Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1919-07-04
$886,127,848
BILL FOR ARMY
Average Strength 100000 for
1920, With Final Figure
of 322,O98.
LAND BUYING IS STOPPED,
More Land Deals Forestalled-House
May Compromise on $4,000, 900 as
Budget for Aviation-Strength
\ of Army s22,oss.

Washington.-The senate passed the
army appropriation bill providing 1885,
127,S4S for the expenses of the military
establishment during the coming hscal
year. The senate had voted the re-
duction of the gross amount by 5000
600 in the course of the tendency OF
the measure in the upper house.
Under the terms Of the enactment
the average strength of the American
army during the year 1919-192O will be
approximately 100000. Starting with
an army of 1,O39,OO0 on July 1 the re-.
duction will be rapid until October l.
when the numerical strength will be-
come fixed. The following tabulation
shows the rate of speed in reduction OF
the military force:
July 1................. l,o'''''"
July 81. ................ .1o' o,o
August 81. ......... .....'' 1S'-
Sept 80. 322,O!H
The final figures, 32209S, will be the
strength of the army for the rest OF the
year and thereafter unless specifically
provided by the new legislation.
The REPETITION of such performances
on the part of the war department as
disclosed in the course Of the DEBATE
with reference to the unauthorized pur'
chase of more than 100000 worth OF
land in Georgia for new school OF
small arms practice has been provided
against in the bill as passed by the
senate. The bill specifically prohibits
the war department from engaging H.
any new ventures Of this sort without
specific authority and provides that
only where the expenditure of funds TO
complete projects already authorized
and begun is necessary shall the de-
partment exercise its own Judgment
The army bill will Immediately go to
conference and Senator 'Wadsworth
On. ", chairman of the Military Com
mittee, expects to rep t an agreement
back to the senate before the end OF
the week that the engrossed bill may
be ready for the Presidents signature
Immediately upon his return from
Europe.
Continued opposition to the senate
amendments increasing the size of the
army to 100000; increasing the appro-
priation for aviation from S15,OO0,O00
to $50 100000 and permitting purchases
of grounds at Camp Meade and other
environments will be made by the
house, it was announced by chairman
Kahn (Cal.) of the House Military At
fairs Committee. He indicated, how
ever, that the house conferees might
be willing to compromise on S3o,0OO,-
600 for aviation. The house conferees
are expected to be in addition to Chair
man Kahn, Representative Anthony
(Kan) and Dent (Ala.)
"The chairman Of the Senate Com
mittee on Military Affairs" said Mr..
Kahn, Suggested in debate that an
average army of $4,000 would bring
our military force during the fiscal
year 1920 down to 225,000. This Is
exactly in accord with the maximum
figure of the national defence act
favor bringing the armed force down
to the number allowed by this law
until we have entirely reorganized the
army"
Regarding compromise on the avi-
alton item, Mr. Kahn said:
81 am in favor of such an appropri-
alton as will enable us to keep up our
experiments and maintain an efficient
nucleus for fighting personnel. I
do not think, however, that at this time
when our entire army is yet to be re-
organized we should proceed to expend
money unreasonably in favor Of one
branch Of the service at the expense
Of any other"
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