The Washington times., 1916-02-07
MOUSE N.EARS.
TEST: VOTE ON.
DEFENSE ISSUE
Bill to Increase Number at
Naval Academy May Give
Show Of Strength.

issue ie expected in the House late
today, when the Speaker recognizes
Chairman padEett OF the Naval At
fairs Committee for the presentation
Of a bill incrca sing the number OF
midshipmen at the Annapolis Naval
Academy.
A slight furry over the defense
program was occasioned in the House
this afternoon when a bill was called
ur to build. additional ways at the
New York and Mare Island navy
yards so these wards may be equipped
to turn out dreadnauRhtE. More op-
position, however is likely to arise
against the midshipmen bill which
means eventually large increase in
the number OF officers for the navv.
The vote on this bill may be a test
vote on preparedness. although the
measure is but incidental to the Ad-
ministration's entire program. The re-
fationship was such. however. that four
members Of the Naval Affairs Commit
tee opposed the report of the bill, which
was warmly urged by Secretary OF the
Navy Daniels.
Shortage of Officers.
An impending serious shortage OF Of
ficcrs to man the ships of Inc navy
makes Jne OIL HSCVSSdTSs
The bill permits each Senator, Repre-
tentative, and Delegate in Congress to
name three instead of two mldsnipmen
each year for entrance to the Naval
Academy. The committee reports says:
1T appears that in order to place
in full commission ships already built
and authorized there must be obtained
before July /. i9n9, or line officers. and
II the rev building program Is adopted
1851 more line Officers than allowed ny
existing law will Ue needed by July l.
1921.
'T'nder existing law. the sources of
supply for line officers are from the
graduates Of the Naval Academy and
promotion from the enlisted force Fro
motions from enlisted men to the num-
ber of twelve annually are allowed. but
uD to present time the NAVY DEPART
ment has not been successful in obtain
ing that many annually from the en-
listcd men; r. The bill 0s6Ss, does not change
'he opposition of the email navy
faction in the House Is predicated on
the understanding that additional Of
fcers are wanted within the next few
complement" and to man the additional
ships proposed in the preparedness pro-
gram.
Uncertainty Prevails.
II il possible that some members OF
the House who are antaRonistic to the
major defense program NAV vote for
the midshipmen bill, but the line-up on
this measure will AFFORD a fair index
OF the strength OF the opposition to the
Administrations plan for preparedness.
Congress enters the third month Of its
session with uncertainty prevailing
everywhere as to the fate of the pre-
paTeGness issue
Hearings on the naval appropriation
bill have dragged for five weeks. Secre-
~ ID I'D gaN he 49,
pertS Of the service are yet to be heard.
slightly better progress has been made
by the House Committee on Military Az
fairs and hearings will be closed by that
committee on February II. il present
plans carry. 1t is probable the army
budget will be brought into the House
In advance OF the naval bill.
Revenue Committee Inactive,
While these two committees proceed
with a laborious consideration of the
defense bills, the Ways and Means Com
mtttee Is consistently inactive regarding
the preparation of a revenue measure
Democratic members Of that Eommit-
tee excuse their inactivity on the theory
That I'VE cannot tell how much reve-
nue. we need until we see the defense
measures"
Administration supporters hope there
VIII be an awakening OF interest rs
soon as f40use members begin to hear
the echoes of the President recent pre-
paredness speeches. The anti-prepareo-
ness contingent in the House has clear
~ indicated that about the only rev.
enue legislation II will support is a bill
amending the income tax. or taxing the
production OF munitions of war.
Tentative Plans.
Tentative plans of the House leaders
call for repeal OF the stamp taxes"
Of the war revenue bill Of 1914. an in
crease in income taxes that will fall
heavily uTon the wealthier classes, "
and possibly an internal revenue tax
on the munitions makers. As pub"shed
IN The Times. this taxation scheme
TOOK precedence over all other sugges-
tions several weeks ago. and IL mas
increased rather than diminished In
favor as the taxation problem became
more acute and interviewer with that
of national defense
u 18th the House Committee or Mill
tary Affairs hoping to wind up its hear
inEs soon, It Is asserted strongly by
prominent members of the committee
mat Inc continental army plan is beat
en-. They say 1t is as good a dead al
ready, and will not only be disa pproved
by the committee. but by the House.
Ihough the military program which
Congress will adopt Is far from being
10 be regarded as practical certaintics,
one OF these Is comprehensive legIsla.
tion to increase the national guard 10
+O,ON or more men, with Federal pay.
For Army Increase.
Indications are the House committee
Will add materially to the regular RAINY.
increasing it to 40 900 men or more.
The House committee is giving mu?h
thought to building up of the regular
army reserve.
Powerful sentiment for Government
manufacture of munitions will doubtless
stamp itself on the army bill. as II Is
reported from the House committee,
and, while there is no prospect ct going
10 Government manufacture at one
iump, the indications are there Will he
marked progress in that direction.
That the armv bill as II ComcS from
the House committee, will contain some
provisions for training more officers
and pro visions for much larger suppl es
Of war material and artillery Is CX-
pected
Y