South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1916-05-19
NAVAL EXPENSE
IS240 MILLIONS
Largest Appropriation For
Marine Defense Ever Pre-
Sented Congress.

WASHINGTON May I9.-Admin-
istrstion forces in congress lost the
first sxirmish in the naval prepared
ness campaign Thursday when the
house committee broke a fve-day
deadlock and completed the naval
appropriation kill without approving
the hve-year building program advO-
Gated by Pres't Wilson and Sec'y
Daniels.
As finally agreed to the bill au-
thorizes the construction OF five bat
tie cruisers i'm 1917. as against two
dreadnaught,. and two battle cruisers
recommended BY Secy Daniels: four
scout cruisers. an increase OF one
scout cruiser over the departments
program; 10 destroyers. as against
10 recommended: 20 submarines.
three to be 800-ton boats. compared
with five fleet and 25 coast defense
submarines recommended; one hos
pital ship. one oil fuel ship and one
ammunition ship. The gunbOat rec
omended was stricken out and the
fuel and ammunition shii were add
ed from Sec'y Daniels gram for
the second year
Provides For S2A t.OOG 900.
The total amount carried by the
bill is $4,000. 200. the largest naval
appropriation ever presented in
congress.
While the appropriation proposed
is. II anything, an increase over the
departments plans. failure of the
five-year program and the fact that
no dreadnaughts were provided for,
make the bill unsatisfactory 10 ad-
ministration officials. Sec'y Daniels
said tonight he never lost hope Of
getting what he asked for until con-
gress adjourned.
IL was clearly indicated that the
senate. w Tcn has not yet taken up
consideration Of the naval bill even
In committee. was relied upon TO re-
store the battleships The senate
has never failed 20 increase the pro-
gram for the navy mapped out by
the house. and navy officials are
confident that the final bill will pro-
vide for at least two battleships and
four battle cruisers.
Go Into Deadlock.
The deadlock i'm the house COM
mittee followed a caucus Of the eight
republican members Of the commit
tee. at which it was decided TO OPP
pose the hve-year program and TO
seek 10 increase the 1917 appropria-
tions over the figure suggested by
the department Five OF the 10
democrats not only poposed the con-
tinuing program. but also were de
termined 10 cut down the 1917 esti-
mates and not TO vote for any bat
tleship appropriation. They were
willing TO support a four battle
cruiser program, however. and the
final compromise was effected by
Chairman Padgett. with Rep. Hens
ley OF Missouri a leader Of the So
called little navy" democrats. who
induced the other four TO Join him
iu agreeing 20 the five battle cruiser
plan.
To meet this concession Chairman
Padgett was compelled 10 abandon
the fve-year project. and it was not
brought to "a vote in the committee.
as 1t was certain of defeat if the re-
publicans and little navy democrats
combined He was also forced to
ANNfNt "a UlNh ASlhll HA OR0-FN fA re p
Hensley authorizing the president to
call a conference Of world powers at
the conclusion OF the European war
20 draft plans for an international
peace tribunal An appropriation Of
S2OO. 600 for this purpose is carried
IN the section, which was adopted
unanimO usly. and IL would authorize
the president 20 appoint nine citizens
distinguished as lawyers and peace
advocates 10 represent the United
States.
Kitchin j. Gratified.
Majority Leader kitChin OF the
house expressed great satisfaction
with the bill and said il might be
brought up in the house next week