Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1916-05-19
Committee Completes Ap-
preparation, Leaving Out
Five-Year Program.
$24O, 100000 IS TO BE
THE TOTAL AMOUNT
Authorizes Construction of
Five Cruisers, Ten De-
stroyers and 20 Subs.
" ASHINGTON, May 1S.-Admin-
w istration forces in congress lost

WAsHINGToN, May lS.-Admin'
w istration forces in congress los
the first skirmish in the naval pre-.
paredness campaign today when the
house committe broke five-day
deadlock and completed the naval ap-
preparation bill without approving the
five-year building program advocated
by President Wilson and Secretary
Daniels
AS finally agreed to the bill au-
thorites the construction in 1917 Of
five battle cruisers as against two
dreadnauPhts and two battle cruisers
recommended by Secretary Daniels.
four scout cruisers, an increase of one
scout over the departments program;
ten destroycrs as against Is recon-
mended; twenty submarines. three to
be eight hundred ton boats. compared
with five fleet and 25 coast defense
submersibles recommended; one hos
pita ship. one oil fuel ship and one
ammunition ship. The gunboat rec
commended was stricken out and the
fuel and ammunition ships were ad-
ded from Secretary Daniels program
for the second year.
rts-s Biggest In History.
The total amount carried by the
bill is $240. .000,0 900. the largest naval
appropriation ever presented to con-
gress.
While the Appropriation proposed
is. II anything. an increase over the
departments plans. ffilure of the
five-year program and the fact that
no dreadnaughts were provided for
make the bill unsatisfactory to ad-
ministration officials. Secretary DAN
iels said tonight he never lost hope
OF getting what he asked for until
congress adjourned. 1t was clearly
indicated that the senate. which has
not yet taken up consideration of the
naval bill even in committee, is relied
upon to restore the battleships The
senate has never faild to incrase the
program for the, navy mapped out by
the house and naval officials are CON
fident that the final bill will provide
for at least two battleships and four
battle cruisers.
Deadlock After Caucus.
The deadlock in the house COM
mttee followed a caucus of the eight
Republican members of the commit
tee at which il was decided TO oppose
the five-year program and to seek to
increase the 1917 appropriations over
=
ment Five of the 13 Democrats not
only opposed the continuing program
but also were determined to cut down
the 1917 estimates and not to vote
for any battleship appropriation. They
were willing to support a four-battle
cruiser program, however and the
final compromise was affected by
Chairman Padgett with Representa-
tive Hensley of Missouri. leader of
so-called Little Navy Democrats.
him in agreeing to the five-battle
cruiser plan.
Abandon Project.
To meet this concession. Chairman
Padgett was compelled to abandon
the five-year project and 1t was not
brought to n vote in the committee as
It was certain of defeat If the Repub-
leans and little navy Democrats COM
bined.
He was also forced to accept pro-
vision proposed by Representative
Hensley authorizing the president TO
call a conference of world powers at
the close of the European war to
draw plans for an international peace
tribunal. An appropriation of $780,
900 for this purpose is carried in this
section which was adopted unani-
mously and it would authorize the
president to appoint nine citizens dis
tinsuished as lawyers and peace ad-
vocates to represent the United States
The compromise building program
was carried by the solid Democratic
vote of the committee and against the
solid Republican membership.