Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 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-
asnIxstion Of Army--some OF the
momentous Economic Statutes
That Were Passed.

Washington, March 5.-The Sixty
fourth congress. which has pissed into
the annals OF things that were. will be
long remembered as the congress
national preparedness. While eco
nomic statutes of pith and moment
have been written into the law Of the
land. preparedness measures. inspire7
by the European war, out-top all other
legislation.
Although ample provision has been
made for fortlncations and authority
has been granted by congress TO more
thnn double the standing army of the
country, the metamorphosis OF the
United States from commercial to
a fighting nation has been wrought
by the naval Increases authorized
The congress now expired has nu-
thorized naval ornaments 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 1i8 war craft. Nor Is
this all. The first session adopted a
three year building program, the con-
struction OF which should be under
taken prior TO July l, 1913. 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,
80 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 gunboats.
Naval Vessels Appropriated For.
BY the act which adopted this build
Ing program congress appropriated
for four battleshlps. four battle cruis-
ers, four scout cruisers, 20 destroyers,
80 submarines. and one each of these
craft; Experimental submarine, fuel
ship, hospital ship, ammunition ship
and gunboet. 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 IS
submarines.
II the Slxty-fifth congress adopts the
three-year program the remainder of
the units for the reorganized battle
fleet win be appropriated for next
year. Staggering sums have been re-
CURED TO meet these demands, the ma
val appropriation for the second ses-
sion of the expired congress alone
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 a special |
revenue measure had 10 be passed. |
Representative Kltchln. majority lead |
er and chairman of the house ways |
and means committee. smali-navy |
man. IN drafting the revenue measure |
md pressing IL TO passage through the |
house charged fun responsibility for |
he measure to the advocates OF pre-
paredness.
Increase OF the Army.
Increases of the regular army and Its
under the national de-
Tense act were less striking than the
naval increases. But the regular army
was increased from an authorized
peace strength OF 100000 to an author
zed peace strength OF 2160O0. capable
u expansion In war time TO 2o6,o0O.
After prolonged agitation for prepared
ness both on land and sea, the consen-
'us of the military experts was that the
United States with It's enormous length
n coast line must rely on its fleet to
iefend It's shores.
In the discussions that preparedness
agitation In congress provoked II was
,guin and again demonstrated that the
emper of the American people Is alb
,oluteiy against big standing army.
Former Secretary Garrison formulated
md laid before congress with Presi-
lent Wilson's approval scheme for a
Continental army 20 be recruited and
ralned under the universal military
raining principle. Representative Hay
II Virginia. then chairman Of the pow
,rful house military committee, OPP
,osed the Continental army idea aud
uhstltuted for II In the national de-
ense act. the liberalization OF the Ma
sonal Guard. Mr. Hay won President
wilson over 10 his way OF thinking--the
National Guard became the
second line OF the land defenses and
secretary Garrison rsaigned from the
'abinet.
other Notable Acts.
Although preparedness WAS the key
tote OF legislation. the Sixty-fourth
congress found time also TO enact a
hip purchase bill. the Adamson eight
lour railroad law. child labor law. a
MEASURE 10 forbid the immigration OF
llterate aliens. rural credits bill. a
vocational educational bill and an act
the government CT Porto
Rico and extending citizenship TO the
ISLANDERS.
fst.o chin prr.hnSQ hill petuhfiShed