South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1916-07-22
SENATE SENDS
BIGGER NAVAL
BILL TO HOUSE
Three Year Building Program
With Additional Expense
of S45,857,588, is
Approved.

WASHINGTON. July %. - The
naval appropriation bill. with a
three-year program including the
immediate construction Of four
dreadnaughts. four great battle
cruisers and IS other craft, passed
the senate late Friday by a vote of
90 to s. 1t carries $315,S26.S43, or
S45.S57,5SS more than the measure
as passed by the house
Many proposals to curtail the
enormous building increases written
into the measure by the senate naval
committee were defeated overwhelm-
ingly and as soon as final passage
was announced the senate voted to
insist or its amendments and send
the bill at once TO conference. The
house is expected 10 insist upon its
building program. and a long strug-
gle is in prospect before agreement
is reached.
Two democrats, Sens. Thomas and
Vardaman, and six republicans,
Sens. Clapp. Curtis, Gronns, LaFol-
lette, Norris and Works, voted
against the bill, which has had the
support of leaders of both parties
during the week of debate that pre-
coded passage.
Vote is Delayed.
A seven-hOur speech by Sen. La
Toilette against the measure and a
clash between Sens. Reed and oliver
over the proposal TO print as a pub
lie document the Bethlehem Steel
Co.'S arguments against "A govern
ment armor plant delayed the final
vote. The Bethlehem's arguments
were ordered printed 10y unanimous
consent during Sen. Reeds absence
from the senate chamber. on his
return he Vainly sought recOnsidera-
ton, charging that Sen. Oliver. as
an owner of steel stock. had voted
money into his own pocket by sup
porting the proposal.
Sens. Tillman, Swanson and Lodge
were appointed cOnferees on the bill
The house conferees will be chosen
Tuesday and daily sessions probably
will be held thereafter by the con-
ference committee.
Construction Of 1871 vessels. in
Guiding 16 capital lighting ships
within three years at an estimated
cost Of 1888, 1SO,57t, is contemplated
i'm the senate program, the largest
ever proposed in congress. OF the
total appropriations in the bill, $110,-
726,160 is for the first years build
ing expenditures.
As it passed the house the meas
ure made no provision for a con-
tinuing building program and au-
thorized only - ships. including five
battle cruisers aid no dreadnaughts.
some Appropriations.
Miscellaneous appropriations car
ried i'm the bill include: $1,000. 600
for government armor plate plant /:
S19.4S5.5 500 TO provide ammunition
for ships TO be built in the next three
years: $4,000. 600 for batteries for
merchant auxiliaries C$1.65O, 600
available at oEce); $3.5O0,000 for
aviation: 100000 for naval ex-
/ perimental and research laboratory
/ S1.411.O for government projectile
/ plant; $1.27O.O00 for arming and
I equipping the naval militia So
3S5,915 for maintenance and en-
I largement of public stations. navy
yards and docks; S5O,226,912 for pay
/ of the navy.
I other important features of the
measure would provide for:
Increasing the enlisted personnel
of the navy from $4,000 to 74.5O0
and of the marine corps from 5000
/ to 1880.
Authorizing the president in time
I of national emergency to increase
the enlisted strength Of the navy to
I $1,000 and the marine corps to H.
400 men
/ Enlargement of navy yards with
equipment for construction of cap
ital ships and extension If govern
ment dry docks for accommodation
/ of the largest battleships
/ Reorganization of the naval militia
\ on a similar basis with the reorgan-
lied national guard
Twenty per cent bonus TO contrac-
! tors for construction of war craft
within contract time limits. and in
/ crease of aviation stations and addi-
/ ton 10 facilities for work Of this