The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-02-11
WILSON'S Big NAVY
BLOCKED IN HOUSE
&. q. P. Leader Wins Point Of
Order That Veto Clause
- Is New Legislation.
LEGISLATORS SEEK LIGHT
Will Demand Full Facts as to
Famous Fatal to Ny
Negotiations" Cable.
Apec;oi Despotch to TIE suS.


WASHINGTON, Feb. 10.--Representative
James b. Mann (Ill). minority leader.
threw n monkey wrench to-day into the
Legislative machinery, which was grind
ing out n three year naval programme
under cablcd orders from the trans
planted White House in Paris. Mr..
Mann made n point OF order against
the naval building programme because
IL vests In the President discretion to
put the authorization into effect or not.
This feature, Mr.. Mann insisted, con-
stitutes new legislation which under
the House rules cannot be carried in an
appropriation bill.
Representative Garrett (Tenn). pre-
siding. sustained the point OF order. and
finally the naval appropriation bin was
temporarily Get aside pending n special
rule which Chairman Padgett of the
Naval Affairs Committee will try to OBJ
tain tomorrow morning from the Rules
Committee.
Senate Republican leaders are deter
mined that II II shall transpire in tho
Aouse that the proposed rule is adopted
by the House and provision for the
500, 100000 blum naval programme Is
retained in the appropriation bill, that
when the measure reaches the Senate
they will sift TO the bottom the facts
regarding the application of Presden-
tial pressure toward the Incorporation
OF the vast authorizations. The Repnb-
leans are ready to fight for complete
publicity with regard to the full text OF
President Wilson's famous cablegram 10
Secretary Daniels, In which tho phrase
fatal to my negotiations was en-
ployed
For the Senate to take up the fight
where the HOUSE Republicans may be
compelled through circumstances to drop
II means that the naval approprint ton
bill may become the obstacle to further
legislation at tho present session.
Presidents Reasons QuestIoned.
The action OF Representative Mann
was with a view OF forcing a test OF sin
cerity in regard to the Presidents rea-
sons for desiring the authority but not
the direction TO embark on the MAN.
moth building programme outlined, and
with the further purpose Of purgfns
House Republicans OF the charge that
they played a part in putting this wea-
pom in the hands of the President to be
used during his negotiations abroad.
Those who showed the strongest SYM
patty with tho point of order insisted
that II the President believes big navy
try there is no reason why the money
should no: I've voted and the work begun
without leaving any one 4 final and fu-
ture veto power over il. On the other
hand II the need for this big increase
il 80 problematical as to necessitate
vest!ng the President with the -discre-
tionary powers carried IN the objection
able proviso the part OF window would
he to postpone action until the s!tua-
ton clears
The effect of parliamentary deadlock.
which WAS n complete surprise TO the
men in charge of the bill. was TO bring
about u complete showdown that may
cost the bill "a number of votes While
Chairman Padgett, after being twice
ruled out on attempts to keep the pro-
niso in the bill. offered an amendment
calling for the ten capital ships and ap-
propriating 100000 for their con-
struction-the actual cost OF the ships
would be In the neighborhood OF $500
o0o.o00--this amendment was offered
only 10 gain time, and the bill was
temporarily laid aside before the
amendment could be acted upon.
Basis for Fight Over BiII.
The proyiso agains. which the nght
IL being waged reads:
'If at any time before the coustruc-
lion authorized by this act F!all have
heen contracted for there shall have
been established with the cooperation Of
the United States Of America any tri-
bunal or tribunals competent to secure
peaceful determination Of International
disputes and which shall render neces-
sary the maintenance of competitive
ornaments then and in that case such
naval expenditure as may be inconsistent
with the engagements made by the es-
tab!.shment Of such tribunal or tribunals
may be suspended when so ordered by
tho President OF the United States and
nc contracts for the construction OF ves-
ssis herein authorized shall be entered
into prior TO February !. 1920"
SThe Rules Committee will take I'D
Padgett's request for "a special rule at a
meeting tomorrow morning, The rule
pSobabk will be reported. though there
iyliN(E TO be determined fight against
III TIN real test in the House will be
on the adoption OF the special rule