New-York tribune., 1916-02-08
Democratic Speaker and
Republican Leader Urge
Preparedness.
HOUSE PASSES
TWO MEASURES
Party Lines Forgotten as Rep
resentativeS IndorSe Presi-
dents Attitude.
From Tne Tribune Bureau J

James Mann. virtually took joint c. arge
o. the preparedness programme today,
while the Tammany leader, Mr.. Fitz-
gerald, surprised the House by resent
ing a question as TO the Presidents
sincerity on the defence issue, asked
BY ex-Speaker Cannon.
To-day witnessed the livcliest debate
so far on the preparedness question in
the House. two small measures being
put through, each after much discus
sion. One provided s5OO,OOO for build
inc ways on which to construct a bat
tleship at the Mare Island Navy Yard
and the other increased by 90 per cent
the number OF cadets at the Naval
Academy AT Annapolis.
Those who had been hoping FOR q
rollcall on either of these measures
which would "snoke out" the anti
preparedness vote were disappointed.
There was practically not vote against
either. A few smothered noes were
heard when the vote on the Mare Island
appropriation was asked, and not one
was heard when the bill increasing the
number of midshipmen went through.
Desiring q showdown, Mr.. Mann de-
manded a rising vote on the midship-
men bill, but although Representative
Galloway, Of Texas, had talked against
it and refused TO vote for it he declined
20 stand 20 vote against II, with the
result that mot a soul" as the Speaker
expressed it, voted no.
Mann Urges Quick Action.
H. making a strong preparedness
speech NJ. Mann chided The House
Naval Committee for its slowness, say
ing that the quicker it reported out
hin and got IL on is road TO passage
the better.
a do not think am very hysterical,'
said Mr.. Mann. q have found that my
main trouble in life was caused by nv
being too cold-blooded and I have no
hysteria now. but believe that an emer-
gency exists, owing 60 conditions in the
world. which ought to cause the United
States to put itself in a condition where
it can defend its shores, its people and
rs property.
"Now that the emergency IS seen by
the President and his Administration !
have no doubt there will be q speed
INC up as TO the ships already author
ized I'm my opinion this rs rot the
time for elimination and recumnat0n.
Il is not the time 90 End fault with
that which has been. IL is the time tor
Ian who forcsee what may come 20 ,oin
hands in preparation for that which
fmay come u is easy 70 ind 1auiti
other people ind fault with us.
81 believe the President IS thOrc ughly
sincere and patriotic I'm the utterances
he has made ana in the foresight he
has gained as 70 the possibilities of the
future. Represented as We are by the
President IN our foreign affairs. we
ought to and him 'n preparing the coun-
Try for trouble which we all hope VIII
not come, but which may come I'D spite
Of US. -
fairs may well speed up, along with
other things. and the sooner "o nave
bill from that committee that Will au-
thorize additions to the navy the better
off we will be. | think we may all
speed up in the several branches Of
tho Government. believe in main
tanning peace. but am for making
such preparations as will enable Us 10
defend ourselves against any foreign
nation"
No Emergency Measure Offered.
REPRESENTATIVE Britten. Of Illinois, .
minority member Of the naval COM
mittee, cited President Wilson's pre-
/ paredness speeches and said:
| Notwithstanding that a terrible CON
| hict has been tearing Europe asunder
| for a year and a half not one single
| recommendation of an emergency char
acter has come before our committee
up to the present time, and none is
| provided in the appropriation bill to
| be passed this year. This hve-year
| programme, so-called. is not q five-year
programme IL is ten-year pro-
gramme, for 10 will take ten years TO
complete the ships provided in the pro
Cramme 10 be carried IN the next ap-
preparation bill.
What has the Secretary OF the Navy
done with reference TO the recon-
mendation of the Navy Board a year
ago? Admiral Badger came before our
committee and said there was a short
age Of $4,000 men, and he said, fur
ther, the tonnage did not indicate the
efficiency of fleet That is true, but
what Is the value OF tonnage If you
haven't men 70 man the ships
I'VE have not had a war organiza-
tion on our ships because we haven't
the men. What is the use Of talking
about 30 many tons Of battleships II
you are going to keep them IN reserve
because Of lack OF men?
About "a year ago the Naval Board
said we were short about I 500 mer
and this year they say We need al
least $4,000. But the Secretary of tn
Navy came before our committee a
year ago and recommended 1900 ordi
nary seamen and $500 apprentice sea
men The Atlantic feet Of fifteen bat
tleships is to-day at Guantanamo, and
as late as December 80 the Navy De
partment received a radiogram from
the commander of the feet saying he
was short $40 coal pasSers and any
number of petty officers.
THE list Of vacancies to-day runs
Sbout 1000 men for the ships down
there. In the name Of heaven how are
we going 20 man the other fifteen ships
If We are surrounded by fire and sparks.
as the President says ,"
Clark for speeding Up"
Speaker Clark said that Congress
! should ascertain the best type OF bat
! tleship and then pass resolution that
all the rest Of the ships are 10 be built
on that model, and shorten up this
process by six months"
1--WE should pass such bills as this