Omaha daily bee., 1916-08-08
REACH AGREEMENT
ON THE ARMY BILL
Conferees Get Together on All
Of Main Features, Appropri-
ating $276,597,000.
DISAGREE ON NAVAL BILL

Washington, Aug. 7.-National de.
tense legislation in congress is APP
preaching completion. Today the
conference committee on the army
appropriation bill submitted COM
plete agreement and the conferees on
the naval bill voted to disagree on the
big construction program and the per
sonnet increases, the only remaining
points Of dispute in that measure, Sc
that the issues might be referred back
for quick settlement by the two
houses.
Members Of the house, the majority
of whom are away on vacation, will
be called back to Washington next
week for vote on the building and
personnel sections Of the naval bill.
Representative 'Padgett, chairman
of the house committee said he would
submit the conference report Thurs.
day and call it up the following Tues
day or Wednesday for action.
For Sixty-six Vessels.
President Wilson, Navy depart.
ment officials and other adequate de.
tense champions Of the administration
are expected to make determined
effort to induce house leaders to yield
to the senate program for construc.
ton OF sixty-six vessels, eight of then
to be capital ships during 1917.
The house provided for only five
capital ships. If il votes to insist or
its original provisions, it is said, tht
senate conferees will offer to give ur
the three-yeaD continuing program ii
the senate bill as an inducement tc
house leaders to reconsider and &C
cept the big program for the frs
year. -
Agreement was reached by the con
ferees on administrative features o
the personnel section, but they coult
not get together on the question o
increases in the enlisted strength
The administration is anxious that tn,
larger senate authorizations in Thu
section also be accepted. The stat,
provided for a total enlisted strength
of $4,000 and the house for onl,
1000.
Plans for Promotion.
Secretary Daniels plan for promo
ton OF navy officers by selection in
stead Of by seniority was accepted
but was so amended that it woult
not apply TO Ulcers liver than thu
rank of commander.
Provision is made for a board O
nine admirals to pass on promotions
and six must agree in each case. |
also was agreed that captains wht
are not promoted before reaching til,
age Of 81 shall be retired, and tina
commanders not promoted, be re-
tired at IS and lieutenant command
ers at 40. The conferees raised tn,
general retiring age limit from e. t
64 years.
Senator Chamberlain will call IF
the army appropriation report in thu
senate tomorrow. The bill, as agreed
on, carried $276, 5o7 900, or $85, 900 ,00t
in excess OF the house bill. A repor
had been delayed several days Will,
the War department made an unsuc
cessful effrt to induce the house con
ferces to recedc from their insistenc,
on the Hay amendment making re
tired officers exempt from provision!
Of the military code.
Big Army Appropriations.
Among the big army appropria
tons are agreed to are:
Aviation, $l3,28l IS; pay for officer
the line, $i0,000,000; transportation
$23, 000, 900; clothing, $40, $50, 900; sub
sistence, $4,000, 900; ordnace, store
and ammunition, $l0000,0OO, OF which
100000 shall be used for purchas
OF munitions, the remainder to b
used for manufacturing; ordnanc
stores and supplies, $9,500,000; arme'
motor cars, 100000, reduced from
Isl, 100000; field artillery and amuni
ton for National Guard, $4,000, 00(
reduced from $2s,0Oo,000; automati
machine rifles, $l2,000,000, reduce,
from $ls.000,000.
| For training camps. such as thu
lat Plattsburg, the bill appropriate
| 1000 900. reduction from 90
in the senate billie.
i An appropriation Of $4s0,000 in tn
senate bill to reimburse the state q
New York for expense in mobiliza
ton the National Guard was strick
| en- out. A 100000 appropriation
Included in the bill as agreed to 10
relief Of dependent families Of guards
men and enlisted men.
|