Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-07-15

The aviation bill passed the House yes
terday without dissenting vote.
1t is the legislative outline Of Ameri-
cas- enormous new military aviation
policy, which will cost $640.000,000 in
the first move, but which may win the
war. The measure, drawn in secret by
the military affairs committee Of the
House, working with the officers Of the
Signal Corps and officials of the War
Department. passed with no important
change from the original bill.
In a little over four hours the House
passed on to the Senate the Dent bill.
enlarging the Signal Corps and Great
ing a great fleet of battle planes and
an army of hters, observers and
mechanicians who will endeavor to make
Americas control of the air the weight
which will break the deadlock of the ma
tions now struggling on the fields OF
Europe. The size of the undertaking
as written in the bill is the only indica-
tion to the public Of the War Depart
ment policy.
Display Of Enthusiasm.
There was for a moment the chance
that the House might do the dramatic
thing and pass the bill by acclaim and
without so much as word OF discus
sion. There was rush to do this. fol-
lowing the suggestion that open discus-
sion might disclose to the enemy mill
tary secrets of value. Representative
Mann. leader of the republicans. at a
tense moment early in the afternoon,
himself suggested the passage OF the
bill Immediately. and this was taken
up and followed strenuously for few
seconds. with cries of Vote. Vote. Vote"
all over the House Had the bill been
thus approved instantaneously, the ac-
tion would no doubt be written in his
tory along with the Senate's immediate
passage of the $50, ,000. 900 war fund at
the time of the Spanish war: However,
many members disapproved of pass
ing the bill without even reading it. and
several Of them took Representative
Mann to task for such suggestion.
It Is extremely doubtful that the en-
suing discussion will be of any use to
the military authorities of the enemy.
as nothing of any military charaoser
was discussed. beyond the casual refer
ences to the ages of men in the new
corps OF some matter of that sort
The really interesting part Of the de-
when several of the members wanted
to know why the committee on mill
tary affairs had not given out more in
formation on the bill. This was the
part of the debate in which Represent
atfve Mann almost showed the bill over
the goal line unaided.
Purpose Briefly Outlined.
Chairman Dent of the military affairs
committee brought up the bill shortly
after the House met at noon and briefly
outlined its purposes.
There was demand for detailed dis
cussion. but just as the House debate
became almost babble. Representative
Kahn of California. ranking republican
member of the military affairs commit
tee. commanded the attention of the
House:
Let me call attention to one fact,
he said. in a loud voice. England has
been at war with Germany for three
years. England does not know today
how many submarines Germany is
turning out every week. 1t is kept a
profound secret and 1T has a deterren,
effect upon England. Why cannot this
country, SO far as its aviation force is
concerned. keep It secret, so as to pre-
vent the enemy from getting any
knowledge whatever Of what we are
going to do to get control of the air
II you tell the enemy what we are go.
Ing to do in any branch ofsthe service
ne will get ready to meet you."
Mr.. Fitzgerald's Comment.
Representative Fitzgerald interrupt.
ed him to say that in the official bul.
letin of the bureau Of information there
Is voluminous information concerning
inc dSidtiou ocESiCe, ana II is also fully
set forth in statements issued by The
council of national defense
But we must not discuss it here 70,
fear somebody would discover what ha.
happened" he said.
THE military committee called tn,
attention of the Secretary of War II
the fact" answered Representatiy,
Kahn, that certain information ha,
been disseminated from time to tim,
through the council Of national defense
That does not make it right" h,
added with vehemence. I'VE might a,
well begin now to clamp down the lid
Representative Cooper of Wisconsi,
asked II Germany could not guess wha
the country Is doing merely on the an
nouncement of the enactment of tn
bill.
NO." said Representative Kahn, "be
cause airplanes are of different kind
and prices and cost all the way from
$4,000 to $4,000 each"
Representative Campbell of Kansa
asked where the enemy could gain an,
further knowledge from congressiona
debates when information on the avia
tion subject already had come from tn
council OF national defense.
Tho gentleman was quite right fl
(Contfnuod mn Ninty, DoON