The Washington herald., 1918-03-15

VOTEDFOR NAVY
BEATS RECORD
Is Largest Appropriation
Ever Approved in
One Bill.
BIG SUM FOR FLYING
President Wilson Is Given
$780, 900, 900 to Spend on
Defeating U-Boats.

Americas sea fighters are to be
backed next year with the biggest
supply Of money ever voted them.
The naval appropriation bill. finally
approved by the House Naval Az
fairs Committee yesterday. carries
s., SIS, ,oOO. 900, the largest single naval
measure ever proposed.
Although this is less by s30O. 900. 900
than last years total naval appro-
priations, they came in four separate
bills. Others are excepted to come
this year.
The surprise of the bill was a $780,
COO, 900 lump sum given President Will
son to dispose OF as he may see fit
on an anti-submarine program.
I'VE did not wish the country's 5
enemies to known our building pro-
gram, SO we simply appropriated 800,
OO0, 900 for small craft. and left 1t to
the President to spend the sum as
he saw fit" said Chairman Padgett.
The only Limitation is that it be
spent on torpedo boat destroyers,
submarine chasers and such other
naval small craft and for each and
every purpose connected Herewith as
the President may direct"
To Push 3-Year Program.
Direction is also given in the bill
for the completion Of the next three
years building program at once. in
cluding one battle-cruiser, three bat
tleships. three scout cruisers, nine
feet submarines, two fuel ships, one
transport. one destroyer tender, one
ammunition boat and one gunboat.
Construction of these has been held
up by the difficulty iu getting ship
yard space. The navy. therefore,
Is authorized to continue greatly en-
larging all its navy yard plants.
Personnel of the navy is ordered in
creased from 10000 to 22S,0oo, and the
Marine Corps from 5000 to 5000
Promotions in both the Marine
Corps and the navy are assured by
authorizing one new major-generaI-
ship OF Marines, thre temporary
brigadier generals, twelve temporary
colonels and twelve temporary lieu
tenant-colonels. To the navy are
added 80 Iieutenant-command
have, 1t is understood. command of
small craft.
Millions In Naval Aviation.
For naval aviation. S1sS,OoO,0OO was
authorized-which will more than
treble the present equipment other
large appropriations are: Reserve ord
nance supplies. $5O.0Oo.OOO; new bat
teries for navy, $4s,30e53o; ammuni-
ton. $39. 25S. .1s0; ordnance and ordnance
stores, $24,194.045.
Clothing and rations appropriations
are the largest in history.
Appropriations for various navy
yards are:
Charleston. S. c., a drydock, uIti-
mate cost to he $4,000 and present
appropriation. S,l50.0OO; dredging from
the drydock to deep water. 5000 OOC
for the whole job and 100000 appro-
priated for present year. The two
smaller appropriations are expected
! to keep the jobs moving until the 1874
bills are drafted. The dredging is to
be for a 4OO-foot channel. The dry
dock and dredging items are tied,
so that If the dredging proposal is de-
feated in either House. the dry-docK
will be withdrawn by the committee
Philadelphia, $2,1O0OOO.
Norfolk, Va, S2,9OO.OOO.
Mare Island. Cal. 100000 for struc-
tural shop; 10000 for dredging; $780,
! 900 for power plant.
| Boston. $4,000.
Port Royal. S. c.. $4,000.
New Orleans, $4,000.