The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1917-02-17
Bill Appropriating $685. ,000,0 900
Approved by Vote Of
353 to 23.
OPPOSED BY Il. DEMOCRATS
Establishment Of Submarine Training
Base In Los Angeles Harbor and
Operating Base at San Diego
Recommended.

Washington, Feb. 15.-Two big steps
toward naval preparedness were taken
here.
Establishment Of a submarine train
ing base in Los Angeles harbor and OF
a submarine war operating base at
San Diego were recommended in a
report of the special navy commission,
headed by Rear Admiral Helm. made
public by the navy department.
The largest naval appropriation Dill
in the country's history was passed
by the house and sent to the senate,
where a subcommittee Immediately
was appointed to hasten its consider
alton.
The bill carries more than $780,
900, provides for the second INSTALL
ment of the great three-year building
program adopted last year, and in
cludes administration emergency
amendments authorizing the govern
ment to commander private shipyards
and munitions plants in time OF ma
tional peril and to purchase the basic
patents Of aircraft.
Eighteen Democrats Opposed.
The vote on the bill was 1853 to %.
18 Democrats, headed by Majority
Leader Kitehin A Republicans and l
Socialist voting against 1t.
During the debate, which was In
progress intermittently for about a
week. various provisions proposed as
result Of the submarine crisis were
added to the measure. Because OF the
governments q difficulty ii placing con-
tracts fQr NarsF5ps authorized last
] year, ail aflendnieaIit asked for BY Sec
retary Daniels providing an additional
$12 100000 for equipping navy yards
for construction work were inserted.
Arbitration Clause Inserted.
Without discussion, Representative
Mann got an amendment into the naval
bill declaring that the United States
favored settlement of international dis
putes through mediation or arbitration
"It is hereby reaffirmed," the amend.
ment read, ito be the policy Of the
United States to adjust and settle its
international disputes through media
ton or arbitration to the end that wal
may be honorably avoided"
Pacifist Democrats, led by Congress.
men Galloway Of Texas and Huddles'
ton and Oliver Of Alabama, moved to
recommit the naval bill with instruc
tions to the committee to provide fol
| only one battleship, instead of three
and to authorize larger number Of
submarines and destroyers in lieu o1
capital ships. This motion was de
feated on a viva voee vote, and only
33 members, an insufficient number
arose when the yeas and nays wert
demanded.
Big Addition to Navy.
The building program carried in thu
bill calls for three battleships, one
battle cruiser, three scout cruisers, Il
destroyers, one destroyer tender, ont
submarine tender and 18 submarines
The bill also provides that the limit o.
cost for the four battle cruisers au
thorized last session shall be increased
to S1e,O00,OO0 each and the limit o.
cost for the three scout cruisers here
tofore authorized shall be increased tt
Se.OO0,OOO each, exclusive Of armor ant
armament. 1rt
The army bill will be taken up II
the house Thursday.
Those Who Opposed Bill.
Those voting against the naval bill
were:
| Democrats-Bailey (Pa.). Burnet
and Huddleston (Ala.), Galloway ant
4 Davis (Tex.), Doughton, Page ant
Kitchin IN. O., Gordon and Sherwood
| ROY. Johnson and Thomas (Ky.)
Saunders (va.), Sears (Fla.). Sissol
fMiss.), Tavenner Ol.), Thompson
(Okla.), and Tillman (Ark.).
| Republicans -Cramton (Mch.), Hol
| lingsworth (O.), Lindbergh (Minn.)
and Nelson (Wis.).
Socialist-London (N. ~.
|