The Monticellonian., 1916-03-09

from this country a horde of aliens
who are willing to work for what the
labor representatives call un-American
pay and to work also under un-Ameri-
can conditions.
South and New England Combine.
Judging from the signs in the case
virtually the entire southern represen-
tation in the two houses is in favor OF
keeping the literacy test in the immi-
grafton law, and this means that al
most all the southern representatives
will vote favorably on the bill and
later, if the president vetoes it, will
vote in favor of overriding the veto.
There is a very considerable con-
| tingent of northern Democrats stand
| ing in opposition to the literacy clause.
Some of the Democrats from the mid
die West and the far West, however.
are in favor of it.
In this contest there is represented
somewhat curious spectacle of
combination between good many rep
resentatiyes from New England and
nearly all the representatives from the
South. 1t is not often in legislation
that New England and the southern
states stand shoulder to shoulder on a
measure of high national moment. A
| few New Englanders, however, and
these of old American stock, are OPP
posed to the literacy test. They stand
on the ground that such a test is eoun-
| ter to the spirit of American institu-
lions and counter to the teachings of
the early Americans.
1t is generally believed in Washing
ton that Mr.. Wilson again will veto the
! immigration BILL provided it is passed
| by congress, and there seems to be
every reason to think that it will be
passed. The question. therefore. arises
as to whether or not house and senate
can muster enough votes to pass the
measure over the presidents 4 for
| bid"
Slow With Naval Measure.
The house committee on naval afs
fairs is going ahead with great DELHI
Grafton with its work OF recommend
ing the warship building program for
the future. II is, of course, urged that
| its deliberateness in action is due to
| its desire to make the report worth
while. Some of the advocates OF pre-
| paredness, however. charge that the
committee is simply killing time and
that the hope of many of its members
is that it will not be obliged to report
out as ambitious a naval program as
was contemplated in the first instance.
The navy, of course. is recognized
as the first line of defense Of the
United States. 1t is a truism that If
our navy is equal to any offensive
which can be launched at us from
abroad. our coasts will be secure from
invasion. 1t is not, however, expected
that congress will authorize the CON
struction of navy which would be
able to stand off the greatest navy now
in existence, namely. that of England,
but the friends of preparedness ex-
pect. if they do not fully hope, that the
building program will be long enough
and strong enough to put the Ameri-
can navy into second place among the
worlds fleets.
Secretary of the Navy Daniels has
recommended to congress what is
known as a 'fve-year building pro-
gram" For the first time, it is said in
the report of the secretary of the navy,
a plan is submitted which not only
covers the necessities of the immedi-
ate future, but has been extended to
cover a period of five years The sec
rotary says in submitting his report,
planning today what we will begin
tomorrow III order to have it COM
pleted in the future is the essence of
all true preparedness"
What Daniels Plan Means.
There are members of congress who
do not agree with the secretary of the
navy in his proposal to spread out the
building program over series of
years. These opponents of the secre-
tary's plan say that building on great
scale should begin instantly because,
as they put it, the time of need for big
ships, big guns and plenty of them
may come quickly and like thief in
the night.
The secretary's program as submit
ted to congress is given in detail of
ships of all kinds, of ammunition, re-
serves, and of aviation resources. The
grand total of expenditure for five
years, If the plan is carried out. will
be 1902, 4S2.214.
If the committees on naval affairs of
the two houses shall report in bill
form Mr. Daniels plan, and If it is pos
sible to bind future congresses IN ad-
vance to carry it out, the navy In 1921,
in vessels built or building. will be as
follows
Battleships, first line ............. q
Battle cruisers Observation-Disclosures. 3
Battleships, second line .......... %
Armored cruisers ................ 10
Scout cruisers 10
| Cruisers, first class ............. 8
Cruisers, second class 8
Cruisers, third class ........... 10
DeStroyers .............. '...-' .Ioo
Fleet submarines ................. Is
Coast Submarines understandable
Gunboats ................... ~
Supply Ships NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS..
Fuel ships NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. 10
| Transports ...............
Tenders to torpedo vessels ...... 3
| Special types
Ammunition ships ............... 2
There is going to be hard fight In
congress over this building plan of the
secretary of the navy. The prepared
ness folk say it is not ambitious
| ,r,