The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-06-01
INCREASES
A@ERONAUTICS FUND
..6c0re of Democrats Vote With
Republicans to Provide
More Airships.
APPROVES ,ARMOR PLANT

WASHINGTON. May 3I.-The Rcpubli-
can members OF the House. with the aid
Of more than q score OF Democrats.
followed up their submarine victory Of
yesterday by increasing to-day the ap-
preparation In the naval bill for aero
nautics from $4,000. 900 to s3,5oo.o 900.
Their efforts to prevent the adoption
of the amendment to provide for the
construction Of n Government armor
plate factory at a cost OF $11. 600, 900
failed. They also were unsuccessful In
ilnlarging the provisions for enlisted per-
Sonnet OF the navy. but their defeat In
4his respect was tempered by the adop-
Zion OF an amendment offered by the
chairman OF the Naval Affairs Com
mittee adding 2.130 men TO the bill. maxi
ing the total only a few hundred short
tef that demanded by the Republicans.
The real fight was over the arinor
plate provision. which had already
passed the Senate. The adoption of the
plan by the House practically insures It's
inclusion in the final draft Of the naval
bill.
q Representative Butler Of Pennsyl-
ttania offered n substitute amendment
sproviding that the cost Of making armor
~ the private plants be determined by
Efhe Federal Trade Commission and that
tfhe Secretary of the Navy be authorized
10 let contracts at a price not to exceed
cost and a reasonable profit. The
amendment was defeated by a teller
vote OF $50 to 1875. on the amendment
sappropriating $4,000. 900 for a Govern
ltnent plant the majority was even larger,
the vote being 1865 to 81.
Republicans voting for the amendment
were. Nelson, Wisconsin Helgesen,
North Dakota Good. Iowa Nichols,
michigan Haskell. New York Cooper.
Wisconsin: Lenroot. Wisconsin Morgan,
oklahoma kinkaid. Nebraska Hull,
iowa Davis, Minnesota Young. North
dakota Nolan. California Cary. Wis
Consin; Ellsworth. Minnesota Doweli.
Iowa. Green. Iowa Champion. Michi-
syan McCracken. Idaho. Martin. Louisi-
lana: Mapes. Michigan Sweet. Iowa;
sHamseyer. Iowa. and Elston. California.
The amendment increasing the appro-
ipriation for aeronautics was offered by
Representative Roberts of Massachusetts
In behalf OF the minority members OF the
Naval Affairs Committee. The same APP
peal that the bmarine made to MEM
beers OF the House was made by the
aeroplane. On a teller vote the amend
mont was carried by 1873 to 103.
Before the struggle OF the minority
members Of the committee for more ade.
Quate provision for naval personnel could
b concluded Chairman Padgett took the
wind out OF their sails by announcing
s,t1At no would offer an amendment to
increase the numbe Of enlisted men by
$3.50 above the number authorised by
the bill. This number. he said. would
provide so per cent. crews for the vessels
in reserve and full crews for those afioat.
ThA Roberts mendmen called for $500
mon. The Roberts amendment was de-
Sfeated by IS to SO. but Immediately
thereafter the Padgett amendment was
adopted.
z A committee amendment adopted to.
..day authorizes the President to acquire
Immediately a site for the proposed ar.
-mor plate plant either by condemnation,
purchase or gift. Representative Ware
Of Pennsylvania offered an amendment
requiring the selection Of q site at the
Philadelphia navy yard. but this was
overwhelmingly defeated.
81 The decision Of the House. acting In
oommittee Of the whole. practically con.
cluded the struggle over the naval bill
I Amendments will be offered until Friday
when the final voting will begin.