Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-05-19
Breaks Deadlock by Autho-
rizing Construction of
Five Battle Cruisers.
LATEST TYPE OF WARsHIPs
INSTEAD OF DREADNOUGHTS
Provides Also for Destroyers,
Submarines, Scout Cruisers
and Supply Ships.
ALL FOR 1917 FISCAL YEAR
Carries Total Of $240, 900 900, I.arg-
est Ever Presented to
Congress-.

WASHINGTON. May 1S.-Administra-
tion forces in Congress lost the frst
skirmish in the naval preparedness
campaign to-day. when the House COM
inittee broke u fve-day deadlock and
completed the naval appropriation bill
without approving the five-year build
ing program advocated by President
Wilson and Secretary Daniels.
AS finally agreed to. the bill author
lies the construction in 1917 of live bat
tie cruisers, as against two Dread
noughts and two battle cruisers recon-
mended by Secretary Daniels; four scout
cruisers, an Increase OF one over the
departments program; ten destroyers,
as against fifteen recommended; twenty
submarines, three to be SO0-ton boats.
compared with five fleet and twenty
five coast submersibles recommended:
one hospital ship. one oll-fuel ship and
one ammunition ship. The gunbont
recommended was stricken out. and the
fuel and ammunition rhips were added
from Secretary Daniels's program for
the second year.
The total amount carried by the bill
Is S24o, 100000. the largest naval ap-
preparation ever presented to Congress-
While the appropriation proposed is,
tf anything. an Increase over the de-
partment's plans. failure of the nye-
year program and the fact that no
Drendnoughts were provided for make
the bill unsatisfactory to administra-
ton officials. Secretary Daniels said
Tonight he never lost hope OF getting
what he asked for until Congress ad-
journed.
SENATE IS RELIED UPON
TO RESTORE BATTLESHIPy
it was clearly Indicated that ths
Senate. which has not vet taken IN
consideration OF the naval bill even in
committee. was relied upon to restore
tho batueships. The Senate never has
tailed to increase the program for the
navy mapped out by tho House, and
navy officials are confident that tho
OH VIII provide for at least two bat
tleships and four battle cruisers
The deadlock in the House commit
Tee Followed caucus Of tho eight Ro-
publican members Of the commtttea
VINO decided to oppose tho five-year
program and to seek to Increase tho
1917 appropriations over the figure sur
sestod by the department. Five Of the
thirteen Democrats not onlv onnoe,d
tho continuing program, bur also wer.
determined to cut down the 1917 es,,-
mates and not to vote for any ha tt,a
snip appropriation. The final compro.
misc was effected by Chairman Pad1ett
with Representative Hensley, Of Mis-
souri,. a leader of the so-called little
navy Democrats. who induced tha
otaer iour to join him in agreeing 10
the nve-battle-cruiser plan.
|hairman Padsett was compelled To
Aoahdon the fve-year project and
forced to accept provision proposed
by Representative Hensley. auth,rizinc
the President to call conference ~,
world powers at tho conclusion Of tho
european war to draw plans for an
international peace tribunal An ammo
pr'at'on OF 100000 for this purpose is
carried in the section. which waa
Aoopted unanimously, and II would an.
thort2e the President TO appoint nina
e'hzens distinguished "a iawyers and
peace advocates 10 represent the Iynitad
states.
COMPROMISE iCARRIEn nv
SOLID DEMoCRATfC VOTE
The compromise building program
was carried by the solid Democratic
vote OF the committee against tho solid
Republican membership. The Republt-
can program, agreed to by the minority
"hcH lhc democratic plan was learned
was two hattleships, six battle cruis-
ers and six scout cruisers ffty sub-
marines, twenty-eight destroyers. two
sunboats. one destroyer tender. two
fuei-oil ships, a supply ship, a naval
transport, hospital ship, an ammuni-
tlon ship and a repair ship
Representative Stephens, OF Califor-
MA Republican offered ser!es Of pro-
posais. all OF which were defeated by
both Republican and Democratic votes
They ranged from ten battleships to
eighty destroyers, and represented.
roughly figured. q total cost Of $685.
100000. Eight OF the new submarines
and fonr destroyers are to be built
on tho Pacific Coast, IL the cost Of con.
struction does not exceed Atlantic
Coast prices by more than tho addi-
tional freight charges on material.
Minority Leader Kitchiu, of Tho
House. expressed great sa.isfaction
with tho bill, and said It Nigh. Do
brought mp in tho House naut reeek,
although othar Democratic leaders
were not hopeful that Il osuId -