New-York tribune., 1918-06-25
IS, ,4os, 100000 Forti6ca.
tions Bill Passed bv
House in Short Time
Sundry Civil Measure
Approved by Senate
Rapid Progress on War
Legislation May Hurry
Congress Recess

WASHINGTON. June 24.-Rspid
progress in the disposition of war ap-
preparation measures was made to-day
py Congress. After only five hours de-
Date, the House passed without rec
ora vote the $5,4O8 100000 Notifications
DILL while the Senate approved and
sent to conference the $4,000, 900 900
sundry civil measure and then began
consideration of the $4,000, ,ooo, GOO
army appropriation bill.
Five billion dollars in the field artil-
lery appropriation for the next year
means the formation Of three American
armies Of 1850 men each, Represent
ative Borland revealed in debate on the
fortifications bill. Each of the armies
Will consist of thirty divisions, or. five
corps. Included in each army will be
$4,000 non-combatants, leaving 1,075..
ooO fighting men to an army. On this
basis each division will consist of 81. 500
men.
Army to Have Best Artillery
The fortitications measure, which now
goes to the Senate, will provide funds
Tor carrying out the War Departments
plan to furnish the American Army
with artillery equipment which will
surpass that of any army ii. the world
IL also carries appropriations for aerial
detenses and for ammunition for both
home and overseas use.
Nearly $2,000,000,000 Of the money
carried in the sundry civil bill is for
the building Of ships to carry troops
and supplies to France, the number in
Guiding ninety new troop ships. In
cluded in the measure also are appro-
priations for the food and fuel ad-
ministrations. the Committee on Public
Information and other war agencies.
When the Senate took up the army
bill, Senator Fall, Of New Mexico, Re-
publican, offered an amendment to the
measure extending the army draft ages
from eighteen to forty-fve years. The
amendment, which is similar to bill
by Senator France now before the SEN
ate military committee, went over un-
til tomorrow without discussion.
May Settle Draft Age Question
Presentation of the amendment is ex.
pected to bring to a vote at this ses.
sion of Congress the question OF ex-
tending. the draft ages, which has been
agitated recently. Unless the Admin.
istration urges immediate action, how.
ever, Senate leaders believe that the
Fall amendment will be defeated. Even
| some Of those favoring extension OF the
draft ages believe that action should
be deferred while the question i,
studied at greater length, and many
members of both houses are opposed
to extending the limit below twenty.
one.
Leaders Of both the Senate and th,
House were SO encouraged by progresl
made on war measures that they hopet
to bring about the midsummer reces,
sooner than they had planned, ant
also expected to be able to extend tn,
vacation time. Instead Of remaining i,
session until about July 10 and re
turning after three weeks to receive tn.
new revenue bill from the House Way,
and Means Committee, some leader
tonight thought Congress might finisl
pending business next week and hay,
a recess of six weeks until August 12
1t was agreed informally that III
effort would be made to pass the ap
priation bills this week, leaving cor,
ferencS reports and miscellaneous mat
ters for final disposition next week
either before or after July 4. The Sen
ate expects to vote on the army bill
Wednesday or Thursday, and then {,
take up the Notifications measure, til,
other big war appropriation bill nov
pending.