Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-07-14
NAVAL MONEY BILL
TAKEN UP IN SENATE
Calls for Largest Appropriation
by Many Millions in Ma
TONS History.
DEBATE OPENED BY SWANSON
That There Will Be No Partisan
Opposition Is Apparent
From Beginning.
DEBATE OPENED BY SWANSON

100000 naval bill, the largest naval
appropriation measure by many mill
lions in tho nations history. and bear
INK increases OF nearly s5o,o)0.ooo over
i's total as II passed the liouse.
senate leaders emphasized their in
ton,!on Of expcdi,inr its passage
I'm indication that the senate is in
=ympathy with tho liberal increases
wr't,cn into the bin by the Senate
Naval Committee was seen in tho ap-
p!oval without opposition OF section
inorcasine the enlisted strength Of tho
navy from the present $4,000 20 $500
men and 5000 apprentice scaincn The
House bill provided for an increase to
only 1000 men
When tn" personnel section was
geachcd Senator Norris asked for an
EXPLANATION OF it's purpose senator
swanson. in charge of the measure.
roplied that the section as drafted fol-
Owed the recommendations OF the
Navy General Board, and would give
only sufficient personnel 10 man the
oest battleships and cruisers now in
comm!ssion and so per cent compile
ment for vessels in reserve Senator
Lodge, ranking Republican member Of
| no Naval Committee, also declared
| The Increase imperative
80 PARTISAN OPPOSITION
APPARENT FROM BEGINNING
That there would be no partisan op-
| position TO the bill was apparent from
the beginning OF the debate
The measure as reported by tho Naval
Committee substitutes cisht capital
ships the coming year for tho House s
i've. and specifies completion or the
Navy General Boards hve-year build
Ing program within three years.
As IL passed tho House the bin pro-
vdes for i've battle cruisers and no
hattlcships, and contains no provision
fOr building policy extending into
the future. \ program Of four battle
ships ana four battle cruisers for the
coming year, and completion OF tho
iive-ycar program Of sixteen capita,
ships and TWO years earlier than in
tended. vas dccidcd or by the senate
Naval Committee after conferences
with Secretary Daniels, who voiced the
Presidents desire rha, construction be
s2ccded as much as possible.
The building program probably will
/ be reached within a few DAYS, and
while Il Will develop The only serious
opposition tn" measure is expected TO
meet, champions OF The bill believe the
authorization for 1917, including four
Drcadnouchts and four battle cruisers
/ together With tho three wear conStruc-
'ou policy. viii bc approved \ long
Hrht is expected in conference. the
House bill having provided for only
five "a pital ships.
CONSTRUCTION PROVIDED
rN GENERAL HOARD
The threeyear program calls for an
expenditure If S5SS.lSo176 Of which
S3l5 S36,st@ is appropriated for 1917.
Hov construction III 1917 would cost
silN72S.ooo. The Housc bill called for
total expenditure Of S2sa.a 600 iA
tsl7
+ The general boards program provides
for this construction:
Ton Dreadnoughts (four this ycar).
Sis battle cruisers -four this year..
Ten scou, cruisers -four this year..
Fivc feet submarines (uonc this
yearp.
Fifty destroycrs ucn this year.
Fifty-eicht coast submarines twcn-
,v-seven this year,.
LII &C ''l i"'i 't''pH 'upilt tillS year
one repair ship one hospital ship.
oma transport
Two destroyer tenders conc this
ycar).
one fleet submarine tender
Two ammunition ships Zone this
year).
Two gunboats Zone this ycar>.
Tho House bill would bring the total
. enlisted strength OF the navy up to
< 90 900. but the Senate Committee in.
serted provision TO provide for a
peace strength OF $4,000. and to give
the President power to recruit the
navy's fun strength to $1,000 in an
emergency.
SWANSON OPENS
GENERAL DEBATE
senator Swanson, ranking Democra-
tic member of the Naval Committee.
opened tho general debate declaring
that to be safe the United States must
become and remain without question
the worlds second naval power"
we had as we'll realize" he said
7! ";hat all of our rights, the preserva-
tion Of our institutions. the possession
q. our wealth, the enjoyment of our
foreign commerce. the continuation of
tho Monroe Doctrine. and the owner
snip OF the fanln1d Cdnal are Ocpen-
dent upon our own strong arm. mani
| tested and exercised through our navy.
For this great nation. rich In all
material wealth and far richer in fu-
lure possibilities, to risk all to the
hazards OF war and TO become the prey
/ Of weaker nations merely for the lack
Of q sufficient naval strength is. 10
my mind. the supreme national folly.
THE unjust restrictions that Great
Britain has imposed upon our COM
mcrce during tho progress Of this war
further emphasizes to us the necessity
Of having a navy large enough to de
mand and enforce our rights. In mod
crn commerce. with its varied trade
complexities. the nation that is help
loss upon the seas Is the prey OF all
.lContinuod on Second Page.J
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