Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-02-14
Billion Dollars Asked in
Urgent Deficiency Appro-
priation Measure.
BIGGEST SUM EVER
ASKED OF CONGRESS
Nearly $s1 5000 Asked for Mountain,
Field and Siege Artillery, in Addi-
tion to Almost 1000, ,oco 900 Already
Spent and Contracts for Expendi-
lures Of $77e ooo, ,o00-Wilson Calls
for Investigation Of Contracts.

urgent denClency appropriation piit' 'he
largest of its kind in the history Of con-
gress, altho cut half billion from
original estimates. was favorably re-
ported to the house by Chairman Shir-
ley, OF the appropriations committee,
today.
Consideration Of the bill. which pro-
vides for the immediate needs OF the
war, navy and other departments, Is
expected to begin in the house tomor-
row.
Chairman Shirley made public testi-
mony given by party chiefs the past
month in committee Investigations.
Among the big amounts asked was
a total Of almost $4,000. 900 for noun
tain. field and siege artillery. in ad
dition to almost $1,000. 100000 already
spent and contracts for 377s.oO0,000 ad-
ditional.
The testimony Of Colonel Ames. Of
the ordnance department, was that the
total amount available for this purpose
since the beginning Of the war under
direct appropriations and contract au-
! ithoriEations was s1.s1s. 900, 900. of4hich
amount orders have been placed rer
quiring ultimate expenditures OF ST.
252, ,000 900, leaving still available for
contracts S564.000,000.
Huge Sum For Ammunition.
He said the 1856, 100000 was In
tended to supply ammunition upon re-
vised estimates OF the quantities needed
for 100000 men, including the am
munition needed for the light trench
mortars. He said the $S1.00O,O00 ad-
ditional Is asked as a result of n
change in the military program. in
cluding new requirements for a large
number Of shells, for ammunition for
guns on tanks, and s7.0o0.0o0 for
plant designed for the filing Of pro-
1ectiles with gas, and $4,000, 900 for
plant for the same purpose In France.
1t is planned to dispatch a complete
organization and equipment to France
to enable the American expeditionary
forces to meet the sudden shift in gas
warfare.
Chairman Shirley. in his report be-
fore the committee said General
Wheeler OF the ordance bureau brought
out that the government had an ar
rangement with the French to supply
'artillery and ammunition to a certain
number of American troops arriving in
| France but after these units are sup
piled the United States would equip
additional troops.
Aero Appropriation Exhausted,
General Wheeler testified American
ammunition was sufficient to meet all
war needs. Major General Suuier
chief signal officer testified the sig
nal corps had spent or obligated all the
$640, 100000 appropriated to carry ont
Its airplane program and has incurred
obligations amounting to 100000, 900
and may so beyond that in the pres
ent fiscal year.
Discussing storage and shipping IN
cilities. General Goethals said approx-
imately 500 100000 with authorization
OF $5O,000,O00 more Is needed for stor-
age OF quartermaster's supplies along
the seacoast including huge amounts
Tor various Pacific ports.
Directs Hogs Island Inquiry.
President Wilson today directed At
torney General Gregory to investigate
the much discussed HcSs leland shin
contracts. which have been adversely
criticized before the senate commerce
committee.
The president also directed the at
torney general to work in conjunction
with Chairman Hurley OF the shipping
board In his investigation. About
s42 100000 Of government money! has
been involved in the Hogg Island con-
tracts.
The Hogg Island ship yard on the
Delaware river near Philadelphia, is
planned to be the greatest In the
country with more than nifty ways on
| which, to lay down ships.
The American international corpor-
alton thru it's subsidiary corporation
the American International Shipbuild-
Ing Company has contracts for It's
construction and for shipbuilding there
for the emergency feet corporation.
Investigation by the department OF
commerce was recommended by Chair
man hHurley, OF the shipping hoard,
who asks that an assistant OF the NJ
torney general be sent to Hoeg Island
to work with Manager Bowles. Mr..
Bowles was put In active charge Of the
Yards recently.
Mr.. Bowles has been directed to put
the Nogg Island yards on an economic
basis, Shipping officials believe there