The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-05-04
$2,OOO.OO0,N0 for Home
Fortifications Bring Total
to High Figure.
BILLIONS FOR SUPPLIES
Lump Sum for Quartermas-
ter Is Desired for "Un-
limited A fmy.
OPPOSITION IS SHOWN
Clash in Committee Over
Blanket Appropriations
Appears Likely.
BILLIONS FOR SUPPLIES
OPPOSITION Is SHOWN
Spscidl D<apdfch 10 TaH Srx

SPECIAL D<spdfch to TaE Sen
WASHINGTON. May 3. - Secretary
] 1'ter's temperance to-day before the
I'olse Committee on Military Affairs
brought developments portendins further
controversies in Congress on the army
appropriation programme. The War
Department to-day asked virtually q
lump sum appropriation for the Quar-
,"rmastcr Corps which II granted would
cause omission from the bill Of SPECIFIC
i,horizations and allowances.
Coming on the heels Of Secretary
Bakers request for unlimited authority
70 draft an army Of any size the lump
hum suggestion quickly aroused the op-
position OF Chairman Dent, and SUBJ
seouently Mr.. Dent ascertained from the
ranking Republican Of the committee
that he also was opposed to SO drastic
& change in the annual budget.
Let US avoid specific figures secre-
tary Baker said to-day. They imply
limits. There is no limit. We will call
olt enough men to make victory certain.
Ne will call them as rapidly as they can
be trained and sent forward"
100000 MinimsA Army.
Secretary Baker. Gen. March. acting
Chief OF STAN. and Lieut.. Col. Brett of
the Quartermaster Corps were the wit
neSes before the committee. These are
the Developments OF the day:
The minimum size OF the army esti-
mated for the next fiscal year is s.
100000 men.
The War Department expects to
have under arms by July l Of this
year approximately 2.l7O.ooo men. BY
that time there will be in commission
10000 officers.
With the estimates OF amounts to be
carried in the fortifcations bill. which
5 not handled by the Military Com
rlttee. but the Appropriations Com
rlttee. the total sum wanted by Secre-
tary Baker Is in excess Of $4,000
on0.o00. OF this amount the army bill
viii carry approximately $13,o0O,OOo
COO. as stated In THE SUMS des-
catches this morning. The fortifica-
tons bill from the Appropriations COM
nttee will add $4,000, 100000 to $3.-
ooo. 900. 600 more.
Should the Military Committee seek
jurisdiction OF the entire army pro-
2ramme there will be a committee
fight as the rules Of the House provide
that the Appropriations Committee
shall appropriate "neld guns and their
snpurtenances."
The allowance for heavy field artil-
e'y will exceed $4,000, 100000.
Estimates for the Quartermaster
Corps call for $4,000. 900. 900. with the
possibility that the sum may reach
g.
Department wants put virtually on
'ump sum basis Ordinarily there are
twenty to twenty-three specific items
in the army bill under the heading
o. the Quartermaster Corps.
5000. 1000, 900 for Ordnance.
For ordnance the War Department
a'so wants a round Ave billion dollars
The ordnance estimates. revised. VIII
b" submitted to the committee Mon
oay. 1t Is assumed the Department
also will ask lump sum appropria.
ION here also. thus bringing about
more friction.
The estimate. for aviation total
approximately $3.50. 100000.
For the Engineer Corps $1,200.OO0,-
o"0 Is asked.
development to-day Was that large
sums from the ordnance appropriations
ere TO be utilized for the enlargement
and construction OF plants for the man
u'a"ture OF guns and ammunition or ad-
'suces TO private contractors to enable
1em to turn out ordnance in vast guam
titles
Il is reported that the United States
S'ee! Corporation and other ordnance
nroducing concerns may procure GOV
,rnTent aid in production ana Will re-
"eve large sums for machinery and en-
,arGements
\ clash in committee jurisdiction
sNoms imminent in the House because oi
re staggering estimates submitted bS
Secretary Baker and the peculiar rules
Under which army appropriations are
ow handled In the lower chamber,
Tina, the War Department has asked
more for ordnance purposes than II can
possibly spend was growing impress
son about the Capitol this afternoon
'rrta.n members Of both committees
90 not see how n is possible for the
Ordnance Bureau to expect from Ss.ooo ,
"9o, o0o 10 ss.O0O.000.00O in the mex
fvaI year This sum for one bureau
'oulI ne considerably more than I'M
.n,ii for the entire military establish
h"nt for the present fiscal year.
lTen with advances to contractor
sd he establishment Of vast ordnance
!Fpluc,ion plants here and abroad u
mot sesn how 30 staggering sum car
" jI1ciously expended In a year. TIT
21res are likely to be attacked as ou
- 'roportion to the size Of the army
''ch cannot exceed 100000 men bS
ir} !. 1919. unless there Is mos
F'a'.'ying squirt in ship production.
4 influential member Of the Appro'
''.atons Committee said tonight NJ
pJ!d investigate tomorrow possible
yramdinx" Of the estimates OF thu
War Department. II the department u