Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-06-24
Overnight Changes of Opinion
Give the Administration
a Big Margin.
NORFOLK DRY DOCK PLAN
A SACRIFICE TO DEAL
Killing of Virginia Project Said to
Have Landed Pennsylvania
Thirty six Votes.

After a warm battle of words. the House
of REPRESENTATIVES voted Yesterday after
noon to allow the President to sell the
hattleships Idaho and Mississippi to
Greece for about S1.,nGo0o, the proceeds
10 be used in the building of modern
super-dreadnought. The maneuverfnS
which was necessary to get the House In
line with the views of the Secretary of
the Navy and the President viii be re-
rnerbered by congressman for long time
to come.
Up to the last minute the telephones be-
tween the Capitol and the departments
were busy carrying messages from the
administration. study of the votes
shows several prominent examples OF
changed opinions on the subject the
change having occurred in the admins
tration favor overnight.
How Votes Were Gained.
One of the elements in the big change
of opinion. which is partially responsible
for the wide margin in the ia to 81 vote
was the firm stand the House took on
the Norfolk dry dock proposition. It was
said openly in the cloakroonls of the
House last night and today that the ad-
mnistration side gained thirty-six votes
out of the bill. If that is true, the reason
for it is this
Philadelphia wanted the much discussed
dry dock. and had behind her the entire
PENNSYLVANIA delegation. and Norfolk
wanted the drydock and wanted it very
much. The Kirginans We're. of course,
nassed behind this plea. Norfolk won in
the Senate and the conference bill went
back to the House with the drydock item
in. The House disagreed and Philadel-
nh nf hing To dn<o fa1l Sa@t
The City of Brotherly Love started in 10
smear Norfolks chances as much as pos
sible. If Philadelphia couldn't have the
dry dock. then no one else could-that
was the attitude of the Pennsylva MIA dele
cation.
Dry Dock Project Killed.
When the administration leaders in the
House found themselves hard pressed and
the House torn between the three brands
of thought on the subject of selling the
Idaho and Mississippi the friends of the
Philadelphia dry dock proposition went to
The proper persons and said:
IF YOU will prevent Norfolk from get
ting the dry dock We can hand you thirty
Ssix votes for the sale of your ships
Y When the Norfolk pronosition was
preached the House wiped it out, with only
Zone man voting for 1t. and he was Rep
preventative Jones of Virginia
= Representative Stafford and Representa-
stfive Mann. on the republican side. argued
against the proposal to sell the ships
yesterday. but took different VIEWPOINTS
Representatives Stafford decried the
SAmerican Interference in European en-
.fansiements. and Representative Mann de-
Sssclared the House should not submit to the
%dfctatIon of the Navy Department in u.s.
Sing the receipts of the sale for the Build
png OF another ship He said 1t was the
sauty of the House to suggest what shouli
sshe done with the money
Daniels Issues Statement.
: Secretary Daniels issued the following
statement last night:
!. inns Is splendid thing for the navy
lana am naturally much gratifed that
Ine House concurred with the Senate in