The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1917-09-12
committee RELUCTANT
TO GIVE UP KENT ISLAND
Will Argue Why ii is The Only Land
Available, East OF The Mississippi.

Washington. Sept. 1l.-Secretary
Baker is, apparently, not disposed 10
accept defeat IN the cherished pro
iect of the War Department to turn
Kent Island into an ordnance proving
ground. He has sent letter TO Sen
ator Chamberlain, chairman OF the
Military Affairs Committee-the com
mittee which he assured Senators
Smith and Martin he would make
the arbiterS of the fate Of Kent Is
land-asking Mr.. Chamberlain 10
call a special meeting OF his commit
tee next Thursday, at which Secre-
tary Baker and General CroZler Will
appear to give the War Departments
reasons for its insiStent demand for
Kent Island.
From interviews by newspaper cor
respondents with various members of
the Military Affairs Committee, both
Secretary Baker and General Crozier
will be asked to explain why the de-
partment insists that there is no 9TH
er place in the United States east of
the Mississippi river. except Kent Is
land, that can be used for ordnance
ground.
Senator Chamberlain, chairman OF
the committee. does not hesitate TO
express his opposition to turning out
I the people of Kent Island from their
homes. but he is willing to hear what
the War Department has to say.
Il have not heard the War De
partment's side Of the controversy.
the Senator said. but from what has
already been told me. it looks to me
as farce to drive 5000 people from
| their homes in order to get d proving
ground when there are so many
thousands of acres of unused and I'M
productive land in the United States.
| am waiting to hear the War De-
partment's side of the case and as
certain just what might be urgent
demand for this island"
From present indications members
| of the Military Affairs Committee
| will not accede to Secretary Bakers
demands. AS pointed out yesterday,
| the taking over of Kent Island is no
longer a mere local issue close to the
heart of Senator Smith. 1t has be-
come a question between the War
Department and Congress. The sena-
tors feel that, having submitted the
question of buying Kent Island to
Congress, through the medium of the
| dppi ldtlOh Jill hoH bOIoiS tiiS
House, Secretary Baker shows dis
regard for the will of Congress in I'M
| dertaking 10 use S3,000,UU0 OF an
emergency fund placed in President
Wilson's hands to buy the island re-
gardless of the decision of Congress.
There is strong sentiment in Con-
gress, particularly in the Senate,
which is always sensitive of its rights
1
voted to the President for 'emergen-
cy" purposes is to be used to over
ride the will of Congress, no more
such emergency" appropriations will
be made. This feeling is particularly
strong in the appropriation commit
| tees of the House and Senate, for it
| is realized that if the authority of
| Congress can be evaded in this way
| it is useless to pass appropriation
bills specifying the purpose for which
moneys are appropriated.
Army officers persist in the claim
that unless Congress yields and per-
mits the purchase of Kent Island the
War Department is unable 10 find
another site for Il proving ground.
This attitude of the Army officers
will be sharply challenged by Senator
Smith when General Crozier appears
before the Appropriations Committee
and he will be asked to explain why
none of his officers has examined va
riouS sites that have been submitted
to him since Kent Island was selec-
ted by his officers.
Senator Smith today expressed con
fidence that the people of Kent Is
land would not lose their homes.
Representative Price, who will make
the fight in the House to save Kent
Island, intimated today that when
President Wilson returns to Wash
ington he will call on him to lay be-
fore him the facts regarding Kent
Island and the unwillingness of the
people to surrender their homes
when so many other sites are avail
able which involve no hardship and
which will not deprive the country
Of the bountiful supply of food now
raised on Kent Island.