Closing Days of Congress

1916

Washington, Sept. 5. — An amendment to the revenue bill, authorizing the President, during a war in which the United States is not engaged, to withhold clearance from all vessels which discriminate against American shippers, to withhold privileges from ships of such nations as withhold privileges accorded to other nations from American ships, and to use the army and navy if necessary to prevent departure of offending vessels from United States ports, was adopted today by the Senate.

An amendment of Senator Phelan of California, was adopted, authorizing the President by proclamation to deny the use of the mails, express, telegraph, wireless or cable facilities to citizens of nations which do not accord to Americans all facilities of commerce "including the unhampered traffic in the mails." This amendment, it was declared, was aimed particularly at British interference with American mails.

Under an agreement to take a final vote tonight the Senate continued work today on the emergency revenue bill. Passage of the bill will virtually clear the way for adjournment of Congress probably not later than Thursday, as it is the last of the big measures on the administration program. Adjournment at 6 p. m. Wednesday is provided for in a joint resolution already prepared by the Democratic leaders and its presentation in the House for passage today only awaited word that the Senate could finish its work by that time.

—The Fryeburg Post, Fryeburg, Maine, Sept. 12, 1916, p. 6.