Bisbee daily review. [volume] (Bisbee, Ariz.) 1901-1971, 1919-02-05
ON IN
HOUSE OVER
DEMAND FOR
BIGGER navy
Report That President Said
Failure to Adopt Plans
Would BE Fatal to My Ne
gotia6ons, Brings Clash

CFy Review Leased VIrel
WASHINGTON. Feb. A-DiSclOSure
in the house today by Chairman Pad
gett oe the naval committee. that
President Wilson, IN q oablegram last
week 10 Secretary Daniels. insisted
that congress adopt the new three
year naval building program was fol-
lowed by futile efforts CT. republican
members 70 obtain the text of the
message.
Rep esentative Padgett said the
presidents cabIesram VAS responsible
for the committees unanimous recon-
mendatiOn of the construction of 10
dreadnaughts and 10 scout cruisers,
carried ii the new S750.000.000 navaI
appropriation bin, consideration of
which was begun today in the house.
Mr.. Padsett refused TO make public
the text of the message on the ground
that questions Of foreign policy were
involved in its contents.
''The president was very inSistent
that the thUee year program should
be carried out, declared Mr. Padgett.
IN substance the president stated
nothing hSd occurred over there 10
change his recommendation, bur said
if there were developments in the way
CT tribunals for disarmament and a
league of nations he would be willing
a prOviSO should be inserted to allow
him so discontinue the program
Bill is Criticized
Only enc member OF the house Op-
posed the proposed naval expansion
during the debate today Represents.
tive KuddlestOn of Alabama. criticized
the bill as representing a policy of
Imperialism that would saddle the
country with burden Of militarism.'
and would lead 10 another war. Rep
resentative GillCtt OF Massachusetts
asked if the message said tbat the fsiI-
ure OF the bill would Ee fatal 10 my
negotiations" and said he regarded
such language as '-intimating the Uni
ted States had only one negOtiator
over there
THAT is not accurate" answered
Mr.. Padgett.
Refuses to Answer
Pressed by Representative Rogers
Of Massachusetts, republican, who ask
ed if the word fatal was used. Nr.
Padgett said he would have TO be 'eN-
cused from answering as the words
that were or were not IN the presl-
dents cable" and added that he
would mot affirm or deny any word
in the 'cablegram.
Representative Butler Of PennSyl-
vania, the ranking republican member
of the naval committee. said he did
not believe the passage OF the bill
would help the United States in Eu-
rope. He explained he had voted fOr
the program in committee because he
/ did net want 10 do or say anything
I that VIII embarrass any of our peO-
+ pie in their attempt TO make a peace
F; that viii settle down this world for
ever"
/ Representative Mann of Illinois, the
+ republican leader. said he did not be-
lieve Mr.. Padgett would be warranted
( in revealing the text OF the message,
but he asked about reports that the
cable said the failure of authorizing
the program would be fatal to my
negotiations
Mann GriIls Padgett
Mr.. Padgett replied that all of the
words were not used
What the country wants To know,
said Mr. Mann. q" is whether congress
is asked 10 vote blindly, without in
formation. without knowledge. with
cut the laying of the cards on the
table. as has been frequently suggest
ed by the president on an immense
naval program when the information
which would influence congress Is
right here in Washington and the ad
ministration refuses to take congress
into its confidence"
Mr.. Padgett protested that he had
informed the house fully of the con
tents. but Mr.. Mann replied by saying
that Mr.. Padgett is not the admin
istratiOn.