful men who had rendered the coun-
try helpless and contemplate before
Tie Nollu, eSptdlHsu u llle SeUdlS 10.
day that they had not been in compile
| ity to prevent vote on the bill.
Senator Williams. replying to his
colleague. declared emphatically that
President Wilson was right In his crit
| lcism Of the senators who made legis-
lation by an overwhelming majority
! impossible in national crisis and
Whatever might have been their motive,
| they, and not congress. were respon-
! sible for the United States being ''help-
| less and contemplate before the
world"
| Senator TarddIlian rose to a Iues-
! ton OF personal privilege to state he
did not desire to prevent vote on the
bill but would not have voted for it.
TT is not my purpose to make an ex-
planation." said Senator Vardamaa, Il
prefer my actions and words interpret
themselves. But l noticed that my name
appeared as one of the little group OF
wilful men charged with the crime OF
preventing the presidents program
from being carried out
Democrats Of the senate In caucus
today elected Senator Martin. Of Nir-
Sini;, majority aoc- leader. and sena-
secretary of the caucus.
Navy Speeds Up Program.
The navy department today began
it's campaign to speed UP new constrne-
ltion when representatives of ship
building plants and submarine conlpa-
nes were called into conference by
Secretary Daniels with relation to the
half billion dollar naval bill. The COM
panies asked to attend the meeting
were the Fore River Ship Building
Company. William Cramp g. Sons, the.
Electric Boat Company. the New York
Ship Building Company and the Lake
Torpedo Boat Company.
| Bids will be opened during the pres
ent month. Proposals for eight addi-
tional SO0-ton submarines will be adj
vertised without delay. The placing oe
five battleship cruisers will be arranged
In conference with ship builders. Plans
for three $4,000 ton dreadnaughts will
not be ready for some weeks.
| Secretary Daniels hoped to be able to-
dav to secure cooperation OF the ship
building companies to hasten the navy
program to completion. It was thought
that the first exercise of new author
lity granted by congress would be the
suspension OF the eight hour law as sa-
piled to contract work for the navy.
lSecretary Daniels stated he would not
hesitate to commanders private plants
liz necessary.