Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1918-02-15
Biggest in History.

 Washington, Feb. 14.-A billion dol Ia, urgent deficiency appropriation bill, the largest of it's kind in the his torv of congress, was favorably re- ported to the house today by Chairman Sherley of the appropriations commit tee. Consideration of the bill. which provides for the immediate needs of the war. navy and other departments, l is expected to begin in the house to- morrow.
 In presenting the. measure Chairman Sherley made public testimony given to the committee by department chiefs during the past month of committee investigation. Huge amounts were asked for various military activities. Among these was a total of almost sS1, ,000,000 for mountain, field and sitsrx aftille. ;, alI., addition to +lfs1fe than 1,OO0,000.000 already spent and contract authorizations of SITS, 9,000,000 additional.
 Cost of Ordnance. The testimony of Colonel Ames of the ordnance derartment said that the total amount available for this purpose since the beginning of the wa runde1 direct appropriations and contract au- thorizations was $1,S16,OO0,OOO. of which amount orders have been placed requiring ultimate expenditures of $l,252, 2,OO0,0O0, leaving. still available for contracts 64,000, 900. He said the $1,S16.OOO,OO0 was intended to supply ammunition, upon revised estimates of the quantities needed, for 2,0O0. .00O men including the ammunition needed for light trench mortars. The $1,00O,O00 additional, he declared, is asked as the result of change in the military program, including new requirements for larger number of shells, for am- intuition for guns mounted on tanks, and S7,000,O0o for plant designed for the filling of projectiles with gases, and $2,000,000 for a plant for the same purpose to be erected in France.
 At his examination before the com mittee, Chairman Sherley's report said, General Wheeler of the ordl- nance bureau brought out that the government had an arrangement with the French osupply artillery and ammunition to a certain numOer or American troops arriving ln France, but after these units arc SUD- piled the United States would fully equip additional troops.
 America's resources, General Wheeler testified, were sufficient to meet all war needs. He asserted the war department had a billion dollars worth Of nnntronfC
 Signal Corps Expenses.
 Major General Squier, chief signal olhcer, testified the signal corps has spent or obligated all the $640,O00,- Voo appropriated to carry out It's a1r- plaae program, and has incurred ob- hgatlons that will equal $90,00O, ,O00 m addition, and may go beyond that, TOT the present fiscal year. He asked Nfl732,O0O to procure bombs for the alrplanes.
 Discussing storage and shipping fa- cluties, General Goethals said approx imately $100,0O0000, with authoriza- uon of $50,00000O more, is needed for sofage, of quartermaster supplies aong the seacoast, including huge amounts for various specific terml- nals.
 tederal Food Administrator Hoover saia the combined food and fuel ad- nIihstrators so far have had total ap- separations of $5,515,oo0, out of which aere mas been an actual expenditure m s!,SS5,429, and there are now out ,s'alolng obligations of $2,272,3S3, .seaav'ng sa S1,257,95O balance. He asks R,OOO,o0O more now.
 ,, rrovost Marshal Crowder, in ask s,s ae zap appropriation of an additional sa,vvVo'ooc sa,.c for draft registration and n1a. nl1a.ction, testified that there Is q com s,;a sM.e reslstration already for all ts.eas' sa' including enemy aliens, be- tS tween Fl and 30, and that on June , mug uusre were 100000 aliens-not enc 91 .s s.ens-between the draft ages of