The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1916-07-06
OVER BILLION And A HALF
BIG PROGRAMME OF FINANCIAL
PREPAREDNESS.
Millions For Defence.-Principa
Measures Are Army and Navy
Bills.

Washington, July 2.-Congress is
preparing to complete it's programme
of financial preparedness with every
indication that appropriations this
session will aggregate considerably
more than a billion and a half dol
lars, at least half billion of which
will be for national defence.
According to estimates based OF,
figures compiled by Chairman Fitz>
gerald, of the house appropriation
committees, the grand appropriation
total may reach s1,650,000,000, ex-
ceeding by more than $500,000,00o
the record of any previous congress
in the nations history.
Last week Representative Fitzger-
old submitted statement to the
house showing that the grand total
for the present congress, based on
bills passed and pending, would
reach nearly s1,5o0,O00,000. Since
then the senate naval committee has
added nearly s50,O00,O00 to the ma
val bill and the military committee
has increased the s1S2, 100000 army
appropriation measure by approx
mately s1OO,O0o,O0o.
Awaiting Senate.
The principal appropriation meas
ures awaiting senate consideration
are the army and navy bills. They
carry s2s2,O00,000 and s315,S26,-
S4s respectively and, together with
the Notifications bill, which has pass
ed both houses, would appropriate
for national defence more than $685.
100000. There is every indication
that the senate will accept at least
the major part of the proposed army
and navy increases, but conferences
probably will pare them down. What
ever happens, however, leaders OF
both houses agree that the total of
appropriations will break all records.
The senate plans to take up the
naval bill as soon as the agricultural
bill is out of the way, probably with
In few days. The big building pro-
gramme provided for 1917 and the
provisions for a three-year construc-
ton policy probably will mean de-
bate of several weeks. Meantime the
army bill will come from committee
and an effort may be made to pass it
as soon as it is ready, setting aside
the naval bill temporarily.
@ Ready for Revenue Bill. :
With its work on appropriations
nearing completion the house is ready
to take up the s210,000,000 revenue
bill introduced yesterday. The house
adjourned from yesterday to next
Wednesday and the revenue measure
is expected to come up Thursday un-
der special rule and be passed Sat-
urday. Then the house will mark
time waiting for the senate to catch
ND. Besides several of the big sup
ply measures, the senate has the ship
ping bill, the child labor bill, the ST.
100000 militia relief measure, con-
servation measures, the immigration
bill and many minor matters to dis
pose of.
If there is to be an adjournment
in time for the political campaign,
congress leaders believe some Of the
measures of the presidents legisla-
tive programme must be sacrificed.
They believe the immigration bill
and perhaps the conservation meas
ures can be delayed until the short
session.
In spite of the crowded senate cal
endar and the threatened Mexican
situation, the subject of adjournment
constantly is discussed about the
Capitol. The house could adjourn
within a few weeks, but senate lead
ers say that under the most favor
able circumstances they could not
possibly get through before the mid
die of August. Should war come,
congress probably would remain
through to the beginning of the short
session in December.