Evening star., 1915-01-30
NAVAL BILL PICKED
TOP|ECES IN HOUSE
Attacks on First Part of Meas
ure Brought About on
Points of Order.
SECTION TO CREATE CHIEF
OF OPERATIONS is KILLED
Clause Benefting Navy Yard En-
ployes Doing Clerical Work
Also Ruled Out.

The first part of the naval appropria-
tion bill was fairly shot to pieces IN
the House of Representatives today, as
the result of sharp points of order
The attack on the bill from the big
navy men on one side and the little
navy men on the other did not ma
terialize in the early hours of the de-
bate under the f1ve-minute rule, but
the legislative sharps began to pick
the bill to pieces early. In anticipa-
tion of their attack, the rules COM
mittee met prior to the session of the
House and reported a resolution to
make privileged that section of the
naval appropriation bill which abol-
ishes the plucking board and allows
the restoration of any officers retired
by this board.
One of the most important points of
order was that which knocked out the
section creating chief of naval opera
tions, and full bureau to aid him.
This proposed legislation was put in
tne Dill after an earnest fight by the
Dig navy enthusiasts. 1t was the first
step toward the creation of a general
staff for the navy similar to that which
controls the army. The chief of naval
operations would be responsible for the
preparedness of the navy for war, and
was considered an extremely response
IT was a distinct step in advance for
the navy.
however. 1t was new legislation, and
as such has no place in an appropria-
ton bill. Representative Mann of Illi-
nois made point of order against it
which was upheld by Representative
Hay of Virginia, who was in the chair.
Rules Out Provision.
Representative Page of North Caro-
lima made point of order, which was
upheld, against proviso in the bill of
great interest to many navy yard en-
ployes doing clerical work. This pro-
posed legislation applied to the classi-
fed civil service per diem employees of
the clerical. drafting, inspection, chem
ical, messenger and watch forces at
the navy yard.
1t gave these employees the same
amount of annual leave as that grant
ed to employees of the Navy Depart
ment doing the same kind of work in
other establishments of the navy. Re-
Gently committee of the Washing
ton navy yard showed the naval af-
fairs committee that civil service en-
ployes working in the navy yard
failed to receive the amount of leave
granted to the same sort of employees
doing the same kind of work in the
Navy Department building. and the
proposed legislation was written to
overcome this discrimination
Secretary Daniels occupied seat on
the floor of the House again today, sit
ting with the members of the naval
committee and watching the progress
of the bill. He kept copy of the bill
in his hands while he kept track of
proceedings.
Naval Question Thrashed Out.
Every phase of the naval question
was thrashed out in the general debate
on the bill. which lasted until IL o'clock
last night. All the old opinions on the
strength and weakness of the floating
forces were revamped and bolstered up
with personal opinions CLEANED from
reports OF European naval engage
ments, and the one startling speech was
made by Representative Hobson of Ala
bama. leader of the ultra-radical big
navy" men, who said he believed that
the United States has secured peace
with Japan by assuring the japanese
government that the Philippines would
soon be out of the control of the United
States. He also said he believed that
when the American fleet circumnavi-
gated the globe during the Roosevelt
administration it was allowed to go to
Japan only under the promise to be out
of the Pacific ocean by fixed time
had been telephoned to by Secretary
of State Bryan but a few moments be-
fore, and that the Secretary had made
denial OF the charges. Mr.. Hobson
frankly stated Secretary Bryan's posi-
tion and denial, but said it had not af
fected his opinion. He spoke of the
arbitrary treatment Of Amer.can
ships in the present international sit
uat1on, saying conditions are much like
they were in 1912, when~a war followed
land e
All OF these things. he insisted. call
Tor greater naval strength, but, in re-
Ply to him. Representative Williams Of
Iliinols rldlculed the idea of Japan
landing an invading force on the Pa
clfic coast, and insisted that war from
any side is remote possibility.
Insists on More Submarines.
Representative Slayden of Texas ap-
pealed to the naval affairs committee
to support larger program of subma-
rines. He said that the hdebound
opinions of naval bureaus are respon-
sible for the slow advance of the navy.
and in lengthy speech declared that
submarines in the United States navy
were being retarded in the same way
that the first steam engines and the
first ironclads We're kept in an unde-
veloped state by bureaucrats who could
not see their value to naval progress
Representative Cline of Indiana, op-
posing the big navy" idea, made an
attack on the Army and Navy Journal.
whose policy he said. "is shaped by
the personnel of the army and navy"
He said this magazine. which com
mends German militarism as the
proper thing for the United States"
expresses the opinions of Officers in
both branches of the service who direct
their activities"
Another warlike speech was made by
Representative knowland of Califor-
mia. who said the small navy men had
taNeh to the cyclone cellar" The Cal
, ifornia spoke of the Vera Cruz incident
and criticised the manner in which the
| situation was handled.
Cites Germany's Case.
| Representative Saunders of Virginia,
arguing against the contention that
preparation for war a guarantee of
| S1lpoeSted that the E,mnaror ,e