Omaha daily bee., 1916-03-19
CONGRESS UNIT FOR
NATIONAL DEFENSE
Only One Voice Raised Against
Preparedness and that is Soil
tary Socialist.
DAY OF DEBATE IN HOUSES

oWeu every OiutI lthlSio'l't lo'N'
today in both houses OF congress.
The fact standing out most sharply
from a whole day Of debate and dis
cussion was that only one voice had
been raised against military pre-
paredness as a national policy; that
OF Myer London OF New York, the
only socialist member OF congress.
The house completed more than
half OF it's set schedule of ten hours
general debate on the army increase
bill. More than two score members
expressed their views The great
majority favored the committee bill,
which is the most sweeping military
measure ever considered in the coun-
try in peace times.
Many Amendments Offered.
Many amendments to be offered
were announced, however, and the
prospect OF passing the bill by to-
morrow night virtually vanished. II
may be late next week before the
final vote is taken.
In the senate Chairman Chamberlain
announced that he would seek to have
the military committees perfected army
hill taken up next Monday. The water
mower bill must be displaced to permit
this. President wilson's appeal for haste
on preparedness measures, it was thought
tonIRht. would lead the power bill sd-
locates TO yield their places without
struggle.
Tho 0nilure Of any organized opposi-
tion to the purposes OF the army bills 10
show itself on the house floor led Rep
resentative Hay. chairman OF the house
committee. TO abandon the night session
provided for under the special rule when
gives the bill right OF way. The accu-
mutation OF amendments TO be ouereu
also influenced his decision. They can
not be taken up until the ten-hour gen
erai debate is ended. After that the fiVe-
minute speech rule will apply. so It was
regarded as useless 10 hold night ses-
sions in an effort TO get through to-
morrow night.
Debate Begins To-day.
rne general debate will conclude early
tomorrow and the struggle with amend
ments begun Several members OF the
committee. alI OF whom signed the re-
mort on the bill. will propose changes IN
specific sections. They are not oouno
nv any committee agreement AS mem
hsr after member added his approval to
the plan for increasing the army durins
the day. interest In the debate Tagged
!, x,as too one-sIded TO attract a crowd
Al times there we're not moro than
score OF seats filled on the floor
Party lines were utterly forgotten IN
AZ. a,scussion. Representative Hay faced
the house for an hour. delivering no sci
sneeeh but ready 10 answer quesuohs
from, any uuhrter. Representative kahh'
ranking minority member OF the com
roittee. frequently lntervened to aid the
chairman In presenting the committee
v,eWa. The two divided the debate time
hatv,een them since there was no one
To lead an opposition.
Gardner Attacks Bili.
The bill was attacked sharply by Rep
rasentattye Gardner OF Massachusetts re-
publican. he declared that while u
makes a noise like preparedness. 1t is no.
a very noisy noise" To support his as
sau,t upon the figures as TO what the bill
would accomplish prepared by Repre-
sentative Hay. Mr.. Gardner read eop'
Of a letter from Secretary Baker th'
nev head OF the War department.
The letter disputed the accuracy OF th'
figures by which Mr. Hay sought q
show that .s2l. TO men would be imme
diately available for national army 1
the house bill was enacted. Using tn
same method Of calculation as that EN-
ployed by Mr. Hay. 4 said. ''we shoul
tf.t ,.lt
ton .2s4,1 100 meH who have had some mil
itary training"
I'm other words, the letter added. 9TH
only immediate effect Of the passage o
the house army bill would be 10 increas
the regular army by 1000 men. and eve
that increase being soded in four annus
increments. would require about fou
years time to be recruited and sti
longer time to become effective"
The letter presented reports and figure
70 supper, conclusion that the actua
number OF mon o. military age in IN
country Who have had any militsr
trainlnK At all Is S7a7 The only ade
qustcly trained rncn H. the country"
concluded. are the regular army and q,
army reserve"
The severity Of this official arraigu
ment OF the house bill astonished man
members. At the War department Sec
retary Baker said there was no contrC
versy between Mr.. Hay and himself. TIL
variance In figures. he explained, r,
suited from different opinions held b
o''eers OF the war college, which SUI
piled the information contained in n
letter 10 Representative Gardner and n
sdjutant generals office. the source
Mr.. Hays estimates.
Representative Hay appeared unpe
turbed over the incident He Is said
fully realize the situation at the War d
partnlent, where Secretary Baker h,
been devoting his personal attention
the Mexican situation almost exclusive
ever since he took office on the day aft
the Columbus massacre Mr., Baker HI
ha5 no time even 10 read the army bil
or any Of the numerous reports on the
from his own advisers.