Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1916-03-22
DEFENSE BILLS
PLACED IN FRONT
Preparedness Measures Displace
Water Power Bill, Now Before
the Senate.
ARMY BILL IS UP IN HOUSE

WASHINGTON, March 21.--A de-
clsion TO push pending national de-
fense measures ahead of the water
power bill now before the senate
was reached at conference today
between President Wilson and SEN
ators Walsh, Kern, Martin. Swan
son, James, Myers and stone. IL was
agreed that water power legislation
should be passed by this congress.
but that il should not interfere with
progress OF the army bill,
The form OF the water power bill was
discussed exhaustively at the conference.
Opposition has been expressed to some
features of the Myers bill. now pending
In the senate, providing for the leasing
OF water power sites on public lands.
Some senators thought the bill gives too
much authority to the federal govern
mant
The president has expressed deep In
terest In the water bill.
Army Bill Up I'm House,
The house today continued work on
the Hay army reorganization bill with
about two-thirds OF the measure remain
ing TO be disposed OF. Among the sec
tions awaiting consideration were those
relating TO the National guard, the indus
trial reserve, and providing for a nitrate
plant.
The first action OF the house today
was to adopt without debate an amend
ment TO give the president absolute con-
troll over the reserve OF ec.oco men.
The bill originally provided that author
| ity must be granted by congress- before
I the reservists could be inobiliEed. An
amendment offered by Representative
Kahn OF the committee and accepted by
Chairman Hay, puts reservists under the
orders OF the secretary OF war to be sent
to any point when the call to the colors
goes out.
The amendment Is the most important
addition to the bill yet made AS the
measure now stands the president would
have authority without consulting con-
gress. 10 increase the army from 140,0OC
fighting troops to 175.000 and also 10 SUM
mon TO the colors the 6o.OOO reservists
witch the bill contemplatea will be pro-
vided within four years.
Anthony Amendment Rejected.
The house rejected a proposal by Rep
resentative Anthony, republican. OF Kan
sas to recruit an additional infantry
regiment In Porto Rico for service in the
Panama Canal zone or elsewhere.
Mr.. Kahn then proposed as an amend
ment a provision In the senate bill that
while the enlistment period should re-
main fixed at three years with the colorE
and four years I'm reserve, commanding
officers might discharge peculiarly eff
Client men into the reserve after one year
of training and that any we'll trained
man could 90 into the reserve on his own
application at the end Of two years ac-
tive service.
The amendment was defeated, 1i8 to iOs
The question will come up again in the
conference committee. as the senate bill
IL almost certain to retain It's provision
First Defeat ior Hay.
Encouraged by the narrow margin
which defeated the Kahn amendment
Representative Gardner re-offered the
first proposition OF that amendment in
new language. 1t was carried. 12s to III
being the first defeat for Chairman HAY
during tho consideration of the bill.
The amendment as agreed to provides
! soldiers may be discharged into the
reserve at the end Of one years service
with the colors on approval OF theil
commanding officers.
| Chairman Hay argued that the effec
OF the provision was TO reduce the tern
Of enlistment with the colors to such q
degree that the efficiency OF the arm,
as a whole would be impaired Repre-
sentative Gardner contended that Il
would encourage enlistment and tend 1,
build up quickly n well trained reserve
since no man discharged into the reserv,
under the provision could re-enlist Ia tn,
army until no had completed six years
service in the reserve