New-York tribune., 1919-02-11
W ilson's Navy
Plan Held Up;
Called a Bluff
Continued from page 1

mentary moves made by Chairman
Padgett of the Naval Affairs Commit
tee left the matter still pending before
the House at adjournment, ard it is
considered probable that a special rule
will be reported tomorrow making pos
sible a direct vote of the House on it's
Incorporation in the bill.
An attempt to evade the ruling of
the chair on the amendment by adding
an appropriation of $4,000 900 for the
building of ten battleships and ten
scout cruisers, made by Chairman Pad
gett, was similarly stricken out on a
the section of the bill still included
the Objectionable limitation which
brought 1t within the rule of new leg
islation. The chair similarly sustained
this point of order.
The limiting clause placed in the
bill at the request of President Wilson
reads
IF at any time before the construc-
ton authorized by this act shall have
been established, with the cooperation
of the United States of America, any
tribunal, or tribunals, competent to Sc
cure peaceful determination of interna-
tlOnal disputes, and which shall render
unnecessary the maintenance of com
petitive armaments, then and in that
case such naval expenditures as may
De inconsistent with the engagements
made by the establishments of said
tribunal or tribunals may be suspend
ed when so ordered by the President
of the United States, and no contracts
for the construction of vessels herein
authorized shall be entered into prior
to February l, 1920"
Blocked twice in his attempt to Sc
cure adoption of the Presidents pro-
posal, Chairman Padge6t succeeded in
keeping the proposal before the House
by introducing second amendment ap-
proprating $2,000000 for the building
programme, minus the limitation car
sentative Miller, Republican, of Mime
sofa, amended this to read S21O 900 900,
and before the House could act upon
these amendments adjournment was
forced by Chairman Padgett.
Mr.. Padgett made it plain that the
temporary hating Of the Presidents
three--year building programme would
not deter him from making further
fight on behalf Of the proposal to-
morrow. Mr.. Padgett will ask the
House Rules Committee tomorrow
morning for special rule making the
section in order in the naval bill. 1t
is believed, however, that the House
will defeat the proposal unless Presi-
dent Wilson openly reatfirms his ad-
vocacy of the proposition, stating his
reasons frankly.
Representative Johnson, Republican
of Washington, during the debate, de-
clared it was high time Congress put
q stop to the Presidents dictation of
legislation.
Un Cow, Ho Mocen~o
II am one of the members of the
House who have read the telegram Sec
retary Daniels sent to the President
regarding this naval BILL" said Mr.
Johnson. "and the reply of the Presi-
dent. Unfortunately, the Presidents
cahlegram as couched in such terms
that it cannot be made public, but the
general tenor has been made public.
"The telegram of Secretary Daniels
was nothing but polite invitation for
the President to help this bill through
cablegram was couched in such terms
an attempt to comply with that re-
quest. 1t is time we put stop to this
kind of dictation.'
eve are putting the cart before the
horse" said Representative Wood, of
Indiana, "if we authorize an increase
in the navy now. The navy programme
snOulu pc maze TO III Jne peace pro-
gramme, and now we do not know what
will be done over there. One thing the
people of the country and of the world
are interested in is the conclusion of
peace, and the greatest service the
President can perform for the world is
to get down to brass tacks and do the
work that the peace conference has as
sembled to do"
''Is the House asked to vote for a
navy or for threat" asked Repre-
mo threat is implied in any part of
this bill" replied Mr.. Padgctt.
Quoting Colonel Roosevelt, Repre-