The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-06-01
$12,0OO,0OO,OOO
NO LIMIT ARMY
BILL is PASSED
House Unanimous fOrGreat-
est Military Budget in
U. s. History.
SENATE WILL ACT NEXT
IongwOrth Criticises Lcwis's
Speech in Chicago as Be-
ing Exaggeration.
Special DespatcA to The Sun.


WASHINGTON, May 31.-Without q
dissenting vote the House passed to-
day the $l:,olc.ss:.ooo army appropria-
ton BILL the largest sum ever voted for
the military establishment. The bill now
goes to the Senate. The measure went
through on a rising vote. and when
Speaker Clark called for the noes he
looked all over the chamber and an
nounced amid loud applause
Not a soul has arisen in the mega
tive"
Just before passage of the nations
greatest army budget Representative
Garrett (Texas), Democrat. q mem.
ber Of the Military Affairs Committee.
praised the non-partisan spirit shown
in committee and in the House during
consideration OF the bill. and added
by taking this action tonight we
serve notice on the Kaiser that this
country is united to u man and that
we're going to get his scalp"
UnliniteA Draft Army.
Aside from its vast appropriations
the outstanding feature Of the army bill
i. the grant % unlimIted power to the
President to call out the man power OF
the nation within the limitations Of the
selective act draft ~ rapidly as men
can he trained and shipped to France.
Under this authority the President
may raise an army OF any size. and
the strength of the army is limited
only by training and transportation
facilities. Secretary Baker urged this
legislation. saying It would nave n
better psychological effect than even
an authorization for an army OF hve
million men. which was suggested as
substitute plan.
Debate on tho bill was expedited to-
day on promise of the House leaders
that after the passage Of the measure
the House would adjourn until Monday.
During discussion Of the bill Repre-
sentative Longworth (Ohio). Republi-
can, criticised Senator J. Hamilton
Lewis because of his Chicago speech.
asserting that a million Americans are
in France Mr.. Longworth said this
was a gross exaggeration." The OHIO
Representative did not mention Senator
Lewis by name.
"a member of another body" said MI.
longworth. 'is quoted as saying In .
public address that there are now .
million Americans In France. and that
,ne American army IL as large as the
British army.
II trust he has been misQuoted. for
statements like that tend to make the
American people believe that We are not
in as dangerous a situation as We really
are in. Nothing is worse than that.
Tendency to Exaggerate.
as not the statement made by the
War Department last year that thou
sands of our airplanes would be IN
France by July OF this year responsible
for this tendency to exaggerateT sug-
sssted Representative Kahn (Cal.) Re-
publican.
Precisely" replied Mr.. Longworth,
'and for that reason l am now critics.
Ing this continual tendency toward ex-
aggerat!on."
Representative caldwell IN. ~ OF the
Military Committee inter1ected that some
Republicans of Congress were too free
with criticisms.
Il am satisfied that by July T." said
Nj. Caldwell, I'VE will have 100000
men in France. and that they will be the
best fighters and the best equipped
hRnters IN Inc WorIo IhAnh N0u o'''
an optimist."
The House adopted an amendment to
the army bill which forbids the use OF
sop watch systems on Government work
paid for from the army budget. Sim
!ar legislation has been written into
army and navy bills for the last four
years
In adopting another amendment to tho
bill the House dealt what ia believed to
to death blow to the cost plus form OF
anS contract. Tho amendment. II en-
acted, means that all future army con-
tracts shall be for u definite sum.
The army bill carries Ss.6s3,oeo.oo In
round figures, and additional authorisa-
tons for the expenditure Of &s.%ts.-
100000.