The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1919-02-12
NAVAL MEASURE
THROUGH HOUSE
BY BIC MARGIN
Carries Appropriation Of
$721,O00, ,00O-Twenty
Great Fighting Ships.

WASHINGTON. Feb. ll.-Adminis-
tration leaders in the house tonight won
their fight for a declaration BY congress
or L policy of naval expansion unlcs,
Limitation of world armament is agreed
upon at the peace conference. After All
all day debate the house voted 1874 TO
AZ to approve the new three year build
ing program OF ten battleships and tell
scout cruisers and Immediately after
wards adopted the entire naval appro-
priation bill.
The vote on the adoption oc the bill
was PSI to SO. AS finally approved. the
measure carries total. OF i"1,00O,O
for the naval establishment during the
next fiscal year including s1Ts,o00.0ou
for the unfinished part Of the first
three year program. adopted in 1916.
During the day the house adopted by
vote Of EOS TO 1iS dissolution OF tho
rlues committee making the naval eH-
pansion policy legislation in order thus
overcoming u parliamentary advantage
gained yesterday by. Republican, Leader
Mann. whose points OF order against the
program had boon sustained by Repre-
sentative Garrett. OF Tennessee. Demo-
crat who was temporarily presiding.
Not on Party Lines.
final approval OF tho program were
strikingiy similar. Neither was entirely
on party lines, but the Republicans on
each roll call cast the majority of the
votes in opposition. On formal approval
Of the program. l25 Republicans. with
Il Democrats, an independent u Pho
hibitionist and a Socialist voted in the
negative. while l57 Democrats with 50
Republicans. an Independent and non
Partisan cast. affirmative votes.
Except for one minor amendment. the
building program Legislation was adopt
cd by the house as drafted by the naval
committee. The amendment. by Repre-
sentative Humphreys. OF Mississippi,
Democrat provided that no construction
authorized under the program could be
started before Juno I, 1920, instead OF
February l, 1920, as provided by the
original bill.
A legislative rider inserted in the
house forbids the navy department from
buying wireless stations or paying for
those already purchased out OF funds
carried in the new bill. This amend
ment was adopted after action of tae
department in purchasing stations ano
ship sets from the Marconi wireless and
Federal Telegraph companies during the
war had been criticized.
Opposed to "Bluff."
Opposition to the new building pro-
gram as voiced again to-day by Repre-
sentative Mann and other Republicans
and Democrats. conferred upon the COM
plant that no declaration OF policy
should be made as "a bluff" designed TO
influence the peace conference. Sup
portcrs replied that President Wilson
had asked for the declarations and that
the policy would be carried out II the
peace conference did not agree TO liH1ita-
ton Of world armament.
Representative Moore. of Pcnnsylra-
MIA, said the question 10 be decided wa.
not whether the house was for OF
against a large navy. but whether it was
for or against the people, who had to
Day the bills. while Representative
johnson, OF South Dakota. asserted that
The time had come for congress TO adopt
another declaration Of independence and
free Itself from the mastery OF tho
President.
Representative Mccullough, OF Ohio,
said congress still felt the sting OF the
executive whip, but that the tino had
not arrived for emancipation" for until
the peace conference had completed It's
work the President should DO accorded
complete support.