The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1916-06-09
GREATER NAVY
BILL PASSES
FIVE BIG SHIPS TO BE BUILT BY
THE END OF THE PRESENT
YEAR.
Carries Total Appropriations of $685.
100000, and is Practically as
Framed by Naval Committee
and Passed House AL
most Unanimously.

Washington, June 2.-The second of
the big preparedness measures, a ma
val appropriation bill larger by many
millions than any ever before consid-
erede in congress, passed the house
late today almost unanimously. 1t
carried a building program for next
year of five battlecruisers, four scout
cruisers, two destroyers, SO subma-
rines and 130 areoplanes, provides for
a government armor plant, authorizes
an increase of nearly 1900 enlisted
men and appropriates total of $685.
100000.
AS passed the bill is in substan-
TALLY the same form as framed by the
naval committee. Only a few amend
ments were adopted during a week of
debate and a final effort by Republi-
can leaders to have the measure re-
committed with instructions to add
two battleships, two scout cruisers
and 10 destroyers was defeated.
Only four representatives voted
against passage of the bill, to SO fa-
voring it, and as the roll call pro-
gressed the overwhelming majority of
"ayes" stirred the Democrats to re-
peated cheering. The four negative
votes were cast by Representatives
Browning, New Jersey; and Graham,
Pennsylvania (Repubiican); Randall,
California (Prohibitionist), and Lon
don, New York (Socialist).
Much of Work Done.
With the passage of the bill the
house completed the major portion of
its share in the preparedness pro-
gram. OF the three bills carrying
the important provisions of the pro-
gram-the army, naval and fortifca-
tion measures, only the last named
remains to be considered. 1t probably
will be taken up in the house after
the national conventions while the
senate is debating the naval bill
twenty-five Democrats voted with
the Republicans today for the motion
to recommit and increase the building
program and there were indications
tonight that the proposal to provide
for at least two battleships would find
strong support among Democrats in
the senate. The two dreaddoughts
recommended by Secretary Daniels
were stricken out of the bill by the
house committee and an additional
battlecruiser substituted as a compro-
mise to meet the demands of the So
called little navy men.
Add Some to Bill.
Although the house voted down
most of the recommendation of a
minority report submitted by Repub-
lican members of the committee, in
creases totaling more than $4O,OOO,-
600 were added to the committee
measure. Of this $22,OOO,OOO covers
an amendment adopted increasing the
number of submarine authorized to
90. The committee had recommend
ed only 20. Other provisions added
during debate carried $11 100000 for
government armor plant, $70OO,OOO
for enlargement of the navy yards at
Charleston, Norfolk, New Orleans,
Philadelphia, Boston and Puget
Sound. $2,7OO,OOO for increasing the
navy's personnel and S1,50O.OOO for
aeroplane. The yards at Norfolk,
Boston, Philadelphia and Puget Sound
will be equipped to build capital war
ships. The armor plant provision al
ready has passed the senate as a sep
arate bill.
Reorganization plans recommended
by Secretary Daniels including in
creasing the duties and authority of
the chief of operations, are authorized
IN the measure and provision is made
for building up a strong reserve for
the enlisted personnel