Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1916-01-22
PADGETT BILL ASKS FOR
500 MORE M|DSH|PMEN
Secretary Daniels Urges Its Enact
ment of This Measure.
SAYS OFFICERS ARE NEEDED.
Tells House Committee He Would Con-
vince Powers of Futility of End
less Competition in Nayies.

Secretary of the Navy Daniels. who
appeared Thursday before the House
Committee on Naval Affairs in Con-
gress TO urge immediate action on leg
isiation increasing the number of mid
shipmen AT the Naval Academy, declar-
ed that the day is coming when the
United States will be able to say 10
the rest of the world IF you insist on
building more battleships, we can
Nbuild more than you can" and con
sequently the other nations will agree
upon conference with a view to gen
eral disarmament
Secretary Daniels did not think the
United States today is i'm danger of at
tack. nor would it be at the end of the
war, but the sensible thing today. he
added. was TO adopt the Admintra-
tion's program to be prepared for
eventualities and uncertainties.
In the present state of world mad
ness said Mr.. Daniels, in answer to
question from Representative But
Ter if ii would not be better to wait
until after the war before deciding on
naval increases, when we are at peace
| should say, even though we are not in
actual danger. we ought to inoculate
against the germs of disease"
We hope to see the day when the
can stop the competitive building of
naval armaments, added Mr.. Daniels.
When the war ends we hope to be able
to invite all nations TO come together
and agree to stop building. The fact
that we are building at a apid rate
and If big and strong enough will en-
able us to to appeal to those nations
and show them the futility of keeping
up the race"
why can't we wait until this war is
over aind then decide what is the best
policy?" again asked Representative
Butler.
IF we could build ships in a few
weeks l would prefer to wait" answer
ed Mr. Daniels, but that cannot be
done''
Makes Plea For Padgett Bill.
Secretary Daniels made strong plea
for the Padgett bill, increasing the
number of cadets at the Naval Acad-
emy by approximately 500. AS result
of his testimony the committee will
likely report the bill favorably and try
to secure its passage in the House at
the first opportunity.
Secretary Daniels declared he wish
ed for the immediate enactment of the
legislation in order that the proposed
new midshipmen may be named by
April and be ready to begin their
studies at the Naval Academy next Sep
tember.
The Secretary said the present. fa
cilities at the Academy are ample to
take care of the increased number of
midshipmen. An appropriation of
S1S0,000 would be needed to meet the
additional expense.
Opposed to More Academies.
Secretary Daniels made it plain that
he is opposed to the prposed bills for
the establishment of additional naval
academies on the Pacific Coast The
Secretary pointed out that the navy
needs more officers, even with the
present fleet, and that when the in
creased number of vessels are put into
service still more officers will be re-
quired He said the German and the
Japanese navies had more officers on
their ships than the navy of the Uni
ted States.
Representative Britten, member of
the committee. suggested that the Chi
cago Naval Training Station be util-
lied for a school for the fourth-class
cadets in event the increased number
of midshipmen provided by the Pad
gett bill overcrowds the academy.