The Washington herald., 1917-02-05
MILLIONS URGED
FOR FINANCING
EXPECTED War
President Discusses Possibility
of Bond Issue with Sena-
tor Simmons.
$500, 100000 Is NEEDED
Score of Preparedness Measures Now
Scheduled to Be Rushed
Through Congress.

Plans to finance a possible war were
discussed at the White House late yes
terday, when Senator Simmons, chair
man of the Senate Finance Commit
tee, called on President Wilson.
Breaking a heretofore inAexible rule
against business on Sunday. the Presi-
dent went over with the Senate leader
the financial condition of the nation,
and the need for legislation. financial
and general, to meet any emergency
that may arise out of the break in
diplomatic negotiations with Germany.
We simply discussed problems that
would arise in the event of wal" said
Senator Simmons after he left the
White House.
Guard HnIts simmons.
E.c White House war guard for, a Tina
lcfU-ei TO ADMIT senator Simmons to the
GROUNDS without pass. He was rescued
by a Secret Service man. however. and
was lei 10 the Presidents study where
he was clOscted for an hour
Il became apparent last night that bond
ssues tc finance any war emergency will
.oe Forthcoming promptly if they become
necessary. Il was stated that an initial
issue Of S5iO. 100000 Will be the first step
toward financial preparedness" The ad-
TIiUis-ratiOn revenue bill designed to raise
rev revenue and authorizing bond issues
amounting to more than $500, 900 600 is now
before the Senate Finance Committee.
Democratic leaders may decide to attach
Gn emergency bond issue authorization to
this biz and rush it through at once
Con2r 2ressi0nal leaders last night planned
to hasten all legislation bearing on the
international situation, or which might
prove necessary in the event of war
To Hurry Naval Bill.
Measures looking to the preparedness
Of the United States for a physical clash
with foreign nation are well under way.
The House just now has before 1t the
Isl. 10000 naval appropriation bill which
undoubtedly will be passed within the
next twenty-four hours and FASTENED on
its way through the Senate.
The House Committee on Military AZ
tairs has the army Appropriation bill al
most ready to report. and work will be
be reported to the House as soon as the
navy bill is out of the way. The fortif-
cation bill already has passed.
REPRESENTATIVE Britten. of the House
Committee on Naval Affairs, will offer
an amendment to the pending naval bill
making an appropriation of s119 900 900 to
facilitate the work of completion of 113
naval vessels now under construction.
This is a part Of the suggested plan to
ously consider a revision of the present
naval program which will concentrate
the projected efforts of the coming three
years into two. This will require aug
mented appropriations.
The plans of the War Department and
OF the Committees on Military Affairs are
less concrete. They may be said to re-
main for the Immediate present in a state
of flux. They formed the subject OF a
half hours conference Saturday between
the President and his Secretary of War.
strensthenIug Statutes.
Steps to strengthen the Federal stat
utes prohibiting breaches Of neutrality
and looking to the stamping out of sys-
tematiZed or sporadic espionage have
been hastened by reason of the present
crisis. The President has indicated TO the
Congress leaders that he wants the sew
ment of Justice and approved by the sub
committee of the Senate judiciary Com
mittee rushed through Congress For
many months the Department of Justice
has found that its agents were hampered
in their efforts to prevent neutrality
breaches by the weakness of the existing
laws. BeIligeTent officers and sailors, in
termed in the United States. must be pro-
hibite1 from roaming at will about the
country as has been the unfortunate
practice ever since the German sea raid
ers were interned. One OF the bills pro-
vides for their arres, and punishment II
similar offenses occur in the future. An
other of the bills places new and strin-
gent regulations upon the power of the
State Department to issue passports An
other severely penalties false swearing.
They prescribe new regulations for the
issuance and service of warrants of
search, and OF warrants for the seizure
and detention OF property.
Additional provisions conveying to the
President complete authority to take over
and conduct for the uses of the United
States all Industrial and commercial
plants will be Incorporated in either the
army or the navy appropriation bill. II
is also certain that legislation extending
to the President complete authority over
the transportation facilities of the nation
will be Incorporated In one Of these
measures.