New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-01-23
House Passes Appropria-
ton Bill Without Add
ing to Figures.
KILLS INCREASE
FOR AEROPLANES
Senate Committee Approves the
Plans for Improvement OF
Regulars and Militia.

3 Washington. Jan. -. After deei.
sjvely defeating proposals by Repre-
sentative Gardner. OF Massachusetts, to
increase appropriations for aeroplane'
and various other branches Of the ser
vice the House passed tonight the
army appropriation bill, carrying APP
proximately SlO10OOOoc sir. Gardeners
motion 20 appropriate 100000 for
aeroplanes I'm lieu Of the item appro-
priatirC 5000 coo Wa defeated by q
vote Of 81 10 255.
Mr.. Gardner conteuded that six Of
the seroplsnes owned by the army were
crippled" and that the reserve sup
plies OF aeroplanes consisted mainly
of snare parts" Chairman Hay OF the
Military Affairs Committee said the
$500 600 appropriated was sufficient Tor
the purchase Of twenty-five additional
machines and was all the War Depart
ment desired 10 spend next year.
Representative Parker. Of New Jer-
sew. sought 70 increase the appropris-
ton for the manufacture of rifles from
S250.0OO 20 Sl.700,000, but his amend
ment WAS voted down.
Amendments offered by Mr.. Gardner
70 add 10 the enlisted strength of the
coast artillery corps, 70 triple the APP
propriation for small arms smmuni-
tion and TO increase the amounts for
field artillery and ammunition were
quickly defeated.
Representative Guernsey. OF Maine,
expressed the fear that II this country
was ever invaded Maine would be the
objective Of the invaders and would
suffer as Belgium IS now suffering.
81 am particularly in favor at this
time OF strengthening the army and
navy Of the United States said Mr..
Guernsey. "As a member from the
State Of Maine who believes that the
administration policy of government
owned ships may lead us into difficult
ties with England which we Will have
10 settle At the close of hostilitieS,
especially if the Allies are victorious,
want the defences of the East strong
enough 10 make a foreign nation stop
and think before attacking us.
an the event of such trouble Port
land would be the first point attacked
and the terminus of the Grand Trunk
seized New England. in such an event,
would be the seat OF war, and property
and lives there would be Of no more
value than they are in Belgium to-
day"
By p unanimous vote the Senate
Military Affairs Compittee ordered TO
day a favorable report on the frst OF
the bills proposed by Secretary Car
rison to Increase the efficiency of the
army and to place it on basis Of pre-
paredness for war The measure pro-
vides for the enlistment Of the army
up 20 IT'S maximum strength and an
increase Of 900 officers. The commit
+ tee also ordered favorable report on
/ the militia pay bill, which provides for
/ reorganization of the militia in accord
anee with plans approved by the Gen
eral staff Of the regular army.
The first OF these measures Will not
/ change the existing organization OF
I the army, but will provide for all IN
/ crease Of 9,S2S enlisted men, 10 brinf
the units up to their statutory
strength. The increase Of 1000 officers
is advocated by the War Department
with a view to training the militia and
keeping a certain number OF officers
on staff duty. without interfering with
the maintenance OF the mobile army
on an actual war basis The committee
changed 20 some extent the classified
add, reducing the number of those IN
higher grades and increasing the mum
/ Der in the lower grades.
The militia pay bill provides for the
payment Of officers and enlisted mer
/ of the militia while in encampment OF
under training on the same basis as
/ the officers and men of the regular
army. and provides for an annual ap'
preparation Of S16,500.000 for this pur'
pose. It provides for direct supervision
Of the federal government over militia
organizations, the establishment OF =
/ reserve corps of militia officers, who
may be called on for service in time
Of war. and otherwise brings the reg
ular army and the militia into close
/ touch, both in organization and train
ing BY making payment from the fed
eral Treasury conditional on adequate
training the standard of the militia
/ Il is believed, will be raised more near
| " 20 that of the regular army.
To-day's action by the Senate Com
mittee paves the way for early action
in the event of an extra session Of
| Congress.