Arizona republican., 1916-05-19
As Finally Agreed to Bill Authorizes Construction of Five Battle Cruisers Next Year, Making Great Advance
LARGEST NAVAL
 APPROPRIATION
Failure of the Five, Year Program Makes the Bill Unsatisfactory to Ad- ministration Officials, Ma val Officials Confident
Republican A. p. Leased Wlre1

WASHINGTON. May 1S.-Adminis- traitor forces in congress lost the first skirmish in the naval prepared ness campaign today when the house committee broke five day deadlock and completed the naval appropria- tion bill without approving the five year building program advocated by President Wilson and Secretary Dan iels
 As finally agreed to, the bill author izes the construction in 1917 of five battle cruisers. as against two dread naushts and two battle cruisers rec commended by Secretary Daniels; four scout cruisers, an increase of one scont cruiser over the department s program: ten destroyers, as against i fifteen recommended; twenty subma- pared with five fleet and twenty five coast defense submarines recon mended; one hospital ship, one oil fuel ship and one ammunition ship. The gunboat recommended was stricken out. and the fuel and am nutrition ships were added from See retary Daniels program for the sec ond year.
 The total amount carried by the bill is S240.0o0,O0e, the largest naval appropriation ever presented to con- gress
 While the appropriation proposed is, if anything. an increase over the | departments plans. failure Of the five year program and the fact that nt dreadnauehts were provided for, make the bill unsatisfactory to administra- tion officials.
 House and navy officials are con- fident that tie final bill will provid, for at least two hattleships and foul | battle cruisers.
 The deadlock-n the house commit tee. followed a caucus of the eish republican members of the commit. tee, ct which it was decided to op, rose the five year program and t, | seek tc increase the 1917 appropria tions over the figure suggested b,
 the department Five of the thil1e eel
 democrats not only opposed the con
 tinuing program, but also were de , tcrmined to cut down the 1917 esti
 mates and not to vote for any battle
 ship appropriation. They were will ing to support a four battle cruise program, however, and the compro
 mise was effected by Chairman Pad
 gett with Representative Hensley c l Missouri. leader of tFe so-caIle 1 navy" democrats, who induced tn other four to join him in agreeing {
 the five battle cruisers plan.
 To meet this concession Chairma Padgett was compelled to abando , the five year program. and it was nc brought to a vote in the committe
 as i; was certain of defeat if the re
 puhlicans and little navy democrat
 combined. He was also forced to a,
 cept a provision proposed by Repro
 sentative Hensley authorizing u
 president to call a conference
 world powers at the conclusion
 the war to draw plans to form g l international peace tribunal An al
 preparation of $2O0, 900 for this pu
 pose is carried in the section, ,whiC
 was adopted unanimously. and authorized the president to appoi l nine citizens distinguished as pea advocates to represent the Unit,
 States.
 The compromise building progra :. was carried ,by the solid democrat = vote of the committee and against u :. solid republican members.