Evening star., 1916-12-04
BILLION AND HALF
: ASKED BY THE U. S.
- = FOR COMING YEAR


- ~ FOR COMING YEAR
~ CONTINUED from First Page.)
ordering of cannon and ammunition
may be carried forward without de-
J. hay, although deliveries may be more
than two years ahead.
The ordnance bureau asks Tor o,oot
to manufacture jigs, gauges and other
s-axtures for the equipment OF private
machine shops to make government
arms or ammunition. Congress ap-
proved this plan last year. and the
tools will be held in store against q
war emergency.
Under the head of coast defenses
$45,62S,O0O is asked with which to pur-
chase guns of all types. from the great
sixteen-inch weapons for the fixed bat
teries and experimental mobile how
ftzers to light mountain guns. Last
year Congress provided S15,970,O00 Tor
line with the four-year policy approved
at that time. under which the coast
defenses will be improved at a cost
of $1OO, 900. and a store of reserve
ammunition and I, material 70 cost
The increase in the general item OF
Notifications and other works of de-
tense for 1918 totals more than
$SO,UUU,OUU over last year
The general features of the naval es-
Inmates already have been discussed at
open hearings before the House naVal
committee, which is rapidly whipping
the bill into shape. TO continue shsps
already building or authorized the de-
partment seeks $11S.946.155, and Tor
ships to be authorized this year. $ss'-
0,O00. 1t has been shown during tne
committees hearings, however, tnat tne
latter figure is only a rough estimate
and probably will be increased many
millions, even If the building program
recommended is not exceeded. WIN
l0,00O-ton battleships in prospect, while
the figures are based on the 32,OO0-ton
type last authorized. it is virtually Ger, Ger,
tain that an increase of S25.OOO.OO0 Will
be necessary before the program can
be carried out.
Projects for Capital.
In addition to the estimates for the
District government, treated separate
ly, the general estimates carry several
interesting projects for the National
Capital Two important bridges figure
in the governments requests, half
million dollars being asked for the new
AQueduct bridge, provided for by the
Carlin act of last year, and $25,0OO pe-
ing asked for the expenses of the COM
mission created recently to make
study of the available sites for me-
mortal bridge connecting Washington
with the Virginia shore near Arlington.
New operations are outlined Tor the bu-
reau of standards. with a consequent
Increase in the laboratories and the
amount of land occupied by the bureau.
The estimates carry S175.0OO to be used
in Strengthening out the boundaries OF
the Geological Park. including the
purchase of various parcels OF land
necessary to effect this. Nearly two
million dollars will be required to
carry out the work on public buildings
in Washington. including the final ap-
preparation for the Lincoln memorial
and s919,O0O for work on the central
power plant.
The first steps toward a much-needed
new patent office building are found In
a request for $4,000 to prepare plans
and specifications for such a building.
Under the department of buildings
and grounds. the sum of $440.550 is
asked for Washington. mainly for park
purposes, this being an increase over
the current act which carries *2I9,o00:
One of the features of this portion OF
the estimates is the request for the
proposed new municipal ferry to br1dge
Washington channel and make the
south Tth street section communicate
readily with Potomac Park, just across
the river. The War Department recon-
mends in connection with this that the
tidal basin be called Twining lake.
in honor Of Maj Twining. first District
mended also that $50, 900 be granted for
completely refurnishing the White
House. :
For park laborers a fiat increase OF
25 per cent in their wages Is asked,
this being a total increase Of $4,000.
Changes in Departments.
Great changes are proposed in the De-
partment Of Commerce. many salary rec
concentrations have been made and many
new positions recommended. This is due
to the proposed increased activities of the
department The extension and promotion
of foreign trade will require increase
of 100000: field Investigations. $780,
oo0 For commercial attaches the Secre-
tary asks 1925 200. as against 100000 in
the current act. An increase Of $4,000
is asked for the bureau of standards. in
addition to the increases recommended
for new buildings and land for the insti-
tuition.
The Department of Labor asks for an
increase of $421.730. and of this increase
$1S7. 900 represents the increased activi-
ties Of the children's bureau. The depart
ment proposes to undertake a series of
studies in collective bargaining in inn
portant industries; to investigate the con-
ditions OF women in industry: to collate
data on industrial accidents and to make
studies TO determine the proper rates for
wages in government shops.
An increase of s114S.055 in the De-
parment of Agriculture is asked. OF
this the weather bureau asks s107.-
o0c: the grain standards act requires
s519,1i0: and the new bureau of mar
kets asks over $4,000 of the in
crease.
For foreign intercourse, under the
Department of State. the estimate of
expenditures is s5.700.626. as compared
with s5.365,096 for the current year
In this connection the department
would continue the appropriation of
100000 TO enable the President to
meet Unforeseen emergencies arising
I'm the diplomatic and consular service
on account of the European war For
transportation of diplomatic and con-
sular officers an estimate of sl25O00
Is submitted. an increase of sT5 900
An appropriation of s250.00O an in
crease of $4,000. is asked to enable
the President to make special allow
ances by way Of additional compensa-
tion to diplomatic and consular off,
GERS that they may adjust their in
comes to the higher cost of living
caused by the war.
An estimate Of S12,23o35s for the In
dian bureau represents an increase over
current appropriations of s12s2712 OF
that sum s225.0o0 is asked to complete
construction of a. diversion dam and
controlling works for the ella river
irrigation project at site above Flor
ence, Ariz, and for beginning constr,c-
tion of canals and structures to carry
the natural flow of the ella river to the
Indian lands of the ella river Jpdj.n