The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-08-16
Senate Measure, Authoriz- ing Construction of 157 Vessels, Passes House By Vote of 283 to 51-Four Dreadnaughts Included.
Increase in Personnel Meets Approval-Bill Sent Back to Conference For Minor Clauses - Appropriation $110,726, ,160.

Washington, Aug. 16.-Navy mel
 virtually had before them today thu
 task of carrying out the largest pro
 gram for building warships eve
 adopted with single appropriation
 by any nation.
 Although technically not completed
 the naval bill, carrying $315,S00,00'
 has been tentatively approved in 1t
 main provisions by Congress and wal
 in the hands of a conference commit tee only to settle minor difference
 between the House and Senate on nav!
 yard appropriations.
 Anticipating speedy disposition O. the remaining questions, the navy de
 partment already had begun plans fol
 putting into effect provisions of thu
 big building policy and increased per sonnel features approved yesterday b!
 the House.
 Indications today were that the con
 ferees would reach an early agree ment on the questions still in dispute and that the bill would be laid be
 fore President Wilson for his approv al in few days.
 The House yesterday adopted the Senate shipbuilding program and per soune1 amendments by a vote of 2S3 to 54. The building plan makes provision l for eight capital ships next year-four dreadnoughts and four battle cruis- I CTS. The personnel amendment in- creases the navy's strength in men to 74.400.
 | At the request of Chairman Padgett of the Naval Affairs Committee, the Naval bill was returned to conference, where a number of items which the House and Senate conferees could come to no agreement on will be threshed out. The items yet in dis pute include projects for enlarging and improving shipyards, docks and other public works, and involve ap- propriations of from $5,o00.000 to $10, .000.
 Those Who Voted Against. Of those, voting against the ship building program 35 are Democrats, 15 Republicans and one Socialist, as follows:
 Democrats-Ayres, Kansas; Bailey, Pennsylvania; Black, Texas; Black mon. Alabama; Buchanan, Illinois; Burnett, Alabama; Connolly, Kansas; Cox, Indiana; Dies, Texas; DooMttle, Kansas: Garrett, Tennessee; Gray, Indiana; Hardy, Texas;' Helvering, Kansas; Hillard, Colorado; Huddle- stone, Alabama;s Johnson, Kentucky: Kitchin, North Carolina; McClintic, Oklahoma; Page, North Carolina; Randall, California; Shallenberger, Nebraska; shouse.' Kansas; sisson. Mississippi: Slayden, Texas; Steele, Iowa; Taggart, Kansas; Tavenner. N1. N~t-z Kentucky; Thompson, Oklahoma; Tfllman, Arkansas; Vandyke, Minne- sota; Watkins. Louisiana; Webb, North Carolina. M
 \ Republtcans-Amders Minnesota: Campbell, Kansas; Crampton. Michi- gan; Davis, Minnesota; Dillon, South Dakota; Ellsworth, Minnesota; Hau- gen, Iowa: Helgesen, North Dakota: HolHngsworth, Ohio; Kfnkaid, Me- braska; Lenroot, Wisconsin; Mondell, Wyoming; Morgan, Oklahoma; Nell son, Wisconsin; Young, North Dakota.
 Socfafst-London, New York.
 Two hours were spent in debate on the building program, Representative Claude Kitchin being in charge of the time for those opposing 1t and making a vigorous speech. Chairman Padgett closed the discussion by bringing the attention Of members to the Presi- dents earnest appeal for the passage of the bill. Representing the ad- ministration at the capitol for several hours in the early part of the day were Secretary of the Navy Josephus Daniels and. Postmaster General AL bert s. Burleson. who kept in touch with leaders. N
 Provisions of Program Adopted.
 The program adopted yesterday authorizess15 57 new ships for the navy, 66 of which. are to be begun as soon as practicable, and the construction of the remainder to o>be begun prior to Julye1, 1919. The ships authorized are as follows: 10 battleships, 6 bat tie cruisers, 10 scout cruisers. 50 tor pedo boat destroyers, fleet subma- rines, 58 coast submarines, subma- rine with Neff system of propulsion, fuel ships, 2 ammunition ships. 1 hospital ship, repair ship, 1 trans port, 2 destroyer tenders, 1 fleet sub marine tender, 2 gunboats.
 Of this number the following are to begin at once: Four battleships, 4 battle cruisers, scout cruisers, 20 torpedo boat destroyers, 30 coast sub marines, 1 fuel ship. 1 ammunition ship, 1 hospital ship. 1 gunboat.
 The amount carried toward the 66 ships is 3110,7o6,160. The total cost of the whole programme of 165 ves- sels is estimated at $588, 8,18O,5 ,576,. leav- ing to be appropriated $477 7,454,416.
 In his speech urging the adoption of this programme Chairman Padgett, concluding the debate, said: i.
 Presidents Heart in Bill
 "I have conferred frequently with the President during recent months, and can say that his whole heart is in the matter and that ever since last September he has advocated a con- tinuous building programme and programme that will meet the will and wishes of the American people. The President has put the power and force of his great prestige. in support ,f this programme, and he stands for today and asks the Congress to agree to it and to do its patriotic duty regardless of partisanship."
 Representative Page of North Caro- lima led the debate against the adop- tion of the programme. He gave the, House information .on his efforts to bring in the measure that was passed by the House originally and read a letter which he wrote a fellow-mem- Der after conferring with Secretary Daniels In that letter Mir. Page said he understood the House programme