Cheraw chronicle. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1896-2005, 1916-07-06
BILLIONS FOR DEFENSE
Appropriations Sure to Reach To.
tai Never Known Before
In Nations History.

preparing to complete its programme
of financial preparedness with every
indication that appropriations this
session will aggregate considerably
more than $1,5OO,OOOOOO at least
S5OO,OOO, 900, of which will be for ma
tional defense.
According to statements based on
figures complied by Chairman Fitz-
gerald of the house appropriations
pending measures by senate commit
tees, the grand appropriation total
may reach $1,650,OO0,0O0, exceeding
by more than $5OO,OOO,OOO the record
of any previous congress in the ma
tiOn's history.
Last week Representative Fitz-
gerald submitted a statement to the
house showing that the grand total
for the present congress based on
bills passed and pending, would
then the senate naval committee has
added nearly $5O,0O0,O00 to the naval
bill and the military committee has
increased the s1S2 NnN 600 army an
preparation measure by approxi-
mately $10GOO0,0OO.
The principal appropriation meas
ures awaiting senate considera( Jon
are the army and navy bills. They
carry $2S2,OO0,OOO and $315.S26,S43,
respectively, and together with the
Notifications bill, which has passed
both houses, would appropriate for
national defense more than 1922, ,000,-
900. There is every indication that
the senate will accept at least the
major part Of the proposed army and
macy increases, but conferences prob
ably will pare them down. What
ever happens, however, leaders Of
both houses agree. that the total of
appropriations will break all records.
The senate plans to take up the
naval bill as soon as the agricultural
bill is out of the way probably within
few days. The big building pro-
gramme providede for 1917 and the
provision for three year cOnstruc-
ton policy probably will mean a de-
bate of several weeks. Meanwhile
the army bill will come from commit
tee and an effort may be made to
pass it as soon as it is ready setting
aside the naval bill temporarily.
With its own on appropriations
nearing completion, the house is
ready to take up the $210,000,000
revenue bill introduced yesterday
The house adjourned from yesterday
to next Wednesday and the revenue
measure is expected to come up
Thursday under a special rule
and be passed Saturday. Then
the house will mark time wait
ing for the house to catch up
Besides several of the big supply
measures the senate has the shipping
bill, the child labor bill, the S2,0OO,-
600 militia relief measure, conserva-
ton measures, the immigration bill
and many minor matters to dispose
Of.
If there is to be an adjournment in
time for the political campaign con-
gress leaders believe some of the
measures of the presidents legisla-
tive programme must be sacrificed.
They believe the immigration bill and
perhaps the conservation measures
can be delayed until the short session.
In spite of the crowded senate
calendar and the threatening Mexi-
can situation, the subject of adjourn
ment constantly is discussed about
the capital. The house could adjourn
within a few days, but senate leader
say that under the most favorable
circumstances. they ciuld not posi-
bly, get throught before the middle of
August. Should war come congress
probably would remain through to
the beginning of the shirt session in
December.
Toe Chronicle now only 81 year.