The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1918-02-15
A BILLION
DOLLAR BILL
The War Urgent Deficiency
Measure Reported
in House
OF KIND
I'm HISTORY
Debate on the Measure is to
Begin in Congress
To-day

washington, feD. l5.-& billion dollar
urgent deficiency appropriation bill, the
largest of its kind in the history of Con.
gress, although cut half billion from
original estimates, was favorably report.
ed TO the House yesterday by Chairman
Sherley of the appropriations committee
Debate on the bill, which provides for
the immediate needs of the war, navy
and other departments expected to
begin IN the House to-day.
In presenting the measure Chairman
Sherley made public testimony given to
the committee by department chiefs dur
ing committee investigation.
! Huge amounts were asked for various
military activities. Among these was
total of almost SSl ,000,0 900 to meet new
requirements for mountain. field and
siege artillery, guns mounted on tanks
and two plants, one in France, to fill pro-
| jectiles with gases. This is in addition
| to more than 81 900, 100000 already spent
and contract authorizations of S770,000,-
600 additional.
The testimony of Col. Amer of the
ordnance department said that the total
amount available for this purpose since
the beginning of the war under direct
appropria tions and contract authorize
tons was Sl,Sl8,000,000 of which amount
orders had been placed requiring ulti-
mate expenditure of 81 .252, 100000, leay
ing still available for contracts 1864 000,
900. He said the $l,8l6,000,000 was in
tended to supply ammunition, upon re-
vsed estimates of the quantities needed
for two million men, including the am
munition needed for the light trench
mortars.
Major General Pershing cabled strong
ly urging plant in France to enable
him to handle toxic materials properly
The point, as explained is to enable the !
use of trained personnel in handling |
gases in loading shells and bombs and |
enable the change of the character of |
gases to keep abreast of the developing |
phases of warfare" 1t is the intention |
to use certain toxic materials very ex-
tensiyely. "One of the raw materials
can be shipped as harmless stuff, no more
dangerous than lime, which by rela-
lively simple operation, can be convert
ed into one of the most poisonous min
erals known"
At the examination before the com
mittee. Chairman Sherley's report said.
General Wheeler of the ordnance bureau
brought out that the government had
an arrangement with the French to sup
ply artillery and ammunition to a Ger
tain number of American troops arriving
in France, but after these units had been
supplied the United States would fully
equip additional troops,
Americas resources. General Wheeler ,
testified. were sufficient to meet all war
needs with great contracts for ammuni ,
ion awarded Major General Squier
,hief signal officer, testified the signal
orps had spent or obligated all the $780, |
100000 appropriated to carry out its ,
leroplane program, and had incurred oh
igations that would equal 100000 900 /
n addition and might go beyond that, !
or the present fiscal year. He asked for
;277 1872 900 to obtain bombs for the :
eroplanes. liz
Discussing storage and shipping fa I
iities, General Goethals said approx /
nately $l00000,000 with authorization a
# S50,000000 more, was needed for stor
&c of quartermaster supplies along the {
eacoast, including huge amounts for va @
ious specific terminals. 5
Federal Food Administrator Hoover
aid the combined food and fuel admin A
STATIONS so far had had total appropria- q
ions OF $5,5l5,000 out Of which there u
ad been an actual expenditure of 81
SIS, 429 and there were now outstanding {,
bligations of $2,272,3s2, leaving 81 ,257,- Is
So balance He asked for $2,0OO,O00 {,
lore now. He said he and Dr. Garfield, a,
Ie administrator, were agreed that the y,
wo administrations should be separate II
He testified that the food administra- I,
on was directing the buying of $780, I,
10000 of foodstuffs a month for the
lies alone He referred to greatly in
eased food consumption in the United
tates and was not sure that the volun-
Try method of food rationing could con- B
nue..
Fuel Administrator Garfield denied to :
lie committee that he had advised peo- b
e not to buy coal last summer. He
.plained that what he advised was to
~ all the coal needed but not go into
e market to buy in excess of needs. 60
Provost Marshal General Crowder in
king an additional 100000 for draft y,
gistration and selection, testified that
ere was complete registration al Il
adv of aliens, including enemy aliens, on
tween Il and 81, and that on June ) =,
ere were 100000 aliens, not enemy ~
lens, between the draft ages of 2l and -