Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1916-03-21
HOUSE REFUSES
TO ENDORSE
LARGE ARMY
Vote Down Amendments to In.
crease It to More Than
100000.
HAY PLAN OF PEACE
STRENGTH FAVORED
Places Maximum Number of En-
, listed Men at
100000.

!" dSlllllSIOll, MdlCIl GU.-Dy ICluS'
ing definitely to increase the regular
army provisions Of the Hay bill, the
house today made it almost certain
that the measure will go to the sen.
ate virtually as framed and passed
by an overwhelming vote Chairman
Hay Of the committee was hopeful to-
night that final vote would be
reached tomorrow.
The net results of the days debate
on the proposed amendment was to
sustain the recommendations of the
president as to the size of the regu.
lar army. The Hay bill carries virtu-
ally the program mapped out by for
mer Secretary Garrison in this re-
gard, but substitutes the federalza-
tion of the national guard for The
continental army. The president has
approved the general outline, but
stands uncommitted as to details.
Defeated Proposals.
Three times during the day the
house defeated proposals to increase
the peace strength of the regulars
fixed by the Hay bill at 100000, capa.
bic of increase to $4,000 by execu-
tive order, if war is imminent. The
debate centered upon the Kahn
amendment to fix the authorized
peace strength at 100000, but The
first vote was on a substitute offered
by Representative Fuller Of Illinois,
to make it 100000.
Substitute Fails.
The Fuller substitute was lost with
out a division. The Kahn amend
mnnt was voted down, 1873 to 1903, af-
ter ;aHpeals iGrva large standing army
had been made by Representative
Mann, republican leader, and other
influential members of the minority.
Only two democrats supported the
Kahn amendment in debate and less
than dozen voted for it. About 40
republicans voted against it.
Representative Crargo of the mill
tary committee proposed to fix the
strength at 100000, but it was voted
down by a substantial majority.
With this outstanding feature dis
posed of, consideration of the remain
der Of the bill went forward rapidly.
About one-Vhird Of the measure had
been reviewed and approved when
for the day came. The
national guard, industrial reserve and
nitrate plant section are among those
still to be considered.
When the measure reaches the
senate, it is possible all but the en-
acting clause will be stricken out and
10 q c,hc ifntnH
short out through conference.
Debate TiIIman Bill.
Debates in the senate on the Till
man bill for an $11 100000 govern
ment armor plate factory neared a
close tonight with republicans assail-
ing the project as a menace to the
safety, and democrats de-
Tending it as precautionary step
worth all it would cost, even though
the plant never were operated
The discussion will continue tOmor-
under an agreement to begin voting
on the amendment at o'clock in
the afternoon. The democratic lead
ers are confident the bill will pass by
a large majority, substantially as re-
ported by the naval committee.
Senators Lodge and Lippitt opened
the attack today, declaring the bill
would drive private armor plate man.
ufacturers out of business and newt
ably delay naval construction. Sena-
tor Lodge said the government could
not produce armOrplate at the price
it's experts had predicted, and it
would, be almost criminal for the gov
to cripple its armor plate in
dustry when a five year navy con-
struction plan was to be undertaken.
Senator Lippitt said that the gov.
ernment had no thought of driving
the manufacturers out OF business
and insisted, if war should come, the
government would need an armor
plate plant of its own to supplement
the output of the private concerns.