The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1917-03-05
PRESIDENT
ASKS RULING
ON POWERS

tC~sttauea frosn Page 0nel
him arning merchant vessels and
taking other means OF protecting
American rights. the pres iden; is 70.
y ing on tSc senate 90 act and save
Tie country from disaster"
"a Was Tie plau Of Notwithstanding
senate leaders 20 had the presi.
dents proclamation OF last night In
he upper bcdy today II II remalns
convened IL extra session long
Enough before ciosmg 10 Witness
the inaugural ceremonies
Il Is nov evident the president
viii call an extra session ~ cen
gress just Is soon az the senate.
nov in extra session. acis Upon
changing tie rule OF unlimited de-
hate.
Until this 10 done the president
declared In his formal statement
The paralysis OF the senate" with
no rules by which Gilatory tactics
tan be- prevented" would continue.
Calling attention 90 the fact that
more than sG0 of the s3l member"
60 congress were ready amt afN-
ious 10 a." the president declared
nothing could be aeeo~riished be
cause a little group OF IL seHalorB''
q determined.
The pres ideut's belief that he had
he power 10 arm, merchant ships
despite tho action IT the senate waF
disHipatei when bic LEGAL advi-ors
discovered n atatate passed BY con
grcss IN 1879 dissipating this idea
The statute IN question proTptcs
that the commander and crew ~
any merchant vessel Cf the United
States owned wholly OF in part BY
citizen thereof. nay oppose an
defend against aggression which
rhall be attempted uron such vessel
b. the commander or crew uf any
armed vessel Whatsoever. not being
q public armed vessel u some ma.
ton In Amity with tho United
/ States"
To AZ responsibility before the
country. rs senators. 80 Republicans
and as Democrats signed mani
festo proclalming 90 he world
that they favored passage OF the
measure.
This declaration. embodied IN tbs
record OF the senate. referred 20 ths
/ fact that the house Thursday night
had passed a similar bill by vote
Of 403 to IL. and also recited thai
the senate rule permitting unlimit
ed debate gave a small minority op
portunity 20 throttle the will OF the
majority.
The teIt OF the manisfesto IL a.
follows:
The majority OF United states
senktors favored the passage Of th'
senate BIN authorizing the president
OF the United States TO arm Amer
can merchant vessels. a similar bil
having already passed the house BY
vote OF 403 10 10.
Under the rules OF the senate
allowing unlimited debate. Il ap
pears 10 be impossible TO obtain .
vote previous to noon March 4. 1917
when this session OF congress ex
pires. We desire the statement en-
tered on the record 20 establish thu
fact that the senate favored thu
Legislation and would pass II n .
vote could be obtained"
Thirteen senators declined 20 sigr
the declaration. but one Of them
Senator Penrose. Republican, oi
Pennsylvania. announced that h
would have voted for the bill hsc
opportunity been afforded him.
The ~ who went on record viii
the IL members 81 the house agains'
granting to President Wilson thu
authority he asked from congress-
In the crisis were:
| Republicans 49, c1app. Minnesota
cumminS lows; Gronna, North pa
keta; Kenyon. Iowa. LaFollstte WIS
corsini Norris, Nebraska Works
Democrats-..irby Arkansas: Lane
4 Oregon. UGorman, Srw York, stone
| Missouri. Vardaman. Nirsissippi--s
Associated with them IA oppOaltlor
| o. the armed neutrality bin were
voted against the house btu Thurs
/ day niGht.
/ Rspubiieans--Bsnedi California
1 Cary. Wisconsin, Cooper. wisconsin
! Dais. Minnesota. HsiEesen. North Da'