The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1916-08-18
PHILADELPHIA
GETS NAVYpLANT
To Equip Navy Yard to Build
Warsh ps.
\. Y. CHANNEL ITEM KILLED
Special Equipment for Construction OF
Largest Dreadnoughts Granted by
Congress Conferees.

Congress Conferees.
Washington, Aug. Disagreement on
all disputed items in the naval Dill
was reached by house and senate con-
ferees.
The senate passed the measure with
out a record vote.
The conferees agreed to retain 3d.
O00,O to equip navy yards for war
ship building, but special approprla-
lions for an enlarged drydock and
foundry at Charleston, S. C., were
stricken out.
This action provides for the equip
ment of the yards at Puget SOUND
Philadelphia, Norfolk, New York, Bos-
ton, Portsmouth, Charleston and Ne"
Orleans for construction OF ships ana
to especially equip the Puget SOUND
Philadelphia, Norfolk and Boston
yards for construction of the largest
dreadnoughts and battle cruisers.
AS the naval bill was finally perfect
ed the Pacific coast won its hight 1or
big battleship construction yard al
Puget Sound, but lost the approprla
ton for a submarine and torpedo boat
base on Columbia river. The latteT
was dropped out pending the report
of q commission.
The 100000 item for deepening the
channel to the New York navy yard
so as to float the greatest warshlps
at any tide was dropped out OF the
bill despite urgent requests by Presl
dent Wilson that it be retained.
All the disputed items are now
cleared up. The bill carries the great
est building program in the history OF
the United States.
Senate Democrats are worried lest
their legislative program be disrupt
ed and adjournment postponed linden
nitely by insistence of Senator owen
Democrat, of Oklahoma, that his cor
rupt practices bill be taken up this
session, and the consequent refusal OF
Republicans to assent to an early vote
on the shipping bill unless Democrats
promise unanimously to postpone &C
ton on the Owen bill until the De.
cember session.
The administration program did not
include Senator Owens measure and
he announced he would call it up be
fore adjournment and demand a vote
The Republicans are strongly opposed
to action on it at this session.
Ratification by the house Of the con.
ference report on the Philippine bill
is necessary to complete the legisla-
ton.
The bill, stripped of the Clarke
amendment providing for independ-
ence of the islands within four years.
as reported from conference, was
adopted by the senate by vote OF
thirty-seven to twenty-five. AS it goes
to the house, however, the measure
contains a promise Of ultimate indie.
pendence.
Early approval of the conference
measure is looked for in the house,
when it will go to the president fol-
his signature.
Definite announcement that vote
will be demanded before adjournment
of congress on motion to take up the
immigration bill, despite the decision
of the Democratic caucus to defer 1t
until December, was made in the sen
ate by Senator Hardwick, Democrat.
of Georgia, speaking for Senator
Smith, of South Carolina, chairman OF
the immigration committee. The an.
nouncement followed reports circu.
lated among senators earlier in the
day that President Wilson might re.
verse his opposition to the literacy
test,