The Elbert County tribune., 1917-03-09
.DO|NGs Of THE
LATE CONGRESS
Notable for Response to the De-
mand for Preparedness.
AUTHORIZED A GREAT NAVY
Provided Also for Increase and Reor-
ganizatlon 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 fortifications, 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 armaments 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-
struetion of which should be under
taken prior to July l, 1918. This pro-
gram included this allotment of fight
Ing ships: Ten battleships. six battle
cruisers, ten scout cruisers. 30 torpedo
boat destroyers, nine fleet submarines.
So 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 gunbonts.
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 ses-
sion provision was made for three bat
tleships. one battle cruiser. three scout
cruisers, 15 destroyers, one destroyer
tender, one submarine tender and 1S
submarines.
If the Sixty-fift 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 na-
val appropriation for the second ses-
sion of the expired congress alone
amounting to almost round half-bil-
lion dollars.
So great have been these expendi-
lures that the ordinary sources of rev.
enue are not sufficient and special
revenue measure had to be passed.
Representative Kitchin. majority lead
er and chairman of the house ways
md means committee. a small-navy
man. in drafting the revenue measure
and pressing it to passage through the
house charged full responsibility for
the measure 10 the advocates of pre-
pareGness.
Increase of the Army
Increases of the regular army and its
reorganizations under the national de-
fense act were less striking than the
naval increases. But the regular army
was increased from an authorized
peace strength of 100000 to an author
lied peace strength of 2l6,000. capable
of expansion in war time to 256000.
After prolonged agitation for prepared
ness both on land and sea. the consen-
sus of the military experts was that the
United States with its enormous length
of coast line mus. rely on its fleet to
defend its shores.
In the discussions that preparedness
agitation in congress- provoked il was
again and again demonstrated that the
temper of the American people is alb
solutely against big standing army.
Former Secretary Garrison formulated
and laid before congress with Presl-
dent Wilson'S approval scheme for
Continental army to be recruited and
trained under the universal military
training principle. Representative Hay
of Virginia, then chairman of the pow
erful house military committee, OPP
posed the Continental army idea and
substituted for 1t in the national de
Tense act, the liberalization of the Ma
tional Guard. Mr.. Hay won President
Wilson over to his way Of thihking-the
ItutIuilLtu 4NdllDudf ouhIu DtCsiilt iilt
second line of the land 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 Adamson eight
hour railroad law, child labor law, IA
measure to forbid the immigration of
illiterate aliens. a rural credits bill, a
vocational educational bill and an act
reorganizing the government of Porto
Rico and extending citizenship to the
islanders.
The ship purchase bill established
a government shipping board to su-