New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-03-03
Friction Between 2 Houses
Threatened $685., 900, 900
Defence Measure
Fight on Bond Issue
House Sends Measure to Con-
ference, but Action Be-
lieved Perfunctory

ment OF the S00O,UUO,VUV HaNdi app
priation bill tonight, after straighten-
ing out a controversy between the two
houses which for time threatened TO
kill the measure and force an extra
session.
The trouble was over the refusal Of
the House TO accept an amendment by
the Senate authorizing a bond issue OF
sl50,000,000 to meet added expenses
provided for in the bill as it passed the
Senate late this afternoon. The House
leaders, pointing out that revenue legs-
lation could originate only in the
House. promptly passed resolution to
that effect and sent it over to the
Senate.
Leaders Plan Way Out
After hurried conferences between
Democratic and Republican leaders,
fearful that to reopen debate on the
bill would mean its failure. the Senate
without a rollcall repassed the meas
ure with the bond issue provision elimi-
mated. At the last moment Senator
Jones succeeded in attaching an amend
ment striking out the clause making 1t
crime for shipbuilding and other m
dustrial concerns to refuse to surrender
their plants TO the government IN time
Of war or other proclaimed emergency.
The Senate's action was greeted with
cheers in the House, where il was con-
coded that any difficulty over the Jones
ho
out.
In the mean time it was agreed that
both houses should put through joint
resolution, originating in the House,
authorizing the sl50,0000 900 bond issue.
OF this money, Sll5,000,000 is 70 be
used in rushing to completion vessels
now under construction, and SS5,OOO,OOO
Is for fifty additional submarines, pro-
vided for by Senate amendments.
Late tonight the House formally dis
agreed TO all Senate amendments, and
sent the measure TO conference. The
action was regarded, however. as large
ly perfunctory, for with the difference
over the bond issue cleared away, 1t
appeared there was little doubt of
final agreement on other details.
An amendment added by the Senate
provided that all appropriations shall
be available Immediately, instead OF
on July /, as usual.
Lodge Urges Extra Session
In urging Senator'S to accept this
amendment. Senator Lodge said the
present situation required passage OF
the naval bill and also an extra session
of Congress.
"The country" he said, "is in a sit
uation where it may be at war at very
short notice. The navy is our FIRST line
Of defence. We want all OF these APP
preparations Immediately available. To
die up the money until next July would
be great mistake. This money we
need now. II we do need II We shall
need it very much indeed.
81 also think there ought TO be an
extra session of the whole Congress.
In the present situation the whole
American government ought 70 be here;
matters ought not TO be left entirely
without participation of the minority.
Congress ought TO be here in this con
dtion Of public affairs. II necessary
appropriation bills can be held up. but
this naval bill ought to pass, for no
one can tell when we will need every
dollar, with the utmost quickness."
The Senate approved the action OF
the Naval Committee in eliminating
from the naval bill the provision reaf-
f,rming il 10 "be the policy of the
United States to adjust and settle its
international disputes through media
ton or arbitration, to the end that war
may be honorably avoided" II was put
in the bill in the House by Minority
Leader Mann.
By vote of as to &c the Senate
adopted a committee amendment 10 the
naval bill authorizing the establishment
cf 8 second navy yard on San Fran
cisco Bay. with an initial appropriation
Of 81 500 600 TO acquire site.
The Construction Programme
The great construction programme
provides for the building OF three bat
tleships, one battle-cruiser, three scout
cruisers, fifteen destroyers, one de
stroyer-tender, one submarine tender,
fifty-eight coast submarines, ten feet
submarines and three coast guard cut
tiers.
In case of national emergency, The
President is authorized TO suspend the
eight hour law on contract government
work.
To meet the shortage OF naval Of
ficers provision is made for graduation
of two classes at the Naval Academy
cacn year for FIVE years, and TO shorten
the course from four to three years for
that period. The cadet corps would be