New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-05-30
Republicans Assert 1t Is
Inadequate; Gives Too
Much, Say Democrats.
CANNON POINTS OUT
NEED OF MORE MEN
Minority Programme for Two
Dreadnoughts and Six Battle.
Cruisers Wins Supporters.
Prom The Tribune bureau

Washington, May 29.-Democrats and
Republicans joined in the House to-day
in an attack on the pending naval bill,
scarcely a word of praise being heard
for the measure. Even Mr.. London, the
Socialist. raised his voice in denounc-
ing the bill.
The Republicans attacked the bill as
inadequate. The Democrats attacked
il because it provided too much. The
Democrats contended that virtually no
addition to the navy was needed what
ever; that it was all right now, even
without the two ships authorized last
year and not yet started.
Uncle Joe" Cannon, weary Of the
damning faint praise given their own
, measure by the Democrats, finally
raised his voice in protest.
az ! believed, as do many of the
I gentlemen on the other side" he began,
NOTABLY the gentleman from Texas,
/ Mr.. Galloway, ! would not vote for TIE
pending bill. would not vote TO build
a single ship. Indeed, would vote to
( dismantle those We have. and eliminate
| the useless expense of maintaining
them. Why? Because If I believed as
/ he does would believe that We are all
going to be good now, and fighting
/ ships will no longer be needed. Even
/ If the rest Of the world is not going
to be good. we are protected by three
thousand miles Of ocean which those
/ bad people can't cross.
Could Command Trade Routes.
1.-THE gentlemen say they can't cross
the ocean and land an invading army
on our shores ne declared. but they
don't have to. Look now the English
naval stations command our trade
routes. Imagine what few judiclousy
placed warships could do TO US without
making any direct attack on our shores
az all
But this bill we are considering is
inadequate It does not provide enough
men. ] am told by those who ought to
know that we have not half enough
men 70 man the ships We now have
should there be trouble and be nee
osssry 20 send them all TO sea.
Mr.. Cannon continued that the
United States would need a much
larger navy II it proposed TO protect
the Philippines, Porto Rico and it's own
shores and defend the Monroe Doc
trne. He cited the case OF China,
which could conquer the world com
mercially because of the patient labor
of its hundreds OF millions of labor
ers, but which was helpless before
1f..fa praparcdrrsz mart OF
Japan.
Representative Lenroot, OF Wlscon-
sin. who has been small navy man
ever since his advent in the House,
I changed front and showed his appre.
/ cation of the danger TO the United
States from the present conditions IN
Europe He said ne would vote FOR
two dreadnoughts. six battle cruisers
and the full programme proposed by
the minority OF the naval committee.
Prior TO the breaking out Of the
European war ! always voted against
a large building programme he SAID,
/ because the nation with the largest
navy in the world and the nation with
the second largest navy were watching
each other. and neither could have d.
verted its feet for an attack on US.
Only Safe Course for L. 5.
But now the balance OF power IN
Europe is chaotic. No one can tell
what will be the result OF the present
struggle. The only safe course for the
United States is TO have a navy equal
10 any in the world And we want
that navy speedily. We cannot tell how
soon We may need II.
Democratic Floor Leader Kitchin at
tempted 10 prove that the United states
navy is now in second place by stat
ing that a little more than year ago
naval experts had testified that the
nited States navy was superior 10
that OF Germany or any other country
save Great Britain, and that IN the
mean time Germany had lost 81 war
ships, Of 100000 tons. He also admitted
that there was politics in the Demo
Gratis being for as much preparedness
as they were, commenting that he had
warned the Democrats, but that 1t was
no use. as the Republicans would out
bid them"
at would be crime 20 vote for the
Unprecedented programme proposed by
the minority" Mr.. Kitchin said.
III we had better navy than Ger
many or any other country besides
Great Britain a little more than year
ago, why is the same not true now IN
the face or the great herman IoseeS O.
Il maintain that the present ciamor
for preparedness is due IN the main
10 hysteria and jingoism. ne pro-
gramme proposed by the majority goes
further than ! would go. but ! VIII
support II because il docs away with
the ive-year programme and the dread
nought proposal
General debate closed with Mr.. kitch-
ms speech, and the House then began
consideration Of the bill under the rule
permitting fve-minute speeches on
amendments. This probably Will be
continued until ( o'clock Friday alter
noon. the hour set for the final vote
The House remained in session until
late this evening. and the leaders
agreed 20 meet tomorrow az the usua
hour. instead Of recessing over Me-
mortal Day.