South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-10-23
WAR PLANS WILL
NOT CAUSE SPLIT
Sen. Kern After Talk With
President, Says Congress
Will be in Harmony.

WASHINGTON, Oct. %. 49, Sen.
Kern. majority leader of the upper
house in congress. after a conference
at the white house said Friday con
gress would work in complete haT-
mOny with the president on the ma
tional defense program. As the lead
er Of his party and chairman OF the
caucus the Indiana senator will have
an important part in carrying out the
administrations plans.
Leader Kern told the president a
caucus would not be necessary in the
senate.
There Will be no disagreement
with the president on the general
proposition OF national preparedness"
said Sen. Kern. The president does
not ask congress 10 abdicate it's func-
ton and accept in all its details what
ever plans the departments may sub
nit The estimates for the army and
navy will be referred TO the proper
committees and given careful Consid-
Grafton.
Legislation that will follow. in my
judgment will have the cordial ar
prevail Of both the executive and legis-
lative branches .of the government
and will be endorsed by the country.
sum Won't be Huge.
THE amount of money asked will
not brighten anybody. The country
was misled by aggravated reports that
the administration would introduce a
billion dollar program. The plan for
an increased naval construction of
only around s7O,00O,00O a year over
a period Of five years is quite a differ
ent matter. There will be no trouble
on that score and congress will be in
HARMONY with the president
There may be differences Of Opin-
ion with respect 10 some of the de-
tails. Congress may think we should
have more submarines. Congress
may think immediate and extended
increase in coast protection of more
importance than some other things
that may be recommended.
Il think congress will assume the
president has made out prima facie
case. He has been In touch with the
situation and has studied it; we have
been on a vacation. In view of the
general situation do not consider the
amount the president asks congress TO
appropriate as in any sense excessive"
Sees No Need OF Caucus.
Sen. Kern does not believe a caucus
will be necessary for from his point
OF view the national defense cannot
be made party issue.
eliminating ulIItTenCeS OF opinion
over Details" continued the senator,
II do not believe the opposition will
be strong enough to make a caucus
necessary"
When asked how the money was to
be provided Sen. Kern said:
This question has not been care
fully inquired into yet and will not be
until congress convenes, but If it is
necessary to issue bonds, why not?
nj Of
siderably over $200,00O.000 on the
construction of the Panama canal in
stead of issuing the bonds the law au-
thOriZed. If we should now turn
around and use these bonds for the
upbuilding of the national defense and
let pOsterity meet that obligation
can see no reason to object. Neither
do | think congress would hesitate TO
issue bonds for this purpose"
What about the war taxes?' Sen
Kern was asked.
War taxes are always irritating"
he replied. Some of them should be
abolished. The little things that con-
stantly stare persons in the face rile
them. II was never intended, for in
stance. that the one cent tax on tele-
grams and the tax on long distance
telephone messages should be paid by
the public In the coming congress a
bill will be introduced to place both
these public utilities under the inter-
state commerce commission, where
they belong and compel them to pay
their taxes out OF their earnings in
stead of passing the load 70 the peo-
pie.
"One thing is assured. The presi-
dents program in all its essentials will
be agreed to by congress, the money
will be provided with which TO carry
il out and the people will not be laid
under any increased burdens Of taxa
tions."