Salt Lake Tribune | 1915-08-06 | Page 3 | President to Meet Committee Heads

PRESIDENT TO MEET COMMITTEE HEADS Wilson Will Confer With Congressional Chairmen on Defense Plans. CORXTSH, X. H., Aug. 5 With the object of developing- a broad and convincing con-vincing programme of national defense which will meet with the approval of congress, President Wilson is planning to co-operate with the chairmen of the military and naval affairs committees of the senate and house, as well as with Secretaries Garrison and Daniels of the war and navy departments, before be-fore finally deciding on the recommendations recom-mendations he will make in his next message to congress. The president told friends that while he had made no definite plans for consulting con-sulting with the chairmen of tho committees com-mittees interested in the question of national defense, he would arrange to see them before congress convenes, in order to unite on a single programme of action. When the president sees the chair-ment chair-ment of the four committees he expects ex-pects to have before him the reports now being prepared by Mr. Garrison and Mr. Daniels. The heads of the war and navy departments are expected ex-pected to take part in the conference or series of conferences In order to explain personally their recommendations. recommenda-tions. The president already has written to Chairman Padgett of the house' naval affairs committee, inviting him to meet, him on Mr. Wilson's return to Washington. Although he did not say tonight whether he had written similar letters to the chairmen of the other committees, it was reported that he had done so. The president believes the time has come for the United States to decide on a definite programme of national defense?., and is anxious that as little friction as possible develop over the question when it is presented to the houses of congress. He will not decide de-cide in his own mind ou the kind of programme required until he has thoroughly thor-oughly examined the reports of Mr. Garrison and Mr. Daniels and has received re-ceived the views of congressional leaders. Through the chairman of the military mili-tary and naval affairs committees of the two houses of congress the president presi-dent expects the members of these committees to give and receive ideas before the appropriation bills, containing contain-ing army and navy items, come up for discussion. The plan of the president is to consider con-sider carefully n programme of national defense after free consultation with others, and then to throw the entrre weight of the administration behind the policy agreed on.