The Meeker herald. [volume] (Meeker, Colo.) 1885-current, 1916-05-27
SATURDAY. MAY n, 1915
Things the Public Should Know

Washington, last week, by Congress-
man Ed Heating OF the Third Colo
RADIO district, contains considerable
information the public should be en-
lightened on, and for that reason THE
HERALD publishes the letter In full:
Washington, d. O., May 6-Itistoo
bad that every American citizen can
not read all the printed hearings, con-
tanning the evidence submitted to
Congress in support ofthe army,navy
and Notifications appropriations bills.
Then we would all have . clearer idea
of what we want to do In the matter
Of preparedness
Every man In Congress wants his
country placed In q position where 1t
can maintain order at home and re-
sist invasion from abroad. Perhaps
somewhere between the oceans you
may be able to find ''peace-at-any-
price" man, but up to date his identi-
ty has not been revealed. / do not
believe he exists.
There are men In Congressman 1
am one Of them-who feel that, before
they vote away countless millions of
the peoples money they should I've
given information concerning what
has been done with the hundreds Of
millions we have already appropriate
ed for the army and navy, and that
we should be given . pretty definite
idea of what IL to be done with the
hundreds Of millions which we are
asked to appropriate this year.
OBJECT OF THE HEARINGS
We are willing to pay the bill but
we want to be assured that 1.-The
goods" have been and will be dsliv-
cred.
Hence the "hearings" before the
committees on army, navy and forti-
fications which are entrusted In y
measure with control OF the purse
strings OF the nation.
|. Membership on these committees
is regarded rs q mark of distinction
by congressman. The first two con-
sist of twenty-one members-thirtesn
Democrats and eight Republicans.
The chairmen are always veterans OF
from ten to twenty years service.
They manage the hearings and have
control" of the appropriation bills
when they come before the House.
The secretaries of war and the navy
submit their detailed estimates to
these committees and then the lead
ing officials Of both departments
secretaries, admirals, generals, etc
are called OH to explain the various
items. They are examined and cross
examined until the members OF the
committees feel that they have no
more information TO give. Every
word spoken is taken down by sten-
ographer and is printed for distribu-
ton among members Of Congress and
others Interested.
SOME DIFFERENCES OF OPINION
All this takes time, but the sums
involved are so big that they cannot
be disposed Of in few minutes.
Sometimes a single witness will re-
main on the stand for days.
An amazing difference Of opinion
frequently developes between officers
of the same department.
For example: There has been much
talk In the newspapers and magazines
about the navy being undermsnned.
Now, the average layman would i'm
agine that all naval officials would
agree as to the number Of men need
ed to man" given battlesbip In
time of peace. Such 10 not the case
according to the hearings.
Secretary Daniels told Of bis exper-
fences with the captains Of one bat
tleship. The first captain said he
needed 75O men to man the ship and
he was allowed that number. In =
few months he WAS transferred to .
new station and his successor insiat-
ed that he could not handle the ship
unless he had l,l57 men, or 4O7 more
than his predecessor. He lasted .
little while, was transferred, and was
followed by captain who was sure
he could get along with $40 men.
These estimates were all made
within two years, and the discrepsn-
cies are not unusual. Still there are
people who declare that We must
give the army and naval offi Whist
they demand and that 1t Is treason to
question their judgement.
BUILD SUBMARINES IN TWO WEEKS
Then take submarines: The naval
officials were sure that private plants