Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1912-12-27
SECRETARY OF NAvYIs THOUGHT
TO BE TRYING Mr.. RoosE.
vELT'S RusE.
MAY GET TWO AS COMPROMISE
More Sailors and Marines Also Are
Wanted-TarIff Board May Be Re
vlVed After the Democrats Have
Revised the Schedules.
By eEoRoE cLINroN


pretty warm controversy on the sub
lect IN the house of representatives.
y is said that the Republican secre-
tafy OF the navy has been prompted
q ask for three battleships by the
tact that the Democratic platform
ADOPTED at Baltimore pledged the
party to care for the needs OF the
navy.
Last year, when the naval bill was
tDetore the house committee, Il be-
came known that the members of the
majority party were divided as to the
advisability of adding battleships to
the navy. Most OF the committee
members were In favor of the increase,
out the opposition was strong on the
hoor OF the house, and particularly
strong because some of the recognized
party leaders were very much opposed
20 an enlarged building program. A
compromise was effected and one bat
Iieship and several smaller ships were
authorized for construction.
Trying Roosevelt's Method9
1t is believed by many members of
congress that Secretary Meyer has in
mind just what Theodore Roosevelt
had in mind some years ago. Mr..
Roosevelt wanted two additional bat.
tleships built for the navy, but he
knew that congress was opposed to
any great increase In the navei
strength at that time So it was that
Mr.. Roosevelt, wanting two ships.
asked for four, and the two were
forthcoming In the nature OF a com
promise, a compromise which proba-
ply made the president chuckle, be-
cause he got just what he wanted and
Just what he was afraid he would not
get 1t is suggested that Mr.. Meyer
hopes through the compromise plan.
to get two ships, whereas IL he only
asked for two he might have to be
content with one.
The United States navy is today
third in strength among the naval
powers Of the world Great Britain
and Germany lead this country, and
France follows II as the possessor of
fourth place. although the French
navy is nearly as strong, on paper at
any rate, as the navy of Uncle Sam
The navy department wants more
sailors. and II has asked congress,
through Senator Perkins of California,
who has introduced a bill to that eff
feet, TO increase the enlisted strength
Of the navy by one thousand, bringing
the total strength up to $500 sailors.
An increase is asked for the marine
corps of 20 per cent, and IL 1t is
granted there will within the next
year be ten thousand FIVE hundred ma.
rtnes In the service of the country.
May Revive Tariff Board.
The tariff board, which went out of
existence because OF a refusal on the
part OF congress to renew an appro-
priation for its support, may possibly
come back into being again after the
tariff has been revised by the next
congress.
There is strong organization,
known as the National Tariff Commits
sion association, which is working
hard to arouse public sentiment In
favor OF a permanent commission
which shall study business conditions
at home and abroad and make specific
reports on the schedules to congress,
with the view of having them adjust
ed, SO that from time to time the tar
III on certain articles may be changed
without disturbing the whole tariff
list.
Already congress is being memorial
lied by associations and by individu-
ais to give force and effect to a real
national tariff commission. II has lust
been announced that there will be a
convention OF the advocates OF the
tariff commission, to be held in Wash
Ington, probably simultaneously with
the opening of the extra session Of the
new congress.
Only One Minority Party7
There have been happenings
within a few days In congress
which point to the injection OF
trouble for the Republicans and Pro.
gressives in the next house. It is
now currently reported and believed,
rom what the Democratic leaders
have said privately, that 1t is the In
IGNITION Of their party in the house and
senate, when congress meets in extra
session, to recognize only one minor
ty party, namely, the Republican
On the face of It, 1t would not seem
hat this would create any particular
AMOUNT Of trouble. but when the, mat
Ter OF the committees is taken into
and the present method
II appointing members &C them Is
hought on, trouble loo.ns large. I'm
Ter the present system Of committee
In the house, the ma
orfty party and the minority party
separately hold caucuses and agree
IN committee membership. The Dem
'crats, being in control, can do Just as
hey choose in pretty nearly all mat
ers, and so II they recognize only one
party, thus leaving the Pro-
sressives entirely out of considera-
ion, the latter win be wholly at the
mercy OF the Republicans in commit
ZEE matters.
II has