The Washington herald., 1917-02-28
|DEEMED overt ACT
CONTINUED FROM PAGE ONE.


Chairman Flood said that the House
Committee would endeavor to get the
authorization measure. in some FORM
before the House today
All day the Senate foreign relations
committee struggled with the problem
Finally an agreement was reached on
a bill, Altering but little the PresI-
dents request. 1t authorized vessels to
arm, and the President to supply the
needed guns. ammunition, and gunners
but it eliminated the Presidents recon-
mendation that he be authorized 10 sup
ply them. should It in his judgment
become necessary" Senators Stone.
Hitchcock. O'Gorman. and Smith OF
Michigan. sought to keep this language
In the bill, but failed. Chairman Stone
at once took the measure TO the SEN
ate floor He presented the bill and
asked for a first and second reading
When the first reading was concluded
Senator LaFollette. of Wisconsin arose
and declared that he wanted TO object
to any consideration of the measure
at this time A parliamentary wrang!e
followed. ending when Senator Kirby,
OF Arkansas. in the chair. ruled that
the objection would prevent the second
reading of the bill. or its reference
to the foreign rela ions committee. and
would force the measure over until to-
|day.
senate Takes Recess.
A short time later the Senate recessed
until this morning. Senators said last
night that this would prevent considera-
tion OF the authority bill until after the
Senate takes an adjournment, which will
probably be late this evening" Thus II
was apparent that the LaFollette fight
had blocked all opportunity for consider
ing the bill until tomorrow. It was ap-
parent that Senator LaFollette was de-
termined to block the measure, proba bly,
for the purpose OF forcing an extra ses-
sion of Congress as a check on the Pres
ident's handling Of the international
situation.
The bill as laid before the Senate would
provide:
That the commanders and crew OF all
merchant vessels OF the United States
and hearing the registry OF the United
states are hereby authorized to arm and
defend such vessels against unlawful at
tacks. and the President OF the United
States Is hereby authorized to and en-
powered to supply such vessels with de-
fensive arms. fore and aft. and also with
the necessary ammunition and means of
making use OF them: and that he be and
Is hereby authorized and empowered to
employ such other instrumentalities and
methods as may in his Judgment and dis
cretion seem necessary and adequate TO
protect such vessels and the citizens OF
the United States in their lawful and
peaceful pursuits on the high seas.
S1OO,OOO,OOO in Bill.
The sum of 100000. 600 is hereby appro-
priated 10 be expended by the President
of the United States for the purpose of
carrying into effect the foregoing pro-
visions. the said sum to be available un-
til the first day of January, 19lS'
TheNbill would provide for a bond issue
to raise the money appropriated. and
would authorize the turning over of SIS
100000 Of the money to the Bureau of
War Risk Insurance to finance insurance
on American vessels against the presen.
risks of war.
1t was slater last night that this bill
was satisfactory to the administration.
The failure to secure immediate action
in the Senate led to plan to force the
measure through the House. IL possible
and place full responsibility for its delay
on the opposition in the Senate. The ap-
parent wide division in the House. how
ever, made it doubtful as to whether the
bill, in the form recommended to the
Senate, could be put through the House
at all,