Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1917-09-11
KENT island scheme
HITS Another SNAC
Senator Smith Blocks War
Departments Scheme
TO Take If
BAKER HAD THE
$3,OOO,OOO CASH

WASHINGTON, Sept. ll.-presldent
Wilson. IL became known yesterday. has
authorized the Secretary Of War TO eX-
pend s3.0OO.00O out OF the siDOOOO.OO0
emergency, appropriation made at the
beginning OF the war FOR the acquisition
OF Kent Island, Md. 10 be used as an
artillery proving ground. BY following
this procedure, the War Department
may take the island without any refer
once whatever TO Congress, without
any appropriation from that body or
further grant Of power. The siOO,OOO-
900 fund was placed In the hands OF the
President for expenditure limitation.
That the War Department had deter
mined upon this course, the House and
senate failed TO allow the S3OO0.OOO ap-
preparation now pending, was learned
by senator John Walter Smith Satur-
day Tie hurried % Washington, con
ferred With The Secretary and entered
a most vigorous protest against such
action as proposed.
Senator Thomas s. Martin. OF Vir.
ginia. chairman of the Senate Appro
priatlons Committee. accompanied
Senator Smith to the War Depart
ment and Joined in Directing TO the
taking Of the island by such a mean1.
particularly when Congress is about
TO be called upon TO give is answer
as 20 whether OF not the island should
be taken at all.
/ At this interview the Secretary of
War promptly admitted that the Pres.
ident had authorized the use OF the
SO 600 600 and that the War Depart.
ment wss preparing 10 take over
whatever Of the island the ordnance
officers thought Immediately neces.
sary. Senator Smith. however. was
so determined and so lnsistent tnni
the Senate as a body was directly oD.
posed TO the acquisition that the secre
tary agreed not TO take tho island
under the Presidents authority. should
the Senate Committee on Military AZ
fairs be opposed.
While the views Of the Senate com
mitteemen are not known, IL Develop
cd at the Capitol yesterday that the
Senate as whole has taken the same
view as Senators Smith and Martin
and that many members Of thu body
we're incensed over the War Depart
ment's plan The ma ter"even reach.
ed the poin, where indiv dual Sena
tors expressed opposition 20 the idea
Of making any further blanket an.
prOpr rtions for TIE war or any Other
purpose. They took the Wow tina
Congress alone should determine hoB
given sum OF money was 10 be OK
pended and what for.
The adm sion OF Secretary Bake
indicates clearly that the officials o
! the depar ment feel that the opposi
! tlon on the part Of Congress canno
be overcome. II ia most unlikely
! otherwise. that the secretary wOul
I have resortei 70 THIS course. as b
: specifically called upon Congress 70
: the money and the power to purchas
/ a proving ground.
In view OF the new Development
? Representative Price. OF MarylanI
. who will offer an amendment on IN
floor OF the HouSo Wednesday Pre-
y viding that no part OF the new va
/ appropriation shall be expended 10
, Kent Island today changed hi
amendment so as 20 provide also tina
no part OF any fund heretofore az
propriated shall be used for that pui
pose.
N the Price amendment is accebte
/, by the House and Senate then the hand
Of the President, as we'll as the Score
, tsry OF War. VIII be tied and thI
amendment seems certain 70 he adopte
I unless lhe friends Of the Mar Depa
mont rally 20 defeat it. II the Hous
, agrees. II win certainly be concurred
1 by the Senate