The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-02-27
CONGRESS CLEANING. UP THE SUPPLY BILLS.
Senate Passes Several Ap-
 propriati0n Measures
HOUSE IN DEBATE
Senate Adds Eight Million Dollars 10 House Naval Bill-Fortifications Bill Passes Without
 Amendment

Washington. February 2G.--Congress worked away steadily today and to- night on its task Of cleaning up supply hills which must be out Of the way be- fore adjournment on March 4. The Sen ate passed the naval bill, sl52,ooo,o 900; the fertilization bill, se.000. 900. and the diplomatic bill. s4,200.0oo. while the House spent the day debating the gen. eral deficiency measure with inter ruptions now and then to dispose Of conference reports.
 The Senate added about sS,o00,000 to the naval bill as it passed the House, providing in the two battleship con struction programme for five sea- going submarines instead of one for 1e in- stead of II coast defense submarines. for a sunbost and hospital ship and adding s1 ,0o0 GOO for an armor plant and $500 900 for projectile factory.
 Senator Shoot vainly sought to have authorized the construction of DO sea- going and 25 coast submarines, declar- ing that mo man can tell when the Eu- ropean disturbance will involve this country in difficulties" This precipi- lated general discussion of the war in which Senators Lewis of Illinois. Jones of Washington, Thomas of Colorado and Townsend of Michigan joined.
 Pass Qualifications Bill
 The fortiications bill was passed without amendment so if now goes to the President for his signature. Some S250,00 was added to the diplomatic bill, and paragraph calling on the President to collect from Cuba s6. 500,000 the expense of the American army of modification in 1909, was stricken out on point of order
 The House agreed 10 most of the Sen ate amendments to the army bill but refused to accept several. including one eliminating the prohibition against stop watches and other speeding up meth ods in army shops. All except one of the Senate amendments 10 the legisla- tive, executive and judicial bill were dis agreed to. For the item of $16o,0o0 to be spent by the President in connection with the formal opening of the Panama ca nal. the House substituted 900 and in structed it's conferees to insist upon that amount.
 Democratic and republican leaders on both sides of the capitol were busy dur ing the day holding informal conferences on the legislative situation. There is some hope that the Philippine bill and the general dam bill may be considered hut Senator Simmons said that if it was found that they could not be passed without prolonged debate both would Have to be dropped. The democrats ap- parently have determined to let these measures have precedence over the ship purchase bill.
 Difficulties Increase Difficulties of the majority leaders have been increased by the incorporation by the Senate of the McCumber rural cred it's bill in the agricultural appropriation measure. The banking and currency com nittees of both houses will meet tomor- row to consider the situation and it is understood that the democrats have about decided to substitute for the McCumber amendment the Hollis bill, regarded as an administration measure. Representa- lives Henry, Bull<ely and other House champions of rural credits, said that while the McCumber amendment was not com I,lete, they were willing to support it in order to get legislation on the sub ject.
 The Senate remained in session until late tonight debating conference re- port on the seamen's s bill.