South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1916-02-08
TWO NAVY BILLS
: PASS THE HOUSE
Speaker Clark and Minority
Leader Mann Are For
Preparedness.

WASHINGTON. Fes Speaker
Clark and Republican Leader Mann
fought side ay side in the house
Monday for adequate national de-
Tense. With party lines obiiterated.
most OF the mem bers followed their
leaders and two navy measures pass
ed without a dissenting vote.
one 10 provide for adding 600
midshipmen 10 the entering class al
Annapolis next July passed 173 20
nothing and the other 90 equip navy
yards for construction Of battleships
numbers g. and a., passed without
a roll call
Mr.. Mann tried TO pat the anti
Preparedness advocates on record
by calling for division on the naval
academy bill. but there were no neg
ative responses.
Clark's Appearance Interests
The appearance of Speaker Clark
on the floor TO champion prepared
ness measures aroused wide interest
Eumors persisted that he would
take active charge OF tho G,1t TO in
crease the army and navy, Majority
Leader Kitchin having Joined the
opposition
Immediate improvement Of the
navy by designing new battlesh,ps
along the lines Of the best now liz
use, doubling the membership Of
both Annapolis and West Point.
creation OF many additional resi-
ments for the army and short term
eniisiments 20 produce a. reserve
were among suggestions made by
she speaker He said he expected TO
discuss the subject of preparedness
generally soon.
Time for Action SAYS Mann
AIR. Mann reiterated his previous
plans for a larger army and navy
and aided ia maneuvering the bills
to passage This IS not the time
Tor elimination and recriminadon."
he said. 1T is not the time to nud
fault with that which has been. II
is the time for AN To- join hands for
that which may come"
The debate went far afeld from
he measures under consideration.
extending TO the general subject of
military preparedness. The unusual
sight OF the speaker and the minor
uy leader battling together for adj
ministratiou measures. while the
majority leader sat silently in the
back Of the house. attracted crowds
to the galleries and members rushed
Gen the floor from their offices and
committee rooms.
Clark Urges Haste.
Mr. Clark urged haste i'm getting
new battleships into commission. lie
asked Chairman Padgett of the
naval committee why it would not
DE good plan TO pattern the two
battleships. numbers A. and "A.
after the best United States ship
now anoat and get them completed
quickly
simply because" MIR Padgett
said. THE chief of tho bureau of
construction told as that ne had
plans already working out that
would make decided improvements
against torpedo attack"
why do they not put those plans
into operation, the speaker con-
tinued.
They will" Mr. Padgett said. "as
soon as they get authority provided
iu this resolution"
we shall an die Of old age be-
fore they are completed at this
rate" the speaker responded.
Reprcseutative Padgett told the
house that three ships-the Okla
homa. Nevada. and PenusyIvania-
regarded as the three best Ia the
world. at the time they were de-
gned and laid down would be COM
pIeted and put i'm commission during
This year-two OF them I'm the early
summer. one i'm the autumn.