The Washington times., 1915-02-27
|U.S.PER|L ADMITTED,
but SENATORS KILL
SMO0T TAM|ENDMENT
So|ons Show They Feel Euro.
pean Crisis Is Near, Drop.
ping Party Lines.

Deaf to the appeals OF various Sen
ators. Republican and Democratic. to
make adequate preparations for, de-
fense. Senator Swanson. of Virginia. in
charge Of the naval bill in the Senate.
made a point of order against the
Smoot amendment. authorising con-
struction OF fifty sea-going submarines
and twenty-five coast submarines, and
thus defeated It.
Surprising feeling was shown in the
course of the debate that the nation is
face to face with grave danger and will
do well to look the situation sauarely
in the face.
Sentiment Strong.
Had II gone to a vote. the amendment
would have developed great strength.
The tenor of the discussion made 1t
clear there Is strong sentiment in the
Senate, without regard to party. 70 see
| to 1t that the country IL better pre-
pared in a naval way and especially to
see to 1t that the coasts are better
defended through submarines.
Senators Smoot, Thomas. and others
| voiced this feeling and supported the
idea of more liberal appropriations.
The sentiment In both Senate and
House that this nation Is in imminent
peril has been growing noticeably OF
late The discussion OF the naval bill
served to bring out the feeling In the
Senate.
Because no test OF sentiment could
be had on vote. the Naval Committee
OF the Senate had its way, and tho
naval bill was passed with provision
for five large sea-going submarines and
sixteen coast defense submarines. Two
battlcships were provided for. and
smaller craft
The provision for submarines Is much
more ample than was made by the
liouse. but it is still. in the opinion
of many Senators, far from adequate.
Bill Carries $152,OO0,000.
The bill as passed carries a total of
$l5. ,HG0,OO0
A feature OF the Senate action on the
bill was the abolishmcnt OF the navy
pucking board by vote Of Al to a.
senator Lewis OF Illinois was one OF
the members OF the Senate to sound a
warning note lie emphasized among
other things the japanese situation. He
took occasion. too, to admonish the
| world that in America the people are
all Americans when 1t comes to the
question of standing UP against outside
antagonisms. lie said:
THE reason why the navy Of the
United States today has not as COM
plete pre- pa ration as II should have and
why the army u not so suffcient a. IL
might be Is because every time pubic
man occupying the public arena some
where has risen to PROFOUND to ms
countrymen the dangers as he saw them
the public press Of our country. anxious
for peace and solicitous to allay the
alarmist wherever he may be. has i'm
mediately announced that there was no
foundation in the fear or the spokes'
man. The citizen has been educated,
, therefore. to believe that VIC have no
dangers ahead and that, therefore, 1t Is
him for a thing that could not be justi-
fod: consequently, whete we tender the
expense for increase on navy and army
at this time tho reply Is. There are no
dangers to Justify it..
Must Tell Public.
Il hold, Mr.. President. that the hour
is upon us when we should tell our
countrvmen frankly where the dangers
really are. that we may justify them In
their confidence In us and cause them
to feel that their contribution Of the
necessary expenses for the rehabilita-
tion of the navy and the proper adjust
ment Of the army Is vindicated by the
conditions
"Sir. some of them rise to my mind
and take the liberty to revive to the
memory Of Senators that when | as.