Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-05-28
Representatives More Inter-
ested, However, in Base Ball
Game Than the Debate.
REAL FIGHT TO COME
ON THE AMENDMENTS
General Discussion Will End Tomor.
row and Vote on Measure
IL Is Expected Friday.

The naval appropriation bill, carry
ing S241. 100000 and the proba bility of
the bitterest preparedness fight in
years, was taken up in the House yes
terday. The mere announcement that
the big row on battleshsipe, eubma-
Stnes, preparedness and all the allied
subjects was about to commence would
seem enough to attract a large gal
lery and a large attendance on the
AooN But the double-header at the
ball ozark proved more enticing to Con-
Eresa, and while some of the middle
Hest undergraduates speakers were
etraining their lungs in an effort to
change q battleshsip to a submarine
or a plowshare, empty benches echoed
their words. The majority of Congress
was cheering base hits. Scarcely an
eighth of the membership OF the
House remained through the warm art
srnoon to listen to the debate.
However, the preparedness question
has been discounted in the House, and
the speeches yesterday were to some ex-
tent for the record and for home con-
sumption. The real fight comes whom
the bill is taken up for detailed discus
sion and amendment, when the repub1-
cans Will seek to increase the building
program and the little navy democrats
endeavor to decrease it, General debate
will end tomorrow about 80. and a vote
on the entire measure is expected Fri
day.
Mr.. Padgett Starts Debate.
Representative Padgett, chairman of
the House committee on naval affairs.
started the debate. with republicans
sitting all around him ready to take ad
vantage of any opening that would give
them a chance to weaken his defense of
the bill. However. he parted nearly all
the attacks by refusing to yield for
questions. Representatives Britten Of
Illinois. Roberts of Massachusetts and
Butler of Pennsylvania, republicans,
watched every chance to interrupt.
Chairman Padgett contended that the
insertion of Ave battle cruisers in the
bill, to the exclusion Of all battleships.
was an economical move. and was ap-
proved by many naval experts
committee in inserting battle cruisers in
no way reflects upon the importance Of
battleships.' said he The battleship
has been and will be the principal fghting
ship of the navy. However. the condition
Of our navy now demands that the policy
of constructing battleships to the ex-
ciusion of cruisers be reversed" He read
contention on this score. In answer to
question from Representative Howard he
said:
death with the bill l have received a note
from Secretary Daniels in which he con-
graduated me the magnificent work
Of the committee
Rank Of United States Navy.
What rank will the United States have
when this program is completed" asked
Representative Fess Of Ohio. assuming
other nations keep to their program
IT was talking only yesterday with
Capt. Oliver head of the naval inte1li
eence Office" said Representative Pad
Gett land he told me there is no infor-
nation that is reliable or definite as to
the naval building activities of the bel
sligerents: only fragmentary reports a.
to what has or has not been done. Last
September the department received
word that England and Germany were
building battle cruisers instead of bat
tleships. and only In the last few days
that report has received confirmation.
We have nineteen dreadnaughts and
Germany twenty that we know of. and
one we suppose she took over when il
was building for another nation: and
we have reports that she has built two
others. of which our naval intelligence
ONCE is not sure, but believes to be
probable
Representative Padgett said the
building program in the bill would be
completed about 1919, and that Rear
Admiral Fletcher and others had rated
the United States Navy about third.
Representative Farr of Pennsylvania
asked If the President had not said the
United States Navy was fourth. Rep
resentative Padgett replied the Presi-
dent might have said so. but IL he did,
the President did not know the condl-
ton of the navy at the time.
Favors Larger Program.
Representative Tess Of Ohio, repub-
lican, spoke in favor Of larger pro-
gram. He said the United States is sure
to meet trouble a some time after the
European war and must be prepared TO
face it. He pointed out Mexico as a
danger spot
Mexico offers an excuse for troubl.
between this country and other ma
tons" he said. There is German,
French and English property there.
The time will come when foreign ma
tions will demand indemnity for losses
sustained during the Mexican trouble.
Can Mexico pay? She cannot. A coal
Ing station or a slice of land will be de =
manded. What will we say then? viii
we defend the Monroe doctrine? We
Will defend II or We will surrender"
Representative Hensley Of Missouri
made a speech advocating his proposal
for a general peace conference follow
ing the close of the European war.
which is included in the measure