The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-12-05
Moore Asks Assurances
That Germany and
Japan Agree.
NO BASIS ON WHICH
WILSON CAN ACT
Until There Is Official Notice
That England Is Prepared to
Move Favorably in Matter.
United States Should
Continue to Build
Battleships.
Especial to The Times-Dispatch.1

l
Washington. December 4-R~pre
sentative ]. Hampton Moore of Phila-
delphia. protested vigorously in the
House to-day against passage OF the
Hensley naval holiday bill until as
surances could be had from Japan and
Germany that they were ready to agree
with all other nations 70 the plan.
He declared this country would be
disarmcd and left dcfenseless. while
Germany and Japan are rushing con
struction % DreadnouEhts. Even
though other nations should join with
us Tor Il years cessation OF warship
building. do you think this country
would approve our failure 10 keep pace
with Japans naval program" asked
Mr. Moore.
There is no basis in this naval holi-
day resolution on which the President
can act" asserted Moore. we have
no official communication from Great
Britain. only tho reported statement OF
Winston Churchill, the Lord Of the
British Admiralty. We do not know
that he speaks for the British govern
inent or the British Parliament. When
this government has Official knowlcdg.
that England is prepared to move
faTorably III this matter it viii be
time Tor this government and for Con-
gross to act. In tho meantime we
should continue - build battleships.
"Preparedncss for war is ordi-
nary prccaution TO secure peace, OF
which l am in favor.
Tax Not burden.
This Hcnsley resolution for = naval
building holiday provides that we shall
have this peace agreement because it
viii tend to lessen the enormous bur
/, dens OF the people and avoid the waste
OF the Investment in war material
You cannot tell tina. tax collecti' II is
4 burden until YOU know what You
arc going TO do with it. If the tax
for post-oiice buildings is n burden.
stop it. You have the power and the
votes
Tile term burden has become to be
Il political one used by only one part
in this country to-day, as applied to
tari., taxes. II is being used in this
discussion with the expectation that it
viii influence the people.
The construction OF warships is
not burden upon the people. II Is an
assistance 10 the people. 1t Is an as-
sistanco TO the farmers. workingmen,
industrialis;s and 10 the mechanics
The moment you stop the construction
OF battleships. you turn out Of employ
ment. not only men on the farm. men
engaged III the mines. but You will
also turn out OF employment men OF
the great factories and great indus
tries OF this country"
Representative Slaydon. % Texas,
suggested that if the building Of bat
tlcships was a benefit to the country.
why should not nifty such ships be
built and the benefits distributcd
To EIunlize Distributions
THAT would be unnecessary. and
would he Of no advantage" replied
Moore. II would not eXpend ali the
money OF this country in building
battlaships. nor in improving rivers
and harbors, nor in building post-of-
Ices. but / would try 10 cqualize the
distribution. so that ii n mans occupa-
ton was that of = mechanic. he could
nave employment, if IN agriculturis;
ne could have q market for his pro-
Duct, II an engineer there might be an
engine for him To run
Representative Sisson. of AIississippi.
gave notice that he would vote ngains,
any authorization Of amy huttlssh.ps
az inc present session OF Congress
Representative Bartholdt. VINO was i'm
Europe during the summer. said TINT
me car OF Russia ana the Emperor
ol Germany looked with favor on rc-
ouce't armament through cessation OF
rivalry III naval construction
Representative: Slayden. Texas. ana
liensiey. author OF the resolution. ar
Sucd i'll it's defens.
Proposal by DmnieIs.
y
nounced to-day that he proposes IN
suggest 10 the President 81 call for an
International conference to consider
thc regulation OF naval construction.
DO not thing" said Secretary Dun-
icis, That the bill now being discussed
ny Congress for Il one year naval holi-
uay Is comprehensive enough and T
am IN FAVOR OF having il amended in
me senate. 1t seems certain that none
OF the nations is going to iuterrupt
us present naval construction pro-
grams. Many nations have as We
KNOW. program which covers future
periods OF several years
naval holiday of itself would be
conclusive. What we are most inter
ested in Is an International reo,.la-
ton by agreement. which will preserve
a proper future and at tho same time
operate i'll tho interest OF economy of
nations. In the meanwhile, however,.
We VIII proceed with our own pro-
grams of building hattlcships and
auNiliarics."