The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-02-11
HAVE LARGE BILLS
House Talks Navy Policy
Army Measure Due Next.
Wilson and Daniels Urge Adop-
ton of Three-Year Plan.
SMALL NAVY men ARE BUSY
Place the Big Armament Plan
in Precarious Position.
Say 1t VIII Be ''Paper Navy
Opposition Is Strong.

washington, RED l1.--W nile con-
sidering the large naval appropriation
bill. today the house faced second
great appropriation measure. the an
nuaI army appropriation bill which
was reported late yesterday by Chair
man Dent of the military committee.
The army bill carries appropriation
total s1.117,289,4 400 and provides
for temporary army of approximate
ly $1,000 officers and $4,000 enlist
ed men. 1t will be called up for con-
sideration as soon as the naval bill
is disposed of.
Chief features of the army bill in
clude provisions for a national guard
force of 106,200 men equipped and
supplied by the war department from
war stores-dual organization of the
divisions of cavalry, infantry and ar
tillery and the new units of aviation.
tanks corps, chemical warfare and
others; restoration of the war depart
ment to the bureau system ofIorgan.
ization instead of the general staff
plan; restoration of recruiting and
abolishment of distinctive stripes for
overseas or home service.
Wilson Has a Say.
Inclusion in the naval appropriation
bill of the new three year building
program urged by President Wilson
and Secretary Daniels, hinged today
on the action of the house committee
of rules. This committee at meet
ing called by Chairman Pou was to
decide on the point of order raised by
Representative Mann of Illinois. and
sustained by the presiding officer that
legislation providing for the expansion
program carried no appropriation and
therefore was not a legitimate part of
the bill.
Much debate followed Mann's sue
cessful fight and managers of the bill
moved adjournment rather than ac-
cept patched up building authorisa-
ton.
Today's moves as planned by sup
porters and opponents of the bill are:
House rules committee will meet to
consider reporting out special rule
making the provisions eliminated yes
terday in order.
If this rule is reported to the house,
the real fight on the naval bill will
come to the adoption of the rule.
If the rules. committee refuses the
rule managers of the bill will take it
back on the floor of the house, and
get the best they can by compromising
either with Republicans or with small
navy men on both sides of the cham
ber -tt...s ~
Opponents of the big navy were
planning to continue their denuncia-
lions of the measure as "a paper navy
and "a diplomatic bluff in the belief
that the longer they can delay vote
the weaker the case of big navy advo-
Gates grows.
Opponents Are Busy.
A combination of small navy men
with anti-administration forces today
had the administrators big navy
program in a precarious position in
the house.
Majority leaders who put the full
strength of their organization behind
the measure the minute it seemed in
danger, predicted, however, that the
big navy bill would go thru today
with a score or more of votes to
spare.
The battle, which began in the
house late yesterday and continued
today, broke after Republican Leader
Mann succeeded in having the provi-
sions for new three-year naval build
ing program ruled out of the naval
appropriation bill on aetechnical point
of order.
In Order to Save 1t.
To save the new three-year naval
building program from defeat thru a
parliamentary coup, the house rules
committee today ordered the report OF
rule making the legislation authoriz-
ing construction of ten battleships and
ten scout cruisers in order for house
consideration as part of the $780,
OU"'V"V iie1'eh opPioPt lotAOu olii
Champions and opponents of the ex-
pansion policy prepared for test OF
strength in the house. In considera-
ton of the rule a vote on the rule
was to be taken after two hours OF
debate.
No record vote on the rule wa.
! taken in the house committee but the
three Republicans preSent-RepreSen.
tatives Fess of Ohio. Smell of New
York and Campbell of kansas-sait
| they did not support the rule on tht
viva voce vote.