Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1919-02-12
ADVOCATES OF
BIC NAVY WIN
FIGHT IN HOUSE
Three-Year Building Program
Approved, 1874 to 142;
ReavIS Attacks Wilson's
Policy Of Secrecy.
Washington Bureau, Omaha Bee.


Washington Bureau, Omaha Bee.
Washington. Feb, ll,-(Speciai.)
Administration leaders in the
house won their fight for deelara-
ton BY congress Of a policy Of naval
expansion unless limitation Of world
armament is agreed upon at the
peace conference. After an all-day
debate, the house voted, 1914 to l42,
to approve the new three-year
building program Of 10 battleships
and 10 scout cruisers and imnedi-
ateiy afterwards adopted the entire
naval appropriation bill
The vote on the adoption Of the
bill was 28i to So As finally APP
proved the measure carries a total
Of S72l,000000 for the naval estab-
MISUNDERSTANDING the next fiscal year,
including $l70.000,000 for the unfn-
ished part of the first three-year
program adopted in 1916,
Adopted Special Rule.
The house adopted, 205 to l4S, a
resolution Of the rules committee
making the naval expansion policy
legislation in order, thus overcom-
ing parliamentary advantage gained
yesterday by Republican Leader
Mann. whose point Of order against
the program had been sustained by
Representative Garrett OF Tennes-
see, democrat, temporarily presid-
ing.
Neither the vote on the resolu-
ton nor that on final approval OF
the program was entirely on party
lines, but the republicans on each
roll cali cast the majority of OPP
position votes. One hundred and
twenty-five republicans, IA demo-
Gratis, ali independent a prohibition
list and a socialist voted in the mega
tive; l57 democrats, IS republicans,
an independent and a nonpartisan
voted. affirmatively.
While the rule putting into effect
the three-year building program, as
suggested BY the mysterious cable
gram from the president, was adopt
ed BY a substantial majority, the
speeches in opposition to the rule
were, at times, vitriolic in denuncia-
ton Of the hidden motives which
prompted the naval committee of
the house in reporting a bill carry
ing nearly $800,000,000.
Reavis Wants Facts Disclosed.
Representative Reavis. who is al
ways interesting, was particularly
effective today in his speech op-
posing the rule, among other
things saying:
II have never been an opponent
oil, aRavy adequate for the proper
protection Of American interests. !
favor permanent peace in the world,
but this is not a proposal that looks
for perpetual peace, but a proposal
which looks to a contest between
England and America as to which
shall be the most warlike upon the
sea. 1t is something absolutely out
Of sifarmohy with the avowed pur-
pose OF sthe United States when il
entered this contest, and out of hat-
mony with the wishes of the people
of America when the contest was
concluded.
"We are asked to authorize this
program upon cablegram spoken
Of in hushed terms, whispered
among the few permitted to see, not
a eablegram that gives the facts.
Before | would be willing to author
ize a program that taxes every indi-
y.dual in America $3.50 | want to
know the facts that justify it.
criticises League of Nations.
II wish the president would come
home. I have never been very
sympathetic with this league of ma
tons I do not believe the greatest
navy in the world is essential to
American life.
~ do believe we should have less
Of dreams and more of good, COM
mon horse sense in the administra-
ton Of the affairs Of this country.
We should close up the war and !
do not believe that before we have
done that we should be consuming
cur energy and time and creating
tremendous expenses preparing for
war with an ally rather than clos
ing rp a peace with an enemy"
Congressman Mondeil spoke
along similar lines, eharaeterizing
the efforts to put the capital ship
program through as paper guns Of
a paper-enlarged navy aimed at the
peace table"
Representative Good Of Iowa said
there was no need of trying to pull
the wool over the eyes Of Clemen-
eeau or Lloyd George for they can
see through the childish sham Of
bigger navy as quickly as anybody"
The Nebraska delegation divided
on The adoption OF the rule to make
the larger navy program part of the
navy. bill, Lobeck, Stephens and
Shallenberger voting for the rule,
Reavis, Sloan and Kinkaid against.