Ogden Daily Standard | 1917-03-09 | Page 1 | Extra Session of Congress

EXTRA SESSION OF CONGRESS 1 ' I President to Arm American Ships to Resist Submarine Washington, March 9. President Wilson today decided to call an extra session of congress in April and also decided that he had power to arm American merchantmen against German submarines operating in violation of international law. The president is expected ex-pected to exercise his authority to arm American merchantmen forthwith. forth-with. The extra session of congress was set for April 16. The president m a formal statement announced that he is free to exercise at once the power to arm American ships. The proclamation for the extra session was issued at the White House this afternoon. The president said he was calling congress because much necessary legislation was pressing for consideration. It was learned definitely that some American merchant ships sailing for the submarine zone will be armed by the government at ' once. Preliminary arrangements have been completed and it is ex- pected that vessels will be ready to sail in the near future. The following statement was issued . "Secretary Tumulty stated in connection with the president's call for an extra session of congress that the president is convinced that he has the power to arm American merchant vessels and is free to exercise it at once. But so much necessary legislation is pressing for consideration that he is convinced that it is for the best interests of the country to have an early session of the sixty-fifth congTcss, whose supprt he will also need in all matters collateral to the defense of our merchant marine "