Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1917-03-07
.OOINGS OF THE
LATE CONGRESS
Notable for Response to the De-
mand for Preparedness.
AUTHORIZED A GREAT NAVY
Provided Also for Increase and Reor.
ganization of Army-Some Of the
Momentous Economic Statutes
That Were Passed.

Washington. March 5.-The Sixty.
fourth congress. which has passed into
the annals of things that were. will be
long remembered as the congress
which responded to the demand for
national preparedness. While eco
nomic statutes of pith and moment
have been written into the law of the
land. preparedness measures, inspired
by the European war, Out-top all other
legislation.
Although ample provision has been
made for Notifications, and authority
has been granted by congress TO more
than double the standing army Of the
country, the metamorphosis of the
United States from a commercial TO
fighting nation has been wrought
by the naval increases authorized.
The congress now expired has au-
thorized naval ornaments destined TO
make Uncle Sam eventually the peer
Of any nation on earth in sea power.
excepting, perhaps, Great Britain.
In the two sessions comprising the
Sixty-fourth congress there have
been authorized and appropriated for
no less than lis war craft. Nor is
this all. The first session adopted a
three-year-building program. the con
stFuction OF which should be under
taken prior to July l. 1918. This pro-
gram included this allotment Of fight
ing ships Ten battleshlps. six battle
fsr-trf SaFs ton sao,r& cr,rfco,., IN t..r,,,,,t.
boat destroyers, nine fleet submarines.
81 coast submarines. one experimental
submarine (Neff SyStem). three fuel
ships. one repair ship. one transport,
one hospital ship, two destroyer ten
ders. one fleet submarine tender. two
ammunition ships. two guuboats
Naval Vessels Appropriated For.
BY the act which adopted this build
ing program congress appropriated
for four battleships, four battle cruiS-
ers. four scout cruisers. 20 destroyers.
30 submarines and one each of these
craft: Experimental submarine. fuel
ship. hospital ship, ammunition ship
and gunbOat During the second SEES
sion provision was made for three bat
tleShips. one battle cruiser. three scout
cruisers, Is destroyers. one destroyer
tender one submarine tender and IS
submarines.
II the Sixty-tifth congress adopts the
three-year program the remainder Of
the units for the reorganized battle
fleet will be appropriated for next
year. Staggering sums have been re-
quired to meet these demands. the ma
val appropriation for the second ses-
sion of the expired congress alone
amounting ia almost a round half-bil-
lion dollars.
50 great have been these expeudi-
lures that the ordinary sources of rev.
enue are nor sufficient and special
revenue measure han 10 be passed.
Representative kitchin majority lead
er and chairman of the house ways
and means committee. snail-navy
man. in drafting the revenue measure
aRd pressing il to passage through the
house charged fun responsibility for
the measure 10 the adyocates OF pre-
pNredness.
Increase Of the Army
Increases of the regular army and its
congratulations under the national de-
Tense act We're less striking than the
naval increases. But the regular army
was increased from an authorized
peace strength Of 100000 10 an author
lied peace strength of 2l6000, capable
of expansion in war time to 256.0t0.
After prolonged agitation for prepared
ness both on land and sea, the consen-
SHs Of the military experts was that the
United States with its enormous length
OF coast line must rely on its feet to
defend its shores.
IN the discus -iu..s that preparedness
agitation in congress provoked it was
again aad again demonstrated that the
temper of the American people is alb
~oiulely against a big standing army.
Former Secretary Garrison formulated
aad laid before congress- with Presi-
dent Wilson's approval scheme for a
Continental army to he recruited and
trained under The universal military
training principle Representative Hay
OF Virginia. then chairman Of the pow
erful house military committee, op-
posed the Continental army idea aud
substituted for il In the national de-
Tense act. the liberalization of the Ma
tional Guard Mr. Hay won President
Wilson over to has way of thinking-th
Federalized National Guard became the
second line Of the baud defenses and
Secretary Garrison resigned from the
cabinet
Other Notable Acts.
Although preparedness was the key
note Of legislation. the Sixty-fourth
congress found time also to enact a
ship purchase bill, the AdamSou eight
hour railroad law child labor law, a
measure 10 forbid the immigration of
Hliterate aliens. rural credits bill. a
vocational educatior.l bill and an act
recognizing the go~rnment Of Porto
Rico aud extending citizenship 10 The
I islanders.
The ship purchase hill established
government shipping board to su
/ perviSe shipping matters generally. Il
I appropriated Sj0.oO00O0 20 he oh
J taiued from the sale of Panama canal
+ bonds for the purchase or construction
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MUCH IN LITTLE