Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-02-17
TeutOns, Firm on
U-Bodts, Force issue


Continued from Page One
American shipping now at a stsndstill in.
American harhors, virtual recognition Of
the effectiveness of the German blockade.
Furthermore as an additional thorn in
tie side Of this Government. Germany ac-
cordng to Berlin dispatches boldly an
nounces she viii sink any American mer-
chairman that is armed without the usual
formalities. Of warning, inspection or any
other courtesy.
Menatime. England announces new
measures for combating the t-boat plague,
and the decreasing number Of submarine
victims leads many officials 70 believe the
Tirptzian campaign is fizzlinG out
AUSTRIAN RELATIONS
The fact that Secretary Grew, Of the
American Embassy in BeI>n, has been or
dered to Vienna to assist" Ambassador
Penfield there gave rise to the belief here
that Grew might be carrying confidential
information to Peuheld perhaps bearing
on the Austrian negotiations.
The state Department has nothing
directly from Penfeld for some days
The Presidents course toward Austria is
still veled The state Department however.
now has significantly admitted that United
States Ambassador Penfied, al Vienna,
may have warned Americans TO leave Aus
tria- Hungary on his own initiative
1t is possible the President might sever
again before Congress.
ON the other hand he might take advau-
tage Of that opportunity TO notify Congress
the time has come to prepare for further
eventuaities and ask the means of pro-
teCting American lives and property
owing 10 the fact that Congress will soon
adjourn he might ask for necessary powers
to he used later II necessary thereby pre-
Guiding the necessity of convening the new
Congress late in the spring or next summer
for any action he might deem necessary
short of war
L. already has been clearly indicated his
step will not be a declaration of hostili-
ties.
Ii President Wilson should decide to start
hcstilitics with Germany after March
the country would have to wait fifteen or
twenty days TO learn whether or not Con-
gross will support him.
The President at this time could go be-
fore Congress at any hour and ask for its
approval of a declaration OF war. as pro-
yiGed by the Constitution. But members
of the House declare they think he would
not want to ask an expiring Congress to
declare war that must be carried on in
the next Congress.
Cong COURSE
The Sixty-fourth Congress ends at noon
Sunday March 4. The House, to meet
March ;, would have to organize before it
could do any work The Senate, however.
after March 5 to confirm members of the
new Cabinet
should President Wilson decide on March
4 To ask Congress to declare war he would
have to keep the Senate in session and give
members of the next Congress in the House
enough time to get to Washington and or.
ganize before they voted on the question OF
declaring war. Many members. though. will
be in Washington for inauguration, and
more than Il quorum would be here at all
times
When the 1913 extra session was called
President Wilson gave members more than
a month TO organize the House. The extra
session began about the middle of April.
Each member is entitled 20 sufficient notice
| to permit him to reach Washington,
While a fight on the speakership is GER
tain in the next Congress, members believed
that should an extra session be called solely
! to declare war Speaker Clark probably
would be continued in that position to avoid
| the suggestion of dissension in the country
at such a moment.