Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-08-19
CONC RE ESSMEN
VOTE FOR LARGER.
NAVAL PROGRAM.
PARTisANsHIP CAST ASIDE WHEN
STRENGTHENING OF SEA
DEFENSE IS UP.
BY G. GOULD LINCOLN
Special Correspondent

Washington, d. c., Aug. 1S.-The
Dig naval building program Of the
senate Is about to become law. The
mousse finally agreed to it by vote
OF 2O3 to 81, completely routing the
little navy men. Eight members of
the Iowa delegation voted in favor Of
the senate building program, which
calls for the construction Of 157 war
vessels Of all kinds within 1.-THE next
three years, with four battleships and
four battle cruisers included among
the ships to be constructed In 1917.
Two members of the Iowa delegation
voted against this program and one
did not vote. The vote of the delega-
ton was as follows: -s
Ayes, s-Dowell. Green, Hull, Ken
nedy, Ramseyer, Sweet Towner,
Woods, all republicans.
Noes, 2-Haugen. republican; Steele,
democrat.
Not voting, Good, republican.
The house also accepted by an over
wheln1ng vote the senate personnel
increase In the navy advocated by the
senate, authorizing an increase to a.
700 enlisted men. This action means
the start Of the United States on a
naval program which should soon
place the American navy in place
second only to Great Britain in naval
strength. Iowa has done her share In
congresssto bring this about. Both
Senator Cummins and Senator Ken
yon voted for the big naval bill,
though they sought to have amend
ments adopted curtailing the number
Of capital ships which it was pro-
posed to build In the house, as
shown by the vote just indicated, the
republican member OF the Iowa dele
ion supported the Increase in the
navy, the first line of defense of this
country.
Now that the congress has provided
for large increases in the navy and
army, it is preparing to put the finish
ing touches on the revenue bill, which
the democrats insist is necessary to
raise the money to pay for these big
military Increases. And the demo
Gratis are having one of the most un-
comfortable experiences they have
yet met with in preparing this meas.
ure, which Is now before the senate.
They realize too late that this bill is
about to become a law Just before
election and that it may cost them a
large number of votes. But they have
got to have the money or else admit
the treasury bankrupt and their party
an utter failure in administration.
The senate democrats in party eau.
Gus have amended the house bill very
greatly. Every effort has been made
to popularize the bill by throwing the
burden of taxation upon the wealthy
few and taking the tax of the many
poor. Hence, the large Increases In
the income tax and Inheritance tax on
large fortunes. Upon the passage of
this bill depends the date of adjourn
ment of congress, and democratic
leaders are doing all in their power to
get the dem ocrats lined up solidly for
this measure. BUT insurgent demo-
Gratis are numerous. Wherever an in.
dustry has been hit particularly, there
is democratic senator ready to fight,
particularly II he is up for reelection
in November. The republicans realize
that the democrats are going to put
the revenue bill through no matter
what the minority party does, so they
are. contenting themselves with
speeches opposing the measure and
keeping their own records clear. They
know that the revenue bill will give
them another issue upon which to at.
tack the democrats during the cam
paign.