The Washington herald., 1917-03-04

O'Clock today.
That Republican Senators were de-
termined to block the enactment of the
big army. sundry, civil and general de-
ficiency bills appropriating more than half
a billion dollars for routine government
and preparedness expenses. became ap-
parent late last night.
Representative Fitzgerald, chairman OF
| the House Appropriations Committee,
presented to the House a resolution max
ing 100000 available for the construc-
tion OF the Alaskan Railroad. He urged
| immediate action on the measure. declar-
ing that he had information that the pro-
vision for the Alaskan road in the sundry
civil bill would not pass at this session.
eral deficiency bills, are the bills through
which the Senate Republican group de-
manding an extra session, hope to force
| a call for an immediate meeting OF the
new Sixty-ffth Congress.
"The information comes to me- said
Representative Fitzgerald. to the House,
that the Senate cannot pass the sun
tdry civil. the army BILL. or the general
deficiency bill at this session. We have
l
separate bill for this Alaskan railroad
| fund"
No Action in Sight.
When this measure was presented. the
Senate was still dragging along with de-
bate on the armed neutrality bill, with
no action on the routine supply bills in
/ sight
There will be no immediate extra ses-
sion OF the Sixty-fifth Congress.
This was the edict that went forth
from the White House last night. despite
the obvious efforts being made in Con-
eress TO kill imperative supply legisla-
ton in order to force the President t.
call the new Congress together at once
1t was stated that even II important
appropriation bills failed. the President
would delay calling an extra session un-
til the last possible moment. The funds
now available for the various govern
ment departments run until July ], and
an extra session called a short time be-
fore that date would have time to sup
ply needed deficiencies. The last of Nav
OF sometime during June was fixed as
the earliest probable date for an extra
session call.
! 1t was recognized that a grave clash
between the United States and Germany
might force the President to alter this
program. A declaration Of war by Ger
many following the arming of American
merchant ships would make il practically
imperative that the President should have
Congress on hand The destruction %
an armed American ship by a Germa n
submarine might create a similar situ-
alton
1.OOO.OOO.OOO Held Up.
| Last night the Congress drew to a
close. nearly a billion dollars in appro-
faff f0Kn liz I.AI1
stages OF enactment A group of Repub-
lican senators, anxious for an extra ses-
sion. were apparently determined to de-
! lay a large part of this legislation, and
the bill authorizing the President to arm
ships was used as a vehicle of delay
How far these senators would go in
holding up the supply bills was a mat
ter than could not be determined unless
the clock strikes twelve on the dying
gasp of the Congress at noon today
In an effort to break the blocking pro-
cess in the senate. administration leaders
let it be known that no war move will
be made by the President after the ad-
journment of the present Congress. with
out calling Congress in extra session. 1t
was stated that the President would not
involve the country in actual hostilities
without giving Congress an opportunity
to pass on the matter The concession
had no effect on the blockade Of legisla-
ton, however.
The joint resolution proposing an ap-
preparation of 100000 for the con-
tinuance OF work on the Alaskan rail-
road passed both House and Senate late
last night This made 1t clear that
House and Senate leaders had abandoned
all hope of putting through the big ap-
preparation bills now pending before the
Congress dies at noon today.