Evening star., 1917-02-27
Congress Committees Work
on Bills Giving President
Larger Authority He Asked

Meetings of the Senate and House
committees of foreign affairs had been
called early in the day to discuss
drafts of a bill which would do just
what the President asked in his address
yesterday-empower him to furnish
guns and gunners to American ships
and to employ such other lnstrufheh-
talities" as he may think necessary, and
provide for a bond issue OF slo"'oVo''o'
to meet the expense
In addition to empowering the fresi-
dent to arm merchant ships and 10 EN-
ploy other instrumentalities' and pro-
viding 800. 900. 900 by bond issue, the
bill would permit the fresioeht ~
transfer any part of that sum 10 tLe
federal bureau of war risk insurance 10
be used in paying losses OF American
ships above S5.O00.OOo-
Total payments are hihlteu ~ nc,
amount now by the size of the entire
fund The proposed increase would be
a precaution against the posslollity
that if a number OF shlps carrying
federal insurance were sunk IN tne wa
zone the government might not be able
to redeem their loss.
Use of Naval Forces.
On an unofficial vote the House for
.ign affairs committee today agreed
TO strike from the administration bill
to empower the President to take steps
to meet the submarine menace, the
words "other instrumentalities" and to
substitute ito use the naval forces of
the United States, including the naval
militia"
The House foreign affairs committee
discussed the Flood bill for hours in
executive session. Two republicans
n o.
Gratis. The committee took no formal
action and adjourned to meet again at
pm.
power the republicans believe the
wording of the bill would give the
President. They indicated a willing
guage were changed to confine the
President to some definite plan.
Would Exempt Munitions Ships.
An effort was made also to amend
the bill so as not to permit the arning
OF merchant vessels carrying muni-
tions.
House leaders insisted that some
agreement be reached with the Senate
on bill il would accept before any
measure was reported. 1t would be
absolutely futile, Republican Leader
Mann pointed out to leaders in confer
ence. to pass a bill not acceptable to
the Senate. Democratic Leader kitchin
took similar view.
Senate Committee Agreed.
Republican and democratic members
of the Senate foreign relations commit
tee were practically agreed after a
two-hour conference today that a meas
ure giving the President authority to
arm merchant ships to defend the neu-
trality of the United States and to
give him further authority to safe
guard the property and rights of Ameri-
cans on the high seas would be work
ed out later in the oay.
Recasting of the measure proposed
in the House was decided upon, but
Just what form ii would take was not
disclosed. Some of the democrats and
all of the republicans. it was said. did
not like the wording of the House bill.
and sought to make the powers to be
given the President in such crisis as
SPECIFIC as possible 1t was agreed.
however. that general authority could
not of necessity be made very specific.
The committee. il was learned. has
under consideration a statute passed
in 1919 relating to piracy in which it
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