Omaha daily bee., 1916-02-08
CLARK And MANN
FIGHT FOR BIGGER
AMERICAN NAVY
Speaker Of the House and Minority
Leader Battle Side by Side on
Floor for Preparedness of
the Nation.
SPECTACLE ATTRACTS CROWDS
Presiding Officer Takes Charge of
the Administration Forces as
Kitchin Sulks.
ANTS DO NOT DECLARE SELVES

WASHINGTON, Feb. Speaker
Clark and Republican Leader Mann
fought side by side in the house to-
day for adequate national defense.
With party lines obliterated most OF
the members followed their leaders
and two navy measures passed with
out a dissenting vote. One to pro-
vide for adding 800 midshipmen TO
the entering class at Annapolis next
July, passed 173 to O; and the other
to equip navy yards for CONSTRUCTION
of batleships Nos. 43 and "A, passed
without roll call.
Mr. Mann tried to put the anti
preparedness advocates on record by
calling for division on the naval
academy bill, but there were no neg
ative responses.
Clark Appears on Floor.
The appearance of Speaker Clark on the
floor TO champion preparedness meas
ures aroused wide interest. Rumors per-
sisted that he would take active charge
of the fighting to increase the army and
navy Majority Leader Kitchin having
Joined the opposition.
Immediate Improvement of the navy by
designing new battleships along the lines
of the best now in use. doubling the men,
bership of both Annapolis and West
Point, creation of many additional regi-
ments for the army and short term en-
listments to produce reserve were
among suggestions made by the speaker.
He said he expected to discuss the sub
ject of preparedness generally soon.
Mr.. Mann reiterated his previous plans
for larger army and navy and aided in
maneuvering the bills to passage. This
is not the time for criminatJ,n and re-
crinination," said he. ut is not the time
to find fault with that which has been.
1t is the time for all to DIN hands for
that which may come"
Debate Goes Far Afield.
Tbes debate went far afieid from the
measures Under consideFatioh extendinf
the general subject OF military prepared.
ness The unusual sight OF the speaker
and the minority leader battling together
for administration measures while ths
majority leader sat silently in the bach
OF the house attracted crowds to the
galleries and members rushed TO the fiool
from their offices and committee rooms
Mr. Clark urged haste In getting ne'
battleships into commission. He aske
Chairman Padgett Of the nava lcommit
tee why It would not be a good plan I
pattern the two battleships Nos lS an
A after the best United States ship afIoa
and get them completed quickly.
'lSimply because" Mr.. Padgett said
the chief Of the bureau Of constructio
told us that he had plans already worke
out that would make decided improve
ments against torpedo attack"
waiting for Authority.
why do they not put those plans int
operation?" the speaker continued. "The
WILL" Mr.. Padgett said. 'as soon as the
get authority provided In this resolt
tion."
I'VE shall all die of old age before the
are completed at this rate the speaks
responded.
Representative Padgett told the houi
that three ships-the Oklahoma, Nevac
and Pennsylvania-regar as the be-
three in the world at the time they wei
designed and laid down, would be con
pleted and put into commission durir
this year--two of them in the early sun
mer and one in the autumn.
IF any emergency should arise"
added, "a very small resolution of col
gress carrying the necessary appropri
tion could provide for extra ships
Representative Cannon OF Illinois or
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