Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-02-22
House Committee Said to
Overwhelmingly Favor the
Recommendation.
PROVISION Is ALSO MADE
FOR EIGHT DESTROYERS
Exclusive Of Warship Construction
Bill Will Garry sos, 5o7, 599.
Warrington Navy Yard Items.

Two battleshfps and eight destroy
ers probably will be recommended b,
the House naval affairs committee tt
the House of Representatives thi:
week. The committee is overwhelm
ingly in favor Of this normal addition
to the present navy. and it Is possible
that majority Of the members would
vote for three battleships. but thi:
increase would not be favored by the
House.
The bill to be reported to the House
will carry, excluding the battleshir
program, $1os.5o7.5ss. This is about
81, 900, 900 less than the appropriation
all but decided upon. A lively fight II
the committee may be expected wher
the battleship Recommendation is put
up for q vote. but it is believed thai
tho only small navy men are Repre-
sentatives Tribble Of Georgia, Wtther-
spoon Of Mississippi. Hensley Of Mis-
souri,, Buchanan Of Illinois and Gray
of Indiana.
Washington Items.
Items of interest in the bill include
$4,000 for new machinery at the Wash
ington navy yard, and $315.O for work
on various naval guns that will go
through the yard. For ordnance an ap-
preparation of $5.s0o.000 will be made; fol-
smokeless powder. $1.l5O.00O. An extern
sion Of the Indian Head, Nd. powder
factory Is provided for to the extent oil
$780, 600. To encourage government man
ufacture Of powder, the bill carries q
paragraph as follows:
provided further, That in the ex-
penditure Of this appropriation OF
any part thereof. for powder, no pow
der shall at any time be purchased un-
Head, Md. shall be operated upon a
basis of not less than its full maxi
mum capacity"
There is no provision in the bill for
the Atlantic coast this year. The pro
tracted squabble between Philadelphia
and Norfolk for this benefit ended In
a draw. with both cities adjudged the
losers by the committee referees
The total of the items for the New
York navy yard additions and improve
ments is $4,000 and are listed in the
following paragraph:
Paving and grading. to continue
equipment. $4,000; to complete pier D
$4,000 toward construction of pier {
(cost not to exceed $l3O.O0O), sex. 900; dis.
tributing system. to continue, including
separator receivers, $lo,oOo.
For Pay Of Navy.
Under the item pay Of the navy" ii
carried an appropriation Of $4,000. 724
as against $50, 264, $50 in the present law
Under this head Is the provision for thu
creation OF the grade OF acting chaplain
never heretofore in the navy list. and
along with this innovation goes a new
regulation of the number Of naval chap
lains to one for each 1,250. men in TIKI
naval service.
The total amount appropriated undel
the projected bill for the maintenance o.
the Marine Corps, exclusive OF public
works in connection with that arm 'o
the service. Is 81, 345. 469, or about $2OO,O(
less than for the current year.
The bill concludes with an authorization
to the Secretary Of the Navy to investi-
gate and report to the next regular ses-
sion Of Congress upon the selection Of q
site suitable for the erection of an armor
plant to enable the United States to
manufacture its own armor plate and
special treatment Of steel capable of
standing all ballistic and other necessary
tests required for use in vessels Of the
navy at the lowest possible cost to the
government, taking into consideration all
the elements necessary for the economi-
cal and successful operation Of such a
ouCn dS tAc dsdlldOluSy u
material and fuel and transportation
facilities to and from said plant
Cost Of Site Included.
1t also provides that the report shall
contain the cost Of q site sufficient to &C.
commodate a plant having an annual out.
put capacity Of 10000 tons and q site for
an output of 10000 tons and also an item.
lied statement Of the cost Of the neces-
sary buildings. machinery and accessories
of each. the annual cost and main
tenance of each and the estimated cost
Of the finished product OF such plants.