The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-06-28
'H0USE CONSIDERS
MORE WAR MEASURES
FEDERALHzE - NAVAL MILITIA
House fnztxfx on IT'S PROVISION for De-
pendent Families of Men Called 10
Coiors-Conference at Work on
Measure

Washington. June 27.---war meas
ures designed to clear away all legal
difficulties and to supply men and
money for war with Mexico absorbed
the attention of the House today.
During a session of less than three
hours, the following steps were taken
by tho House and committee toward
complete military preparation: .
The Naval Affairs Committee
voted a favorable report on a bill
federaliz!ng' naval militia and au-
thorizinR the President to draft the
naval militia into the Federal service
in time of emergency, This measure
probably will be incorporated in tho
naval appropriation bill now before
the Senate.
The Appropriations Committee
recommended the passage OF an ur-
gent deficiency bill carrying 2b,652,-
o5S.82, to defray the expenses OF
mobtl!zing and equipping the militia
and transporting it to Mexico This
bill will be passed by the House to-
morrow.
3 The Military Affairs Committee
reported the military academy appro-
priat!on bill. carrying more than a.
0o9.0 for the conduct OF the West
Point Officers School
4. The House voted 11s TO TO in
sist upon its provision in the resolu-
ton authorizing the President to draft
the militia, which would provide ST.
00o, 600 for the relief of dependent
families of gusrdsmen called to the
front. Conferees named by both
Senate ana House have the measure
under consideration.
To Expedite Measure.
The naval affairs committee author
lied Chairman Padgett to present a
unanimous report on the naval militia
bill. and the chairman conferred with
members OF the Senate naval commit
tee IN an effort to have tho militia
measure attached TO the naval appro-
prlsuon bill This would expedite the
passage OF the military bill
The measure would place the naval
militia on the same basis as the Ma
tional Guard under the Hay army re-
urgauIza ton act. 1t would give the
President. however. plenary authority
to draft the militia "in any emergency,
including that OF actual or imminent
war, requiring the use of the naval
forces in addition to those OF the reg
ular navy. of which emergency the
President shall be. for the purpose
OF this act, the sole Judge.
A blockade OF Mexican ports would
uSNesBltate inc use or many small
graft, and the naval militia undouht-
edly would be called upon TO man
these vessels.
Items Covered in Measure.
In the urgent deficiency bill, pre-
scented by the appropriations commit
tee, the larger appropriations would
be:
National Guard, $1,s4s.o
Horses, sS,o2b,065.
Transportation, sa.983, as.
Clothing and equipment, s3.791,160.
Engineering department. $4,000.
The bin also included $326oo0 for
the naval establishment. most Of 1t for
the expenses OF the marine corps. The
hearings on the provisions for the en-
Fineer corps developed that the War
Department had. without authority %
law, incurred obligations amounting to
S1.375,0o0 TO equip the militia with
engineering equipment. The commit
tee agreed to legalize the expenditure.
The deficiency bill will be taken Mp
tn the House tomorrow and st is ex-
pected 10 go through with little or no
opposition.