Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-02-14
BILL ASKING
FOR BILLION
UP IN HOUSE
Measure Providing Funds
for Immediate War Needs
Largest in History.

Washington, Feb. IA billion
dollar urgent deficiency appropriation
bill, the largest of its kind in the his
tory of congress, although cut a hall
billion from original estimates, was
favorably reported to the house to-
day by Chairman sherley of. the ap-
preparations committee. Consldera-
ton Of the bill which provides for the
immediate needs of the war. navy and
other departments is expected to be-
gin in the house tomorrow.
In presenting the measure Chairman
sherley made public testimony given
to the committee by department chlefs
during the past month of committee
investigation.
sS1,OOO,OO0 for Artillery.
Huge amounts were asked for var
ious military activities. Among these
was total of almost $S1 100000 for
mountain, field and siege artillery in
addition to more than 81 1000, 100000 al
ready spent and contract authorize
lions of $779,OO0,O00 additional. The
testimony of Colonel Ames Of the ord
nance department said that the tota!
amount available for this purpose
since the beginning of the war under
direct appropriations and contract au-
thorizations was S1,S16,000,00O of
which amount orders have been place l
requiring ultimate expenditure OF ST.
! S16,000,000 of which amount orders
have been placed requiring ultimate
expenditure of $1,252,0OO,000 leaving
still available for contracts 1854 ,O0O,-
900. He said the $1,S16,000, 900 Vas IN :
4 tended to supply ammunition, upon
revised estimates OF the quantities
reeded. for 1000, 900 men including the
ammunition needed for the light
trench mortars. He said the $S1 ,00O,-
600 additional is asked as the result
of change in the military program
including new requirements for a
larger number of shells. for munitions
for guns mounted on tanks and ST.
100000 for plant designed for the
filling of projectiles with gases, and
l$2,O00,000 for plant for the same pur-
pose to be erected in France.
Plant Needed in France.
Major General Pershing cabled
strongly urging a plant in France C
enable him to handle these toxic ma
terials properly. 1t is planned, ord
nance officers explained, to dispatch &
icomplete organization and eQuipmen
to France to enable the American eX
l peditionary forces to meet the suddel
! shift in gas warfare.
, sat his examination before the com
. mittee, Colonel Sherley's report said
General Wheeler of the Ordinance
bureau brought out that the govern
e ment had an arrangement with tn
: French to supply artillery and ammu
: milton to a certain number of Amer
n lean troops arriving in France bu
J, after these units are supplied tn
: United States would fully equip add
e tional troops. ,
Resources Can Meet Needs.
Americas resources, Genera
Il Wheeler testified, were sufficient
d meet all war needs. He asserted tn
II war department had billion dollar!
= worth of ammunition contracts.
Major General Squier, chief signs
officer, testified the signal corps ha
spent or obligated all the $640,000,0 Oh
appropriated to carry out its aeroplan
program. and has incurred obligation
that will equal S90,000000 in additio
\ and may go beyond that for the pre-:
ent fiscal year. He asked 277,732,0 (
, to procure bombs for the airplane
Discussing storage and shipping faci
80 titles General Goethals said approx
- imately $10O.00O,0o0 with authoriz:
- - ton of $50,000,0OO more is needed fl
~ storage of quartermaster suppl,
; along the seacoast including hug
- amounts for various specific terminal
" Hoover and CrOwder Ask Funds.
h Federal Food Administrator Hoov'
e. said the combined food and fuel a.
ministrators so far have had total a.
er propriations Of s5,515,000 out Of whit
IL there has been an actual expenditu
as Of $1,985,429 and there are now GU
r. standing obligations Of $2,272,3S3, lea
ly ing $1,257,950 balance. He ask
is 100000 more now. s
Id Provost Marshal General Crowde
IL in asking an additional 100000 Fl
draft registration and selection, tie
titled that there is complete regi
filtration already OF all aliens, includiI
enemy aliens between q and 30 al
! that on June there were 10000
:. aliens--not enemy aliens-between t