New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-09-02
TO BE KEYNOTE
OF HIS MESSAGE
Useless Army Posts and
Navy Yards Must Go,
1t Is Declared.
AXE TO BE RUTHLESS
President to Personally Urge
Senators and Representatives
to Stand by His Plan.
From n. Tribune Bureau.l


omy on appropriations for ordinary
needs and the looping off of needless
appropriations to provide a fund for
national defence will be the keynote
of President Wilson's recommended
tons 10 Congress, it was learned
from a close friend of the President
tonight. The President will not
merely convey this idea to Congress
in q message, but will personall@
urge this view on Senators and Rep
resentatives, and will strive in every
way in his power to have the pro-
gramme carried out.
With danger of serious trouble
with Germany apparently removed,
President Wilson, it was said au-
thoritatively, believes he can pro-
ceed with more freedom in the de-
velopment Of his national defence
plans. because there can be no sus-
picion that they are directed against
any particular nation.
The Presidents idea. it was said,
is TO prepare a programme for sew
eral years in advance. and in doing
so TO secure the expert opinion Of
army and navy officers who have
been watching military develop
ments in Europe.
1t is said the President will call
particular attention, if not IN his
messages. certainly in his confer
ences with the leaders who control
the destinies Of the appropriation
bills in both houses, to places where
the axe could be applied without
great distress, save to an interested
few.
Among these are many almost
useless army posts throughout the
West. Some Of these have been OIL
no value. it is pointed out, since the
days Of Indian fighting, but, due TO
the influence Of Senators and Repre-
sentatives, they are continued year
after wear, not only at cost to
maintain them, but causing troops
10 be kept there who ought to be
elsewhere. The political influence is
exerted partly because of local
pride and partly because Of the
money the officers and soldiers spend
in those sections. These are sched-
uled TO 90. it was declared tonight.
Useless Navy Yards May Go.
Then there are a number Of navy
wards which are of virtually no value
TO the country so far as maintaining
the efficiency Of the feet is con-
cerned. They are declared to be the
same kind Of monuments TO political
pull as the army posts mentioned.
Much money could be saved in this
direction. it is believed.
The President, it is asserted, also
thinks that great deal of economy
could be exercised in the expendi-
lures for rivers and harbors and for
public buildings. The two big ap-
propriation measures, carrying the
allowances for Federal buildings IN
cities and for river and harbor i'm
movements by the Federal govern
ment. are generally referred to as
the "pork barrel" measures. These
are to be cut to the bone.
II is the belief here that for the
frs. time in many years the recon-
,,erdations Of the General Board OF
the Navy will receive adequate con-
sideration. It is not improbable
that President Wilson, in shaping
his programme for an increase ,a IN
the navy, will be guided aii"0ss
wholly by the recommendations oi
the General Board
Senator Tillman, chairman u con. on
c.o.4s Naval Affairs Committee, con
ts,yed Mt length with the r'eSi''''
Continued on page 3, column