Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-04-11
SENATE IS EXPECTED
To VOTE IN FAVOR OF
BIG STANDING ARMY
Some Senators Advocate as
Great a Force as 100000
Men, and None Have Pro-
posed Reduction
BY Associated Press.

WASHINGTON. April s.-with fl
nal vote on the army organization bill
assured in the senate on April is there
is still speculation as to the probable
\ final form in which the first of the
great national preparedness measures
will go to the joint conference commit
tee OF the senate and house.
The senate agreed today TO devote TO
the army bill all it's sessions between
now and April is. with the exception Of
next Monday and Tuesday. which were
reserved for discussion Of the free sugar
repeal bill The government contem-
plates final disposition of the army bill
before adjournment April is.
i Debate today was confined to the gov
| eminent nitrate plant project. None, OF
the pending amendments was voted on.
| Senator Kenyon declared himself in ia
vor of the plan offered by Senator
Smith of South Carolina for appropria-
tion OF s15.OO0.OOO for a nitrate plant
site and process TO be determined by the
war department. The Iowa Senator said
Senator Underwood's proposal for an
Investigation to determine the best site
was so framed that IL might as well
direct specifically that the plan for
plaut at Muscle Shoals, Ala. be carried
out -
senator Smith, of Georgia, who favors
the Underwood amendment, answered
Senator Kenyon. declaring ii mattered
nothing to him where the site was To-
Gated or what process was used out
| that he was quite certain any board OF
engineers which passed fairly on the
nroiect would select Mnscle Shoals as
1 -sNa ST MlSSlS-
sippi.
Senator Lewis took the senate to task
for the time il was devoting to consid-
Grafton OF the bill.
ss'rhe conduct of the senate, he said'
"unanifests a disposition to avoid re-
spousibility We should either SURROUND
| the country with force or We should an
nounce to the country that force is not
needed and direct our attention to the
discussion of legislation for the ADVANCE
ment of the nations civil. lie
Declaring the diplomatic sltuatiO"
,as precarious and that the Mexican
r-oblar, "Inultiplied embarrassment,
SaTotor Lewis added: 1--WE cannot ut
tsr . doctrine and ignore its execution
MEXICO NOT INVOLVED.
The reference to Mexico drew from
carator Chamberlain and Senator stone
chairman of the foreign relations Gun
r,,I,taa statements that the army reor-
| aar;zation bill had no connection WIN
the situation beyond the oorder. 49,.
az would have the people In MeNlco
understand" said Senator Stone lia :
e. ,,ovement to increase the power OF
~. ~ Irn,,sd states would have been just
as great even if Mexico We're ONE "i"S
| aeld of peace and prosperity.
1 some senators anticipate that con-
.;5erahle increase will be made oy the
! senate over the committees proposal 10
e. the neace strength Of the standing
army at 10000 enlisted men. bolh
Republican and Democratic members
have declared on the floor that they
x-o,,id support amendments for a great
- azure some advocating as great a
force as 300. 600. Senator Chamberlain
,bafrp,an of the military committee or
iginaIly proposed a peace strength OF
No MOVE TO CUT ARMY.
1 Ouring the week of discussion on the
hill there mas been nothing 10 Indicate
the position of the majority OF sena7
tors. II has been noticeable, however,
mat there have been no proposals TO re-
duce the committees figures. TIE Dill
/ Dassed by the house provides for a
pace strength of 100000, and the strug-
gle that is coming in the conference
| committee is expected to be sharply out
/ lined
! There are indications that the recent
battle in the senate over the volunteer
army plan will have an important bear
ing in the conference committee. The
/ continental army project of the admin
istration was particularly. repugnant TO
the members of the house military com
rnittee The senate's volunteer army
proposaI retained in the bill by a close
vote. is a miniature reproduction of the
abandoned continental army scheme.
one representative who is virtually GER
tain to be one Of the three house men,
bers on the conference committee is
known to favor a much larger regular
[ army than provided for by the house
bill and also TO lean toward the volun-
| teer plan. -s
/ with these elements to consider, many
| senator's believe il possible that the
/ volunteer plan can be traded out in
/ conference for an increase over the
house regular army figures, the ,au-
| thorization for citizens training camps
being retained by adopting the house
/ provision in that regard.
Legislators who seek to cloak all sorts
of proposals under plea of prepared
! ness were denounced in the senate today
BY Senator Kenyon. In a speech oppos-
\ ing proposal to provide in the army
bill for a government owned fertilizer
plant the Iowa senator read letter
from a former constituent urging sup
port for a post office and public build
ing "round like fort and with orna-
mental turrets and peaks for lookouts
so that when the men are at the front
fighting an invader, the women and chill
dren can take refuge in the pOstoffices.'
"Of course. If you side against your
country and are untrue to the flag
said the letter, 'you will oppose this
building"
First we passed the Shields dam bill, .
said Senator Kenyon, because IL was q
preparedness bill. Then came along an
other dam bill which we were urged t.
pass as a part of the national defense
me child labor bill and the rural cred
its bills certainly are included as means
Of securing us against foes and I sup
pose when the rivers and. harbors ap.
preparation bill comes along every sup
Porter Of every sand bottom and mud
creek will insist that the safety OF the
nation requires an appropriation for his
particular county seat"