Evening capital and Maryland gazette., 1915-10-04
MORE MIDDIES WANTED
BY SECRETARY OF NAVY
Daniels Would Increase Number at
Naval Academy to 1900.
PART OF DEFENSE PROGRAM.
Secretary of Navy Win Discuss the
Plans With President Today Naval
Budget $225, 600. 900.

hloiss from washington yesterday, j.
+. c." says Secretary OF the Navy Dam
iels announced Saturday after con
ference with Chairman Padgett. of the
House Committee on Naval Affairs that
had definitely decided TO ask Congress
TO increase the number of midshipmen
al the Naval Academy to 200.
This number of young men. he said.
could be accommodated at the institu-
ton without any increase in the mum
Der or size of the buildings Although
the proposed legislation has not been
drafted, il will provide for an increase
in the number OF appointments to the
Academy allowed each Congressman
and Senator
At the present time the appointment
IS based on a student body at all times
Of i.200 midshipmen, but owing to the
fact that not more than 20 per cent OF
the boys receiving appointments are
able to pass the examinations for en-
trance there are never more than 900
boys at the Academy AT one time. How
the new appointment will be made has
not been determined. Secretary Dan
iels admitted Saturday that it was
problem to decide upon any scheme
likely to be satisfactory to members OF
the House and Senate
Today the Secretary and Mr. Padgett
| win confer with the President on the
entire naval program for the forthcom-
ing session, and it is understood that
| the matter of increasing the number of
| midshipmen at the Naval Academy win
be submitted to him for approval. one
of the principal objects to be gained by
| the proposed in crease Mr. Daniels eX-
planned, was to draw more from the
graduating class at the Academy and
less from civil life in appointing Off
GERS of the Marine Corps
II was extremely desirable. said the
| Secretary. to have marine officers
trained in the science of navigation. so
| that in time of emergency they could be
| called on to command ships of the re-
| serve fleet The conference TODAY IS
being awaited with keen interest in
| view of the bearing it will have on the
Administration national defense pro-
gram. President Wilson has already
| conferred with Senator Tillman. of
| South Carolina chairman Of the Senate
Committe ON Naval Affairs, regarding
| the subject of naval expansion. and it
is assumed, in view of the fact that all
departmental estimates must be in the
| Presidents hands by October Is, that
his conference with Secretary Daniels
vii be followed by one with Secretary
of War Garrison
Later, and before approving any Of
| the estimates. the President viii CON
| fer with the Secretary of the Treasury
McAdoo regarding the method of finan-
| cling any increases in the naval or mil
itary budgets and will also discuss the
whole subject of preparedness at full
Cabinet meeting.
| From highly authoritative sources it
| is learned that the tentative figure
which Secretary Daniels and his advis-
| ers have fixed upon for the naval bud
get is 225,00O. 900. an increase of $685.
100000 over the sum fixed in the naval
| program passed at the last session Of
| Congress. This increase would enable
the navy TO build four additional dread
naughts. instead of two: several swift
/ battle cruisers of the type constructed
| by Germany and as many submarines
and other small craft as the balance
would permit
The Navy Department experts have
calculated that if S225, ,000.0 could be
appropriated each year for three years
the American navy would recover some
of its lost ground, and that with an an
nual appropriation thereafter of $780,
100000 year. could keep the feet MP TO
the standard necessary to meet all
probable requirements. In many Off
cial quarters the belief prevails shat if
| President Wilson consents 10 such an
increase il is probable that the army
will be granted little if any more than
the appropriation of $lle.000.OoO, the
sum granted it at the last session of
Congress, although policy might be
adopted which would provide for future
! increases for this branch OF the service.
In any event the problem of financing
an increased expenditure for prepared
ness. or national defense. is proving a
knotty one for the Administration II
the war in Europe continues with a
| consequent continuation of the small
import traffic and low customs receipts.
| il is conceded that any increased ex-
penditures would have 70 he met in one
of three ways, by an increase in custom
| duties. i. e., a revision of certain tariff
schedules; an increase in intern: j rev
enue taxes. or by bond ON short term
note issue. Tinkering with the tariff Is
an idea that is not finding favor in
Administration circles, where Il is stout
~ insisted that in normal times the
revenue produced by the Underwood
tariff would be ample to meet the needs
of the Government Decision seems to
lie between increased internal taxes
and bon don note issue.
While President Wilson himself has
not indicate What course he viii rec
onmend, many OF his advisers are Of
the opinion that if the country is as
much aroused in favor Of betted prepar