New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-07-22
$640,0O0,O00
Air Bill Goes
G To resident
Work on Fleet of $4,000
Airplanes Will Be
Rushed

Washington, July 21.-The House bill
appropriating se4o, 900, 900 for the avi-
alton service was passed late to-day by
the Senate without amendment or
record vote and with less than an
hours discussion. It now goes TO the
President
The Senate's only dispute, with many
members expressing q desire to pass
the bill Immediately, was over an
amendment Of Senator Hardwick, Of
Georgia, to strike out clause authoriz-
ing drafting of the men for the aerial
service. The amendment was rejected,
sc to 12, after Senators La Toilette and
Gronna made brief speeches opposing
the draft.
Details Of plans for expending the
huge sum appropriated have been with
held, but it is known that IL provides
for about $4,000 airplanes and nearly
100000 men.
The President is expected to sign the
bill Monday, and the work Of building
one OF the greatest air fleets the world
has seen will be pushed with vigor.
During the first year officials hope TO
produce at least $500, with a great in
crease the next year. For the first few
months virtually the entire attention
will be centred on construction OF stu
dent planes, and there has been talk OF
bringing British and French aviation
student officers 10 the United States for
training.
In rejecting the Hardwick amend
ment the dozen Senators voting to
strike out the draft clause were
Borah, Broussard, Curtis, Gore, Gron-
ma, Hardwick, Kirby, La Toilette. Nc
Keller, Norris, Owen and Vardaman.
In opposing the draft clause Senator
La Toilette said that any war prose
cuted BY democracy ought to be with
out compulsory service.
Democracy ought never enter a war
that 1t cannot prosecute with vol
unteers," he said, particularly object
ing to compulsion for the extra haz-
ardous mir service.
THE Wisconsin Senator declared that
he would fight for the repeal Of the
draft law as long as he is in the Sem
ate, and predicted that the draft
would be the main issue at the next
election and that 80 per cent Of the
voters would declare against it: he
said he intended offering resolution
repeating the draft law.
Senator Gronna said he opposed the
draft provision for the same reason as
Senator La Toilette. He denounced the
publication of statements that he in
tended to oppose the bill and flibus.er
against il as "a deliberate and un-
qualified falsehood."
Senator Calder offered as an amend
ment the resolution Of Senator Cham
berlain, chairman of the Military
Committee, proposing TO amend the
army draft law TO make aliens sub
ject to conscription, excepting sub
jects Of Germany or those exempted by
treaty. He said Of the ten million men
registered more than one million are
aliens, Arizona alone having 40 per
cent of aliens.
Senators Wadsworth. Stone, Brande-
gee, Lodge and others also urged legis-
iatiye action to subject aliens TO yes
terday's daft as we'll as future calls.
Senator Stone said the Foreign Rela-
tions Committee planned to take action
regarding the treaty question, and
Senator Chamberlain said the State
and War departments are being con-
suited regarding his resolution: The
latter said il possible the Military
Committee would act upon 1t next
week. :, 80,
The amendment was finally with
drawn to expedite the bill.