The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-05-03
Greatest Military ApprO-
priation Plan in History
Presented to Committee.
FOR NEXT FISCAL YEAR
Proposal to Give Wilson
Blanket Power to Call
Out Men Opposed.
DENT Is AGAINST 1T
Secretary Urges Scheme for
Psychological Effect on
Germany.
DENT is AGAINST 1T
special Despdfch to Tas Sux.

NiSiiNGTON, May ..--Unlimited au-
'hority to muster the man power OF
he nation. an army appropriation bill
.or the next fiscal year. carrying ap-
proximately $4,000. .oO0. 900 and ap-
proval ot an army programme Of
" 100000 men in the middle OF 1919.
we're the outstanding requests with
which Secretary Baker startled the
House Committee on Military Affairs
to-day.
Postponing presentation OF detailed
estimates until tomorrow and there
after. Secretary Baker furnished round
figures which almost doubled the orig
inal estimates for the programme in
the fiscal year 1slS-1sl9.
The most stupendous sum ever au-
'horized for military purposes in a
legislative measure by any country in
history will be that presented by the
House Committee after the close Of its
secret hearings.
II the committee suffered . Jolt when
Secretary Baker got down to money hs-
,res. its sensibilities also wBre Jared
when the Secretary asked blanket au-
thority for the President to call out
GRATED men as needed and without
specific limitation Of Law.
Chairman Dent Immediately mani
tested his opposition to such sweeping
legislation.
Psychological Eject.
The Secretary Of War contended that
me psychological effect" Of such action
tv Congress would be great both in this
country and In Germany. Committee
members argued that authorization for
an immense army Of definite size. say
100000 men, would be more con-
'.ncing
"Mr. Secretary" asked Chairman Dent
IN substance, do You really mean that
YOU expect this committee I. bring out
2 bill giving the President authority to
draft men without limit Of numbeN?'
Yes, II YOU put 1t that way" was
me substantive reply of the Secretary
OF War.
When Secretary Baker first sug.
tested bestowal Of unlimited authority
pom the President. Chairman Dent.
hrowng up both hands. leaned far
hack in his chair. looked at the ceiling
and CALCULATED: My heavens
Not until Secretary Baker came to
discuss the immediate problem Of the
estimates for the next year did he get
down to figures. and then only in the
abstract. He indicated to the committee
nat II would be well to figure upon IN
army of three million men during the
ext fiscal year ending June 80. 1919.
The Secretary was not confident that SO
many men could be transported to
France by that time, but that is the
4pproximate basis OF calculation In
framing the record breaking army
uudget.
Financial Estinates.
For the upkeep OF this army and the
rIrchase of supplies and ordnance In
rnprecedented quantities the Secretary
o: War estimates that the bill must
carry more than twelve billion dollars
Members Of the committee confdentially
gave the figures as anywhere from
'welve to fifteen billion dollars with
..-dication pointing to budget OF about
thirteen billions.
Before the Secretary Of War went or
IS inspection trip to France an army
budget Of seven to eight billions wal
oontemplated and estimates were pre-
pared for such a budget Since his re-
'lrn the Secretary has vastly raised ths
amount.
Near the close Of the hrst session o.
lie Sixty-hfth Congress, last OCTOBER
rncnbers of the Appropriations Commit
i"e stated on the noor that the total ep
oropriations for the fiscal year 1911
mounted to approximately $13.00o.0Oo,
600, this representing war and ordinar!
expenses and exclusive Of allowances TO-
''ans to the Allies. OF this amount Their
as allotted TO the army almost $7'O0o.
100 900 in the regular and deficiency ap
"gopriation bills exclusive OF appropria
bus for domestic fortihcations AM
'past dcfences and the Military Acad
ny and incidental appropriations
The prospective Army appropriation
I'LL therefore will represent a total SUD
''anually as great as the appropriation
'pr all war and civil expenses OF IN
trent year and will be about double tn
mount given the military establishment
- the last session Of Congress-.
~ the Stage ring sum to be appropri
led fully one-third will be for ordnance
The allowance for guns and ammunition
" ~ be sufficiently large TO utilize Amer
an production to the limit. but tn
-noney will not be confined to domesti
glrchases The quantity production o
y .hc allied Governments working nam
hand to rush ordnance to the oatti
mt will lie Jointly available to tn
Contaued ON Second Pdge.