Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-02-08

the chief of the bureau of construc-
ton told us that he had plans already
worked out that would make. decided
improvements against torpedo attack. y
Why do they not put those plans
into operation" the Speaker contin-
ued.
They WILL" Mr. Padgctt said, as
soon as they get authority provided in
this resolution
I'VE shall all die of old age before
they are completed at this rate" the
Speaker responded.
Representative Padgett told the House
that three ships. the Oklahoma Nevada
and lennsylvania-reSarde as the three
best in the world at the time they were
designed and laid down--would be COM
pleted and put in commission during this
year-two of them in the early summer
and one in the autumn. IF any emer-
gency should arise he added, "a very
small resolution Of Congress carrying
the necessary appropriation could provide
for extra ships"
Cannon's Shot
Representative Cannon of Illinois Great
Gu IL SUI ny uSklllS IL Tie tdlk Vi pre-
paredness was a sham performance for
campaign purposes. Later he said he did
not intend the remark as Il criticism of
the President.
The gentleman was trying to put in
a nice way a very nice criticism OF the
President but he did not get away with
it," Rep. Fitzgerald of New York said
1.-The President of the United States,
answered Mr.. Cannon. lis my President
as well as your President, and if | can
lind out what is the proper thing TO do
if ii is necessary to do anything l stand
ready to help him do it,
Need for Officers
IF we ever have another war, which
! do not believe we will have, if we at
tend to our own business" Speaker Clark
said while advocating the naval academy
bill, what we will need more than any
thing else will be officers. You can get
all the volunteers you want in 80 days.
IF the fact to be ascertained, ] have no
doubt that at least 5000 men. the very
flower of the country. died the first year
of the Civil war not by bullets. but by
disease which was absolutely unnecessa-
~. because while the officers were good
men in a general way. they did not know
anything about sanitation or how to take
care of themselves or to show the men
how to take care of themselves.
Even though we never have an
other war. the money spent on educa-
tions of these cadets at West Point
and Annapolis is not thrown away.
Within a limited curriculum they get
as fine an education as any set of men
on the face of the earth. In addition
to doubling the number of these ca
diets, if / had the ingenuity. l would
draft a law to the effect that outside
of cadets appointed by the President
tives any boy in the United States
who had the qualifications should be
permitted to go to these institutions
and get an education at exact cost.
Forcing College Action
Il am in favor of making it obi
gatory. not optional with the secre-
tary of war and the secretary of the
navy if need be to detail one of these
officers, if we have a surplus to any
school, college or university that will
furnish minimum of 200 boys who
will volunteer to drill"
Representative Kelly of Michigan
and Rep. Britton of Illinois. Republic
cans. criticized Secretary Daniels adj
ministration of the navy. Mr. Britton
declared that even while President
Wilson was seeking to arouse the ma
ton to the dangers that surrounded
it. the department had taken no step
toward speeding up construction of the
IS naval vessels now under construc
ton. The five-year building program
urged. he said, would beat a five-year
program in fact unless steps were
taken.
Representative Britton referring to
4 radiogram from Admiral Fletcher
commanding the Atlantic fleet, copy
of which he had produced in the ma
val committee earlier in the day, de-
clared that the fleet was now short
nearly 1000 men Of its enlisted per-
sonnet. Rear Admiral Blue, chief of
the bureau of navigation. had told