The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-09-26
DEFICIENCY ACT
IN CONFERENCE
Eight Billion War Appro-
priation Measure Pass
ed Senate Yesterday

Washington, Sept. 26.-Without a
roll call and after brief debate, the
senate yesterday passed the eight
billion dollar war deficiency approp-
Ration bill. Nearly $500, 100000 was
added to the measure as it came
from the house and it now goes to
conference.
Items for many millions of dollars
were approved with only a handful
of senators present and without dis
cussion. as they were when the bill
passed the house unanimously just
week ago. Minor provisions only
evoked debate.
Senator MARITIME, chairman Of the
appropriations committee and demo-
cratic floor leader, urged close scrut-
my Of what he termed extravagant
and almost reckless departmental
estimates. He said appropriations
during five months of war would
reach about $4,000, 100000 and ex-
pressed concern lest next years
| total might be 10000, 000, 900.
To Spend What Is Necessary.
1--WE are compelled to shut our
| eyes and appropriate a great deal
rather than hamper our men on the
battlefield" said the senator. "hut
our duty to scrutinize these esti-
mates grows every hour. We must
give every dollar necessary to prose-
cute the war. but our duty is to trim
down extravagant and useless ap-
preparations. The governments A.
nances are in a perilous situation.
Are we going to impoverish the
country? Yes. If necessary to win
| this war, but in Gods name don't
let's spend money unless absolutely
| necessary"
over the Democratic leaders oppo-
sition the senate adopted, % to rs,
an amendment by Senator Robinson
appropriating $500, 900, 900 for the en-
ployment bureau of the department
Of labor.
AS it goes to conference. the bill
totals 1891; 400, 900, including s2,-
1856, 000,O 900 of contract authorizations
and senate committee amendments
totaling $779.000,000. Its principal
items include: ......
ship Appropriation Large.
Shipping board 1886, 100000 cash
for the construction program au-
thorized of $1,749. 100000
Army and navy emergency fund
of 500, 100000 each.
Construction of torpedo boat de-
stroyers, 1925, 900, 600. to start a
$3.50, 900. 900 program.
ARMY Transportation, $413, 100000.
Fortihcations, S1.495.000. 900 ap-
propriated and $s75.O0O,OoO more au-
thorized.
Clothing and camp equipment,
| $685., 900, 900.
Engineer operations, $191. 100000.
Medical department, 1929, 900.
Pay increases for foreign service,
sal 900, 900.
Horses, $4S.000.000.
Barracks, $49. 100000.
Ordnance, stores and ammunition,
$732. 270. 900.
Small arms, target practice, $ss,-
GIG. 900. Ordnance stores and sup
plies, $113.520,000.
Manufacture of supplies, S32,6s0,-
000.
Automatic machine guns, s11s,-
$4,000 with $220,277,O00 additional
authorized.
with $75,550,000 additional author
lied.
Naval aviation, $45, 1000. 900.
Naval ammunition, $40, 146,0O0 with
81, 900 900 more authorized.
Naval batteries, $50,OOO,0OO, and
$2s, 900, 900 more authorized.
Naval reserve ordnance, $4f,5UU,-
600. and $17,500,000 more authorized.
Naval training camps, $l2,60O,0OO.
With the understanding that 1t
would be perfected and reinserted in
conference. the senate struck out an
appropriation of sl,240,000 for civil
ian training camps. 1t also rejected
amendments of SeEator Frelinghuyt
sen Of New Jersey for S5,OOO,OOq
cantonment road in New Jersey. and
of Senator Fletcher for sS5O.O0O for
Key West naval station improve
ments. After tart debate on the con-
troversy between Secretary Daniels
and the navy league officers, Senator
Curtis amendment authorizing the
navy head TO accept contributions
from the leagues women's auxiliary