Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-08-16
HOUSE ACCEPTS
WILSON'S GREAT
NAVAL PROGRAM
By Vote of 283 to 81, 1t APP
proves Increases Made to
Bill in Senate.
PARTY LINES WIPED OUT
WHEN BALLOT is TAKEN
Majority of Both Democrats and
Republicans in Favor of Ad-
ministration Plan.
1T CALLS FOR $4,000, 900
Means This Country Will Have Sec
ond Largest Navy in
IT CALLS FOR 1918 900, 900
Means This Country Will Have Sec.
ond Largest Navy in
World.

WARRINGTON. August l5.--Consress
virtually completed the national de-
fcnse program tonight by finally ap-
proving the great increases in naval
construction and personnel written into
the naval bill and urgently supported
by tho administration.
The House accepted the building pro-
gram to which its confereos on the
measure had refused to agree by a vote
OF 2s3 to 81, with seven Of the mem
bers present not voting. The person
mel increases. on which there also was
disagreement in conference. were
approved without a recorded vote
The personnel and construction sec
tons. which already have the approval
of the Senate. authorize an increase In
enlisted men to 74.700 and the building
Of ISL war vessels within the next three
years. with four battle cruisers and
four battlcships included among the
ships for 1917. Previously the House
had refused to adopt a continuing build
ing program, had authorized only five
capital ships. all Of them battle
cruisers. and had provided for a per-
sonnel of only $4,000.
LESS IMPORTANT SECTIONS
SENT BACK TO CONFERENCE
on several less important sections.
Including appropriations for improve
ment OF navy-yards, the House insistc ed
on its disagreement 10 Senate increases.
and voted TO send the bill back to CON
ference for settlement of these points.
An early agreement is expected. how
ever. and the measure may be sent TO
the President for his signature within
"A week.
Secretary Daniels Issued a statement
tonight, pointing ont that the building
authorizations in the bill were tho
greatest ever passed In any country.
and would give the United States, in
the opinion Of naval authorities. the
second largest navy in the world. lie
declared the measure 80 complete and
nearly perfect that IT will stand
model for all navy bills for future
legislators"
VOTE ACCEPTING BILL.
on NoSPARTISAN LINES
IRE vote by which the House ac
cepted the Senate increase in the build
ing program WAS nonpartisan, the ma
iority OF both Democrats and Republi-
cans voting in the affirmative. OF the
Gsty-one members who voted III tho
negative. there were thirty-hve Demo
Gratis fifteen Republicans and one So
cialist as follows:
Democrats-Ayers. Bailey. Black. Bu-
chanan, Of Illinois, Burnett. Connolly,
Cox, Dies. Dooiittle. Garrett. Gray.
Hardy, Hclverng. Hilliard. Huddleston,
Johnson. OF Kentucky: Kitchin. McClin-
tic, Page, of North Carolina; Randall.
Shallenberger. spouse, Sisson. Slayden,
steele, Of Iowa; Taggart Tavenner,
Taylor Of Arkansas; Thomas, Thomp-
son. Tillman. Van Dyke. Watson and
webb.
Republicans Anderson, Campbell.
Champion, Davis, Of Minnesota: Dillon.
Ellsworth. Haugen, Helsesen Hollinss-
worth. Kinkaid. Lenroot. Mondel. Nor
gan. of oklahoma; Nelson and Young,
of North Dakota.
SocialistLLondon.
During debate on the building pro-
gram, the Republicans insisted that
they had led the way toward increases,
and that the administration was not
entitled to all OF the credit.
CHARGES DEMOCRATS
WITH CHANGE OF FRONT
The time allotted opponents of the
big bill was controlled by Democratic
Leader Kitchin. who charged tho
Democrats with a sharp change OF
front. Two months ago. tho Demo-
Gratis, urged by the administration.
were asked to vote against the wild,
reckless. extravagant expenditures pro-
posed by the Republicans" said Mr..
Kltchin. II denounced the Republican
program as reckless criminality. Yet
now the chairman Of the committee,
the Secretary OF the Navy. the Presi-
dent and fellow Democrats ask me to
get up here and eat my words.
when this program passes the Con-
..ress and is signed by the. President
this nation will be the greatest mill
tary nation the world has ever seen.
And yet they say we are, sane and
patriotic"
Republican Leader Mann. advocating
the increases, declared 1t was ordinary
wisdom to prepare for what we hope
will never come.
"I want to keep out OF war" he
said, but we should be prepared to
nrotect our rights, at home and
abroad. The credit will belong to the
Republican side for the votes that will
PASS the larger program"
AMENDMENTS SENT
HACK TO CONGRESS
Senate amendments to which the
House disagreed and which will be
referred again to conference, include:
s6,000.000 for equipment OF the Puget
Sound, Philadelphia, Norfolk, Boston,
Portsm outh, Charleston and New Or
leans Navy-Ynrds for construction of
warships, with immediate equipment