The Oskaloosa herald., 1916-03-23
AR;h0lR PLAlNTI.. BILL.
PASSED By SENATE
Approves Appropriation for SILL
10000 Plant.
EXPECTED TO WIN IN HOUSE
Lower Body Adopts Several Amend
nents to the Hay Army Bill, Two
of Which Are In the Cham
go. berIaln Draft.

Washington, March 22.-The Till.
man bill to provide for the erection
or purchase by the government of an
armor plate factory at cost not to
exceed $11,0O0J000 was passed by the
senate by vote of So to %.
Previous to passage the senate
adopted without a roll call an amend
ment by Senator Wadsworth provid-
ing that any plant to be erected should
be located at a place approved by
general board of the navy with spe-
cial reference to considerations OF
safety in time of war.
Passage of the measure in the house
is regarded as assured. Administra-
ton leaders are planning to bring 1t
UP soon after passage of the army re-
organization and immigration bills.
The bill has the approval of the ad-
ministration and Secretary Daniels.
Democratic senators supported the
bill solidly, regarding it as one of the
important measures included in the
national preparedness program now
being FASTENED to completion.
Nine Progressive Republicans joined
with the majority in voting for the
bill. They were Senator's Borah,
CIlpp, Cummins, Gronna, Kenyon.
Norris, Poindexter, Sterling and
Works. g." ... .......
There was q spirited debate on the
measure before it received a vote.
Hay Riii Amended.
Although rapid progress was made
in the house with the Hay army in
crease bill, II was found impossible to
reach vote before Adjournment.
In the senate Chairman Chamber
lain of the military committee now
plans to call up, his army bill today.
Several important amendments were
made to, the Hay bill during the day.
With one exception they were APP
proved by Chairman Hay OF the milf
tary committee. -.
After defeating proposal by Rep
resentative Kahn. ranking minority
member of the committee. to permit
efficient regular soldiers to be dis
charged into the reserve in one year
on recommendation of their COM
manders or in two years on their own
motion, the house reversed ITS action
and gut through similar amend
ment by Representative Gardner
(Rep) of Massachusetts, over Repre-
sentative Hays opposition. The SEN
ate bill contains such provision.
Adopt Senate Feature.
The most important amendment
was the insertion of the reserve Off
GERS training scheme proposed by
Representative Gard of Ohio (DemD,
which already has been included in the
senate, bill
It provides that military instructors
be supplied by the war department
to any civil educational institution
with an available student body of
100 or more and where a military
course satisfactory to the war depart
ment is established.
Another amendment accepted, Of
fered by Representative Kahn, would
permit the president to order out the
regular army reserve without going
to congress <or authority. The con-
templated strength of the reserve is
$4,000 and as the bill now stands the
president could increase the regular
army from its peace strength of 14O.-
900 to a strength of 2S5.000 by execu-
tive order II war seemed imminent.
Provide for Munitions.
The last amendment adopted was
offered by Representative TiIson
(RepD of Connecticut, member of
the committee. 1t would authorize
the war department to have construct
ed all the tools and fixtures necessary
to convert private munition plants for
the manufacture Of army rifles, cannon
and ammunition -.~
It has been estimated that the fix
lures would cost $15,000,000 or more.