South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1916-08-16
NAVAL BUILDING
PROGRAM D. K D
IN HOUSE 1885 |.
Approval of Huge Military
Measure on Sea Completes
National Defense
Plans.

WASHINGTON, Aug Is. - Con.
gress virtually completed the nation
al defense program Tuesday night
BY finally approving the great in
creases iu naval cOnst rIction and
personnel written into the naval bill
and urgently supported by the ad-
mfnistradOn.
The house accepted the building
program. 10 which its cOnferees on
the measure had refused to agree,
by a vote Of 2ss ~ 81, with seven of
the members present not voting
The personnel increases on which
there also was a disagreement in
conference, were approved without a
record vote.
Calls For 74.7OO Men.
The personnel and construction
sections. which already have the ap-
proVa1 of the senate. Authorize an
increase in enlisted men TO 74,7O0
and the building OF 157 war vessels
within the next three years, with
four battle cruisers and four battle
ships included among the ships for
1917. Previously the house had re-
fused TO adopt continuing building
program. had authorized only five
capital ships, all or them battle
cruisers, and had provided a per
sonnet of only $1,000.
On several less important sections
including appropriations for inn
provement Of navy yards, the house
insisted on it's disagreement To sen
ate increases and voted 10 send the
bill back TO conference for settle
ment of these points An early
agreement is expected, however, and
the measure may be sent the pres
ident for his signature within a
week
second Largest Navy.
Sec'y Daniels issued q statement /
Tuesday night pointing out that the |
building authorizations in the bill /
were the greatest ever passed in any |
country and would give the United /
States. in the opinion of naval /
the second largest navy
in the world. lie declared the meas
ure so complete and nearly perfect /
that il will stand as a model for all Y
navy bills. for future legislators.
The vote by which the house ac-
cepted the senate increase in the |
building program was non partisan, /
the majority Of both democrats and 4
republicans voting in the Affirmative.
OF the 81 members who voted
IN the negative there were 80 demo-
Gratis. ID republicans and one social
ist as follows
Now They Voted.
Democrats: Aver. Bailey. Black, /
Blackmon. Buchanan of Illinois;
Burnett, Connolly, Cox. DOohttle. |
Gray, Harding, Helvering.
billiard. Huddlestone. Johnson OF I
Kentucky; Kitchin. McClintic. Page
Of North Carolina; Randall. Shallen-
berger. Shouse. Sisson, Slayden.
Steele OF Iowa; Taggart, Tavenner,
Taylor of Arkansas; Thomas. ThOmp-
son. Tillman, Van Dyke, Watins and
Webb
Republicans. Anderson, Camp
bell. Cramton- Davis o. Minnesota
Dillon. Ellsworth. Haugen, Helgesen,
kinkaid. LenrOot Mondell Morgan
of oklahoma; Nelson and Young OF
North Dakota.
Socialist. London.
Republicans Want Credit.
During the debate on the building
proSram. the republicans insisted /
that they had led the way toward
increases and that the administra-
ton was not entitled TO all of the u
credit.
Two months ago the democrats, II
urged by the administration were "
asked 70 vote against the wild reck-
ess. eNtrayagant appropriations pro-
posed by the repu blicans." said /.
Democratic MAJORITY Leader Kitch-
In. Il denounced the republican \
program as reckless criminalfty II
Vet now the chairman Of the COM II
uittee. the secretary OF the navy. the N
president and fellow democrats ask
ne 10 get up here and eat my words.
w hen this program passes the
congress and - s3Sned by the presi-
lent this nation viii be the greatest
nation the world has ever
cen. And yet they SLY we are sane
md patriotic"
Mann Says It Is Wisdom.
Republican Leader Mann. advo-
,ating the increase. declared il was
ordinary wisdom to prepare for
what we hope viii never come
II want 20 keep out Of war" ne
aid. but We should be prepared
10 protect our rights at home and
broad The credit viii belong TO
he republican side. for the votes
hat viii pass this larger program.
Senate amendments to which the
house disagreed and which will be
-eferred again To conference includ-
q these appropriations:
$4,000. Gee for equipment of the
'uget Sound. Philadelphia, Norfolk.
}oston. Portsmouth Charleston and
vew Orleans navy yards for con-
tructiOn OF warships. with imme-
late equipment Of the Puget Sound,
Boston and Norfolk
ards tn build capital ships.
$3.50 0O0 additional for improve
merits II the Charleston navy yards.
including a dry dock TO cost $1,OS5,-
700.
100000 10 enlarge facilities of
he Portsmouth navy yards
500 600 for "A new wharf at the
'ew Orleans navy yard; and $780,
49,. 81 5-r-. sf..r- ~