Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1916-05-19
$17O,OOO,OOO FOR
NEW BATTLESHIPS
House Naval Committee Aban-
dons Daniels Program; Vote
For Cruisers

Washington, May 10. - With Ma
jority Leader Kitchin in accord. the
House Naval Affairs Committee late
yesterday agreed upon a naval pro-
gram which turned down Secretary
Daniels five-year plan to make the
navy second largest in the world, and
put the dreadnaught aside as not of
enough consequence to warrant inclu- |
sion in the list of vessels decided upon.
The bill carries an appropriation of
$40, 0,000,000 for ships and ammuni-
ton. In addition to providing for five
battle cruisers, 20 submarines, scout
cruisers, 10 destroyers, one hospital
ship, one fuel ship and one ammuni-
tion ship, the bill carries $2,000,000 for
aeronautics and 100000 for dry
docks of 1000 feet at Philadelphia and
Norfolk. The sum of $1S,7OO,000 is
appropriated for ammunition for ships
already built for authorized, and S4,-
100000 in addition for reserved am
munition.
When the action of the committee
was made known, Representative
Kitchin said that he would not oppose
the naval program brought in by the
House committee and that he might |
make q speech in favor of it. He said |
that the measure would be brought up
for passage during the last week in
May. Mr.. kitchin also said that the |
revenue bill designed to raise an addi- |
tional $150,0O0,0 900 from taxes on in |
comes, inheritances and ammunition, |
to cover the cost of the preparedness
program, would be pressed for passage |
Immediately following the national
conventions.
Disarmament Resolution Passes
Representative Rensley, of Missouri, |
a "little-navy'' man and advocate of
world disarmament, offered the fol-
lowing resolution, which was unani-
mously adopted by the committee:
Upon conclusion of the war in Eu-
rope, or as soon thereafter as 1t may
be done, the President of the United |
States is authorized to invite all great |
governments of the world to send rep
resentatives to a conference, which |
shall be charged with the duty of sug-
gesting an organization, court of ar
bitration or other body to which dis |
puted questions between nations shall
be referred for adjudication and |
peaceful settlement and to consider the !;
question of disarmament, and submit |
their recommendation to their respe- |
tive governments for approval; that
the President is hereby authorized to
appoint nine citizens of the United |
States, who shall be qualified for the |
mission by eminence in the law and
by devotion to the cause of peace, to |
be representatives of the United States |
in such a conference; that the Presi- |
dent shall fix the compensation of the |
said representatives and other en-
ployes as may be needed are hereby |
authorized, and for that purpose $780,
900, or so much thereof as may be
needed, is hereby appropriated for |
that purpose and placed at his dis
posal."
The program increasing the navy Is
in detail, as follows:
Five battle cruisers, $20,43S,531 !
each-$102,167,6 ,655 each carrying ten
14-inch guns; speed, S5 knots.
Twenty submarines three of which |
are fleet and IT coast defense. The /
former to cost S3.600,000 and the lat
ter $12, 900.
Four scout cruisers at $5,571,90O
each, or $22,2S7, 500.
Ten destroyers at s1,325.S14 each,
or S13, ,253,140.
One hospital ship, $2,5OO, 900.
One fuel ship, s1,363,272.
One ammunition ship, $2,714,650.
The total amount appropriated for
new construction last year was $50,-
600, 900, whereas the amount appro-
priated in this bill is $160,211,317. The
ammunition for these ships will cost
about S9,000,000, making the total
about $40, 100000 for ships and am
muniton.
Republicans Fight For Big Ships
Republican members of the commit
tee made an Intellectual effort to in
crease the strength of the building
as well as for speedy con-
struction of the ships authorized.
While failing to get sufficient ships to
place the navy in second place, the
was strong enough to force
the Democrats to abandon the five
year program.