The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-06-07
REPUBLICANS IN
HOUSE PUT AXE
INTO ARMY BILL
Committee Votes to Slash
Baker Estimate Almost
$4OO,OO0,OOO.
HE ASKED ST, 900, 600
Navy Measure to Be Cut in
General Campaign of
Economy.
HINES MAY BE REBUFFED
Party Leaders Favor Smaller
Initial Payment to Meet
Rail Deficit.
HINES MAY BE REBUFFEI
Special DespatcA TO TIE Sun.

WASHINGTON. June 6.-Coincident
with the warning given by the Repub-
lican Steering Committee Of the House
to all committees that economy Is to
be the watchword and that all appro-
priations must be cut to the bone, the
House Military Committee reduced the
army appropriation bin from s1,117,-
100000 asked by Secretary Baker to
between 500. 100000 and $500, 900, 900,
cut Of almost $400, 900, 900.
It is expected this will be followed by
the House Naval Committee making a
big cut In the naval appropriation bill.
1t IL known that members OF this
committee plan to reduce the person.
mel Of the navy by about $4,000 from
the 100000 recommended by Secretary
Daniels.
| Members of the Steering Committee
intimated to-day that within O few days
billie would come out Of the Ways and
Means Committee to eliminate some Of
the so-caIled luxury and other obnoxious
taxes Of the new revenue laws, which
Will reduce the revenues Of the Govern
mcnt by about $3.50. 200. 900 Such be-
ms the case. the members Of the COM
nittee feel that this is no time for some
other committee to increase appropr,a-
items. since there 10 little chance of maxi
Ing UP this reduction in revenues by tie
imposition Of other taxes.
May Cut Rail Bill.
Although the appropriations commit.
teo 10 impressed with the need Of COM
ing to tho aid of the Rsfifoad Xdnin.
istrRtion X - not probable that Il will
give Director Genefnf Hines the ST.
100000 he has asked. They believe
that not all of this amount 10 needed
! At once and that with Congress in ses-
sion all summer II will not be difficult
! to Increase whatever appropriation Is
made should II, become necessary.
Another big measure Is the Sundry
C:vl Bill which carries an appropria-
ton Of about $S50.0o 1000. Republi-
can leaders plan TO pare 1t in all direc-
tions and are hopeful that they will
surprise the country by the millions they
VIII chop from all the measures before
they are passed.
asked by Secretary Baker the Military
| Committee OF the House reduced the
sise Of the Army from the sos, 900 men
proposed by the Secretary to 400, 900
Tho committee did not attempt to e.
tablish the size OF the army perman-
entity but will take that question up in
| December.
The bill just finished in committee will
be reported TO the House tomorrow and
Representative Kahn (California) chair
man OF the committee, expects to call
II up Tuesday and hopes to put It
through by Thursday night 1t Is es-
sential that the bill be passed before
July-l SO that soldiers discharged after
that date may be paid which. Mr.. Kahn
said tonight, would not be possible
without this legislation.
The action of the committee was
| unanimous so far as the committee
members who attended hearings are con-
ceTned. and 1t is not regarded as prob
able there will be much opposition on
the floor. although in all big bills there
are many criticisms voiced of the COM
nittee work done on II.
| I'VE are reporting the BILL" said Mr..
Kahn. providing for an average army
OF 100000 men with proportionate
number of officers. The War Department
asked for an army OF sos. 900 and the
proportionate number of officers-about
$4,000. This bill will reduce the num-
Der OF officers to about $1,000.
BiE Army Unnecessary.
THE committee felt that at the rate
the troops are being brought back from
Europe and demobilixed as large an
army as was proposed when the bill was
passed at the last session Is not neces-
sAry. At the beginning OF July there
will be about 1,000.0 900 men In the army
in Europe and this country. and IL they
are brought back from Europe at the
rate Of 100000 a month. as the War De-
partment indicates. by the first OF Sep
tember tho number will be reduced to
900. 900.
From then on It win DO reduced to
the 225, 900 men provided in the national
defence act. with l75. 900 combat troops
and $4,000 auxiliary troops. Even II
demobilization Is not 80 rapid as has
been indicated by the Department such
q situation Is amply taken care of in
the bill. We feel we have saved the
taxpayers a substantial sum"
] Mr.. Kahn said the principal cut was
made in the item for troop transporta.
ton reduced from the 344s. .o0o, 900 asked
for to $242. 1000, 900. Large cuts were
made also I'm items for subsistence and
for regular supplies