Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1916-08-16

to settle minor differences between the
House and the Senate on navy yard ap-
propriations.
Anticipating speedy disposition of
the remaining questions, the navy de-
partment already had beglr plans for
putting into effect provisions of the
| big building policy and increased per-
sonnel features approved yesterday by
| the House. The Senate's building
| program was ratified by a vote of 2S3
to 81 and the personnel increase by a
viva sVoce vote. Senate increases in
appropriations for navy yards were
disagreed to and it was voted to send
| the bill back to conference for deter
mination of these points.
Indications to-day were that the
| conferees would reach an early agree
ment on the questions still in dispute
and that the bill would be laid before
| President Wilson for his approval in
| few days.
Increases written into the bill by the
Senate and approved by the House
| provide for the construction of 157
war vessels within the next three years
and an enlisted strength of 74,700
men.
Secretary Daniels issued a statement
last night pointing out that the build
ing authorizations in the bill were the
greatest ever passed in any country and
opinion of naval authorities, the sec
ond largest navy in the world. He de-
clared the measure so complete and
nearly perfect that it will stand as a
model for all navy bills for future leg
islators"
The defense program, which approval
of the naval bill by the House, vir-
tually completed. has been the most
important achievement of the session
and has involved appropriations aggre-
eating 1851, ,4lS.000. In addition to the
navy bill, ii included reorganization of
the regular army and National Guard,
bringing the enlisted peace strength
of the army to $4,000 men, capable of
expansion of 100000 men in time of
stress, and providing a federalized Ma
tional Guard which at full strength will
number 100000 men.
For maintenance of the reorganized
army and militia, and supplies and
equipment. Congress appropriated
S26I,59I,000. More than $13,00000 of
this is for development of aeronautics,
and S11,000,000 is for government
plants for the manufacture of armor
plate. The army bill also carried an
appropriation of $50, 000 900 for a gov
ernment plant to produce nitrate for
use in manufacturing munitions.
provision was made for extension and
improvement of the coast defenses with
appropriations aggregating S25,74S,050.
To furnish needed officers in the army
and navy, the personnel of the naval
and military academies were enlarg-
ed, the former to 1,760 and the latter
to 1,152 For the Military Academy a
special appropriation of $1,225, 900 was
made, the fund for Annapolis being
carried in the naval appropriation bill
Congress also provided for the crea-
tion of a Council of National Defense,
composed of Cabinet officials and citi-
zen experts to coordinate the military
industrial and natural resurces of the
country in time of war.
The vote by which the House accepted
the Senate increase in the building pro-
gram was nonpartisan, the majority of
both Democrats and Republicans yot-
ing in the affirmative.
Senate amendments to which the
House disagreed and which will be re =
ferred again to conference included
these appropriations: $4,000, 900 for
equipment of the Pudget Sound, Phil
adelphia. Norfolk, Boston, Portsmouth,
Charleston and New Orleans navy yards
for construction of warships, with i'm
mediate equipment of the Pudget Sound,
Philadelphia, Boston and Norfolk yards
to build capital ships;
s1,250,0 900 additional for improve
ments at the Charleston navy yard, in
Guiding a dry dock TO cost 81, 1,OS5, 900;
100000 to enlarge facilities of the
Portsmouth navy yard.
100000 for new wharf at the New
Orleans navy yard; and 100000 for
investigation of submarine and aviation
bases, and plans for defense of harbors
and canals.