The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-02-23
CONGRESS TAXES UP APPROPRIATIONS FOR
 NATIONAL DEFENSE
Senate Discusses Army Bill and House Continues De- bate on Qualifications
 Measure

Washington. February 22.-Appro. priatioDs for national defense occupied the attention of both houses of Con. rrcss today in the general rush fo clear If possible. The Senate discussed until late tonight the army appropriation bill carrying approximately sIO3,OOO.OOO while the House continued. debate on the Qualifications bill.
 While progress was being made or recommended by the Senate committed tee practically completed consideration of the naval appropriations measure and the Senate paused for four minutes tc pass without debate the pension bill carrying s164.oOo.OOo. In the passage oi this bill the Senate appropriated at the rate of s41, 100000 a minute.
 Increase for submarines and valuation over provisions of the House bill were ocremmended by the Senate committed on naval affairs in bill which will to- tai approximately $50, 0,000, 900. The com mittee urges $1 900, 900 for aviation in- stead of $s00,o0O as authorizeed in the House bill. The Senate committee also provides for the construction of six sea going submarines instead of one and IS instead of II of the smaller type Submarines, the former to cost not more than s1, 400. 900 each and the latter n1t to exceed s550,000 each. Senator Shoot proposed an ameAdment for the au- thorization of 50 sea going and 25 of the smaller coast defense submarines. An other proposal by the Senate committee is an amendment to the section abol- ishing the naval plucking board which would require all naval officers to spend at least half their service at sea.
 Emergency Resolution
 Notwithstanding the progress being made on appropriations in the Senate, all the bills could be passed whether the ship purchase bill is reported back from the conference committee or not. Several democratic senators said they feared it might be necessary to adopt some emergency resolutions in the clos ing hours of the session. So far as the shipping bill is concerned nothing has yet been done by the conferees and republican leaders propose to have some appropriation measures still before the Senate next Saturday when the con ference committee is to report The com mittee may report a disagreement at that time.
 Considerable discussion prefaced con sideration of the army bill necessitat- ing q night session. In urging prompt action Senator Chamberlain explained the absence of provisions for reorgan- ization of the atmy with the statement that the shortness of the session would not permit proper considerations He predicted that the reorganization and reserve army bills pending would be pushed at the next session of Congress
 Many speeches were made in the House during the fortifications bill de- bate Representative Fordney of Mich igan, republican. predicted that with the treasury revenues falling off next year the administration would have to enact a so-called war tax revenue measure. issue bonds as in 1895, increase i'm port duties. or materially reduce gov ernment expenditures
 Congratulates House
 Representative Mondell of wyoming republican, congratulated the House on not being stampeded into extravagant defense appropriations by the European war. He regretted that some people in dulged in what he considered treason able batting of foreign peoples by con-
 (Csntinssd sa Page Ntnel