Evening star., 1915-12-17
Republicans Being Importuned
Quietly by Democrats to De-
lay Legislation.
FEAR POLITICAL EFFECT
OF THE TAXES REQUIRED
Public Hearings Will Be Insisted
Upon So That Voters Can Be
Educated.

(; Those prophets who have been
crying aloud that the naval at
fairs committee OF the House will
slam the naval program together
in a hurry and rush the bill
through the House will receive a
shock perhaps when they learn
| that half dozen members OF that
important committee believe the
sun will be good and hot before
the bill is sent to the Senate.
| One car never tell what that House
| of Representatives or any of its great
| committees will do. except that Hood
| of talk may be expected. but hitch
seems to have occurred on the prepar-
! edness plans, and fine large cauldron
| of pitch is being heated.
For instance. when leading demo-
crat in the House goes pIeadingly to a
leading republican on the naval affairs
committee and says:
Look. old chap, don't let that naval
program through the committee one
would naturally think that there is
something wrong. And so there is.
Tla1nt OF the democrats.
The republican naturally wanted to
know why, etc, and the leading demo-
crat replied in shaking tones:
why, 1t will ruin US. 1t will ruin
US. l voted for that war tax. but
know I'm gone forever as a result OF
it. We fellows have got to stick by
the ship-and the battleships, too-but
you republicans wouldn't let the COM
mittee report out a program like that
iunless we know where we are going to
get the money, would your
The hearings on the naval bill, with
it's billion-dollar program and increased
building schedule. will begin in Janu-
ary, in the secor week, 1t now seems
sure There wi SO much interest in
the hearings II .ey will be public, it
is stated by al members of the
committee, a. will be a request
made to tn nan, Representative
Padgett to meetings in one of
the large IN the House Office
building every one who wants
to hear accommodated, and that
there M be adequate press table ar
rangeme -.
Admiral Dewey May Appear.
1t was learned today that Admiral
Dewey will be requested to appear.
and that IAN sorts Of people" will be
summoned: this last expression being
Gates that the members of the COM
and they want the country to have
all the light it can get on the ques-
ton of Why SO much money should
be spent for an Increased navy.
II have always voted for an adequate
navy" said another committee men,
their names to be published just now).
but l will not vote for a patchwork
navy, nor Will l vote for a tremendous
increase in the navy unless / know
where the money is coming from. The
possibility of taxing the people of the
United States with a lot of unheard-o of
taxes does not appeal to me very
much"
Skeptica1 Of Repairs" Item.
And another item that needs looking
into" said high-up republican, "is the
question of the fitness of the navy.
That item of several millions year for
repair Of ships is going to be investi-
gated. and don't you forget it. l un-
derstand that whenever the navy needs
anything not specifically appropriated
for it has ha bit of charging it up to
| repair Of ships and that. as a result.
actual repairs, needed repairs, are not
! made.
Another story from the inside of the
committee is that six democrats on the
comnfttee are against the preparedness
program, and that means the chairman
needs each of the republican votes to
get the program reported to the floor
| of the House. If this is true the re-
publicans certainly have the mastery
Suppose they declared themselves in
favor of the program. but that they
must be assured the money is to be
raised without internal taxes-where
would the democrats be?
Urge Non-Partisan Action.
All these matters are being talked of
| In the offices of the members of the
| House of Representatives. and although
the hest thought is that the prepared
ness plans should not become partisan
| a nd be made political campaign fodder.
there is enough undercurrent and buzz
and gossip about the difficulties in the
path to make a good-sized Sunday SUP
| plement to the daily Congressional
Record.
1t is true that several democrats have
| talked with naval affairs committee
men. with a view to throwing monkey
| wrenches in the machinery, because
they believe they see party ruin in
the combination of increased expenses
| and Increased internal revenue taxes:
| q, 10 true that some of the committee
! u,ilI not vote for the Increased program
nnjes. they can be assured il is needed .
In ia also true that certain members
| ,nday predict the recommendations of
Secretary Daniels will not be carried
\ to the fioor of the House.
| All Of which seems to be fine kindlinr
1 "a the