The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1916-07-15
A t t e m pit to Locate
Naval Academy On
Lakes Fails
SENATOR is
IN HARD LUCK
Arcadia HarbOr PrOpO-
sitiOn Was Also
Turned Down
From a Stan Corresponnant


WASHINGTON. July l5.-Another
grab for pork" made by Senator
William Alden Smith, OF Michigan.
has failed. The senate on Thursday
eliminated from the naval appropria-
ton bill provision for investiga-
ton by a commission to determine
the advisability OF establishing a
new United States naval academy
ION the Pacific coast or great lakes"
No such provision was carried in
the enormous appropriation bill as
II passed the house and was sent TO
the senate, but the senate commit.
tee on naval affairs, Of which Seua-
tor Smith is a member put that in
the bill as a committee amendment.
In order to get 1t reported from the
committee, IL was necessary TO do
considerable legislative log-rolling.
Information obtained from sena-
tors on the committee Is TO the eff
feet that Senator James ID. Phelan.
OF California, presented an amend
ment which called for an investiga-
ton by the commission 10 determine
the most advantageous site "on the
Pacific coast" for the location OF an
academy similar to that at Annap-
oils.
Senator ]. Hamilton Lewis. OF III
inois, and Senator Smith. both mem
bers OF the naval affairs committee,
declined to vote for the Phelan
amendment unless the great lakes
were included In the amendment
In order 10 get their support, Sena-
tor Phelan is reported to have
agreed to the change.
During consideration OF the naval
bill in the senate, Thursday, that
provision caused considerable de-
bate. Senator John W. Weeks, OF
Massachusetts. graduate OF the
United States Naval academy at An
napolis. made a motion 10 strike out
the entire provision. and his amend
ment failed to carry by the narrow
margin of q TO 50. Then the
amendment was changed. so as TO
eliminate the words Pacific coast
and great lakes" As finally agreed
upon in the senate. report Is or
dered on the location OF new naval
academy or enlargement OF the
present academy"
Senator Phelan, in arguing that
another naval academy should be
established, and that II should be on
the Pacific coast. said that boys liv-
ing in his state did not accept ap.
pointments to Annapolis because
they had to go so far away from
home.
What II they were ordered to go
TO South Africa after graduationY"
asked Senator Norris. OF Nebraska.
IL presume they would resign from
the navy" Senator Albert Il. Cum
ins. OF Iowa. suggested that pa"
and ma" might be sent along for
company. Senator Norris said that
the boys In his state would be just
as bad of IL an academy should be
established In San Francisco as
they are now. They couldn't come
home every Saturday night. Why
not establish one for them on the
Missouri or Platte river7
This IL a stepping stone 10 the
establishment OF another naval acad.
envy on the Pacific coast, one Of the
great lakes and one on the gull.
There IL no sense In It,"
This IS the second time within the
last few weeks that Senator Smith
has failed to get enacted into law
amendments he has worked into
bills as a member OF committees.
Recently he succeeded In getting the
senate commerce committee to re-
port favorably on An appropriation
for his pet project. the Improvement
OF Arcaria harbor. but the approprt-
alton was knocked out when the
bill went TO conference. Senator
Smith has not been here to fight for
his pork barrel items for several
weeks.