Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1917-03-14

, WEDNESDAY, MARCH IL, 1917.
PRESIDENT CALLS CONGRESS
TO Convene in Extra Session in
Washington April iGth.

Washington April iGth.
washington, March 9.--President
Wilson to-day ordered that a policy
of armed neutrality be put into ef-
feet immediately by the arming of
American merchant vessels, and call
cd an extra session Of Congress to
meet Monday. April 16, in order to
have its support and counsel "in all
matters collateral to the defense Of
our merchant marine"
On the mature advice of this gov
ernments highest legal authorities
the President decided that failure OF
his armed neutrality bill at the last
session left him with sufficient au-
thority, under existing statutes, to
issue naval guns to merchantmen.
To Ask Specific Authority.
He is expected, however. to ask
that all doubt on the point be re-
moved by passage Of a specific au-
thor1zation as soon as Congress
meets.
Because OF the passage by the
House Of the armed neutrality bill
and the signing OF the manifesto ap-
proving such a step by a majority of
the Senate during its last session, the
President feels he has Congress and
the country behind him. AS soon as
Congress- convenes additional legisla-
tion OH the question will be asked
for.
Under bill passed near the end of
the last session. the amount OF money
nc hn
war risk bureau for insuring Ameri-
can ships was increased to $15,OGO,-
900. Under the present rule OF the
bureau the government docs not in
sure ships carrying arms or muni-
tions.
Ships to BE Armed at Once.
Preliminary arrangements have
been completed and It Is expected
that vessels will be ready TO sail in
the near future.
be armed will not be made public by
the government and are not expected
to be published in the newsDapers.
The navy department will issue an
appeal to the American newspapers
to refrain from publishing any in
formation whatever of the nature Of
armament of ships. and already has
appealed to the cable companies tC
suppress all information Of ships
crossin" the Atlantic in either direc-
tion.
The President decided to arm the
ships after receiving formal opinions
from Attorney General Gregory and
Secretary Lansing that he had such
authority, in spite OF old statutes
which some believed forbade 1t.
Mr.. Wilson has the backing of the
entire cabinet in taking this step.
Guns for arming merchantmen have
been assembled at navy yards along
the Atlantic coast and everything is
ready to carry out the policy an
nounced by the President.
Presidents Proclamation.
The Presidents proclamation call
ing the extra session Of Congress fol-
lows:
Whereas. public interests require
that the Congress of the United
States should be convened in extra
session at IL o'clock. noon, on the
10th day Of April, 1917, TO receive
such communications as may be made
by the Executive.
"Now, therefore. |, Woodrow Will
son, President of the United States of
America, do hereby proclaim and de-
clare that an extraordinary occasion
requires the Congress OF the United
States to convene in extra session at
the Capitol in the city of Washing
ton, on the 10th day Of April, 1917,
at - o'clock, noon, Of which all per-
sons who shall at that time be enti-
tied to act as members thereof are
hereby required to take notice.
"Given under my hand and the
Seal Of the United States Of America
the 9th day Of March. in the year of
Our Lord one thousand nine hundred
and seventeen, and of the independ-
ence Of the United States, the one
hundred and forty-first."