The Washington herald., 1916-05-04
BY E. b. JOHNS.

At the present rate of progress on the
naval appropriation bill the vote on the
Increase in the navy will be reached early
next week Then the committee will de-
eide whether II win report out a bill
carrying four battle cruisers of the de-
partments program Of two battle
cruisers and two battleships. There will
also be motion 10 include in the bill
four battle cruisers and two battleships,
but it is not believed that the national
defense forces can muster enough votes
for a six capital ship program.
The vote on provisions for reserve
ordnance and muiitions indicates that
the larger navy forces are in control Of
the committee. Representative Cal
loways amendment to reduce the am
munition appropriations from S30oo,oOO TO
s., 10000 was voted down by such a de-
cisive majority that it is evident the
little navy contingent is having very
little to do with the formulation of the
bill So far it is understood that most
Of the recommendations of the subcom-
mtttee with regard to materiel have been
approved by the whole committee.
The committee has not yet reached the
personnel features Of the bill and II is
understood that 1t will not take them
up until shortly before the vote on the
building program is taken. There will be
civilians are commissioned in the pro-
posed naval flying corps.
The wage controversy at the Rock lis
and Arsenal hangs on the question as to
whether Chicago is in the vicinity Of
Rock Island, Ill According to the regu-
lations of the War Department, the
wages It q government arsenal or armOry
is to be based on the scale that is paid in
that vicinity.
The board of officers which was ap-
pointed to adjust the wages at Rock
Island, assumed that the vicinity only
included Davenport Moline and a few
of the surrounding cities The represent
atives of the employees insist that Chicago
should be included and the matter has
been referred to the Department of La
Dor. The employees insist that there are
no industries in the tri-citIes with which
the wages of the arsenal can be COM
pared.
The representative Of the employees at
Washington has announced that II the
wages at the arsenal are not increased
g5 per cent by May Is, a strike will be
ordered.
No class is evincing a deeper interest
in preparedness legislation than the
educators of the country. College men
are not content with an academic dis
cussion of the subject but have taken up
all of the important provisions of the
army bill now pending before Congress
and are making known their views on
the measure.
Aside from the few naCfists that now
remain in the faculties Of the college
the educators are unanimously for some
form of universal military training. The
military training is not only being made
a part of the curriculum of all of the
progressive colleges but the college pro-
fessors are advocating that legislation be
enacted which will give all young men
an opportunity to take military training.
A majority of the college professors think
it is as important to make military train
Ing compulsory as general education
Dr. benjamin Ide Wheeler, president of
the University of California. in a letter
to Senator James d. Phelan says:
Il want you to know that 1 am very
much in favor of the idea represented by
section IS of the bill introduced in the
Senate by Senator Chamberlain provid-
ing for volunteer army. 1 think it is
better to have no army for the present
than to develop the National Guard. ma
tional being a misnomer. The ideal
should be a citizen soldier under the Fed
eral government Every citizen ought to
bear arms just as much as he votes.
AS a general type the Swiss system
appeals to me- Sooner or later we shall
come to that"
Among the army officers reporting at
the War Department were Brig. Gen.