Evening star., 1917-02-28
CONGRESS
WILL ACT PROMPTLY
Administration Officials Con-
fident President Will Get
Power He Requested.
SEE NO SPECIAL SESSION

Administration officials today saw not
the slightest possibility that Congress Will
fail to grant quickly to President Nhsoh
the full powers he asked of that BODY III
his address Monday for the protection oi
American lives and commerce In connec-
ton with the submarine warfare OF Ger
many and Austria Hungary now gong on
and to prepare for eventuahtles III iueui C.
They saw not the slightest possibility
either, that President Wilson Will cali All
extra session of Congress, for they 90 not
believe that one will be necessary
Both OF these beliefs are based upon
reuorts from members of the Senate ana
House of Representatives which were ia'a
before the President and his advisers at
the cabinet meeting yesterday afternoon
In other words although II iaIs es nIs
expected by administration oHclais
thar Congress will pass the fulI
power resolutions asked by the fresi-
dent TO-DAY, it is believed that ',. Coii
gress will do so reasonably quiehy
and In time for other necessary legis-
lation, particularly the army and navy
appropriation bills, to be passed before
the present session of Congress enos
Sunday.
View of Cabinet Officer.
One cabinet officer today expressed
the opinion that it would be silly pol
ities." international as well as ma
tional, to delay the passage of the 1uil
power" resolution asked by the fresi-
dent, and expressed the opinion tnat
after the smoke has cleared away among
certain groups in the Senate and house
members of these groups VIII nnu
minority when the voting begins.
This ca binet officer, as well as otheT
administration officials, also expressed
the opinion that if there are members
entiously believe that the interests OF
the country will be served by Con
gress being In extraordinary session
later on, it would be the part OF wise
politics, from all points OF view, TO
find some other means to urge an extra
session of Congress than any effort at
delay over resolution granting the
President full and clearly defined pow
ers. Administration officials do not De-
iieye that the people of the country
as n whole will support members of
the House and Senate who try to pre-
vent the President from receiving
mower to protect American lives and
commerce.
President in Touch With Capitol.
The President is in close touch with
what is proceeding at the Capitol.
Postmaster General Burl4son is bring
ing him from time to time reports OF
the detail necessarily involved in per-
fecting the resolution the President
has asked for, and was Il caller at the
White House again this morning
The President is in close touch. also,
with the desires of the so-ca1led paci
fists. and has engagements with two
groups of the latter for this afternoon.
White House executive offices Jane
Adams, Frederick Lynch, Emily Balch.
Joseph D. Cannon and William T. Hall
on the subject of maintaining peace, If
possible and also has an engagement
with committee headed by Amos
Pinchot.
Messages Urging Action.
On the other hand, many messages
are reaching the White House urging
the President to take action to arm
convoy American ships. The American
Rights League. of which George Haven
Putnam is president, and which in
cludes in it's executive committee Law
renee r Abbott Frederic II. Coudert.
Lawrence Ciodkin and others, has sent
the President a message holding the
present virtual blockade OF American
ports TO be an intolerable insult to a
free people," and urging the President
to take prompt measures to secure re-
lief.