Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-06-04
HOT FIGHT IN HOUSE
OVER THE NAVY BILL
Democrats Divided on the
Question of Omitting Pro-
vision for Warships.

House leaders today are figuring on a
compromise for the naval appropriation
bill which will build one battleship in
place Of none at all as provided for by
the Padgett bill recently passed by the
House, and in place of two battleships
as recommended by the Senate Repre-
sentative William Sulzer Of New York.
who served notice on the democratic
their mo battleship" program. is one of
the biggest forces in the House at the
present moment toward compelling the
present Congress not to lag behind other
nations in providing sea strength, and
Mr.. Sulzer is a democrat.
Predict No Compromise.
However, there are other democrats
who laugh at the idea of a compromise.
They belong to the absolutely ly-no-battle-
ship faction. stand-pat partisans. bound
by caucus action. and refuse to admit
there is the slightest chance to come to
an agreement. \ caucus to determine a
program will be held very soon.
Representative Sulzer looks beyond
politics in holding to his strong opinions
on the subject OF two battleships year.
He believes that there is nothing to do
but to keep feet in both oceans just
as big or bigger than any other fleet.
ITS matter OF patriotism with me,
he said this morning. "As long as foreign
powers are building two ships a year. We
ought TO do so. We have as much money
as they have; we have as much to pro-
for ships. we will have to do the same
thing. or the result may be disastrous
| for US. 1t is insurance pure and sim
| Pile
One Battleship Demanded.
There will be compromise on one
| battleship. And then the situation will
be satisfactory. for the present We all
| know that the battleships provided for
| in the last appropriation act are no,
built-even their plans are not drawn
| The Texas and Louisiana. which only re-
| Gently slid into the water, were ap-
propriated for several years ago. Nava
! construction is slow and changes and i'm.
provements in 1t are revolutionary, some
times in year. The one battleshit
which we will appropriate for this year
| will not be power on the seas for four
or five years yet And then in the next
appropriation act. to even matters up, we
will provide for three battleships.'
Representative Buchanan of Illinois is
one of the no-battleship democrats He
won't admit of the slightest possibility
Of House compromise. He is anti.
battleships. anti-steel trust and anti-wa,
scare. He says the war scares are fakes
and that they are fostered to give the
steel trust chance to make armor plate
Mr.. Padgett. chairman Of the COMMITTEES
which presented a bill without providing
for q battieship. is still firm in his be-
| lief that the -battleship' program
adopted in two democratic caucuses will
| stand.
Not All Capcus-Bound.
| But the caucus does not affect every
democrat in the House Mr. Sulzer is a
conspicuous example, and there are 9TH
ers, and these agitators will be assisted
| by and will assist the republican mem
bers, who are a unit in favor of at leas,
one new floating fortress for the country's
navy.
Representative Redfield of New York
| candidate for Vice President on the dem
| ocratic side. is strong for battleships He
| said today he would support any scheme
| to keep the American navy in it's proper
L tI4 49, - -