The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-06-12
Two Big Fleets Of
Equal Strength
Naval Appropriation Bill Pro-
vides for Sis, 900, 900 for
Aviation.

Washington, Jun I1.-The~naval ap-
preparation bill for the fiscal year be-
ginning July / was completed by the
house naval affairs committee late to-
day. 1t will be reported out tomorrow.
Chairman Bitter stated that the plan
is to call it up in the house Friday.
The bill as il comes from the COM
mittee carries appropriation for strictly
naval totalling $500, 900. 900.
This is a cut of $500, zoe. 900 in the esti-
mates submitted by the navy depart
ment and is $50 r,. 900 less than the
amount carried in the appropriation bill
u hich passed the house and failed in
the senate during the last session.
There is an additional appropriation
Of s 1850 900 for completion Of Ave coast
guard cutters. this service having been
transferred from the treasury depart
ment to the navy during the war.
The enlisted strength of the navy 10
nxed at $4,000 from July I to Octo-
Der /; 1871 900 from October l to Janu-
airy j, ana f7o.ooo Tor the remainder 81
the year. This gives the navy an aver
age enlisted strength OF $4,000 for the
year. as against 225.ooo provided for in
the bill that failed last session
The enlisted strength Of the marine
corps 10 fixed At 21r4e6 for the whole
year. OF this number 17.4oo comprise
the permanent siren 9Th. which he not
CnAnkcu, anu lH.VVu ~ ~ pS -NAAAiD
in the temporary force for service
abroad a. long as needed.
Proportionate mum ers Of officers are
allowed for both the navy and marine
corps
The committee recommends that b
war pay Of enlisted men be made per-
manent. The pay average IL this
recommendation prevails. will be $3.50
instead Of $3.50 should the pre-war
n a~haIr1e Ia reEtCyed Tina AKRYe
gate of appropriations for par Is $780,
274,1lo. OF which s25, GOO 300 DIVERS the
increase recommended to be continued.
II the house adopts h recommends
tbs, OF the committed, ye~ornaAettes
and mxrinettes must lay aside their
uniforms and requirements OF war by
August /. The bill provides that all
members of the naval and marine corps
reserves. male and female, performing
duties Of q purely clerical character.
must be transferred to civil duty by
that date They will be paid at rates
corresponding to those paid to civilian
employees doing the same work. with
the limit Of $s.n0h a year for such re-
serves in the navy department in Wash
inGton.
There are e,447 of these ~reserve
who must be transferred. It is not
required that they be placed under the
civil service, but they must qualify and
he appointed In accordance with civil
service rules. They cannot be carried
on the payroll for longer than one year.
at the expiration of which time they
must come under the civil service.
A lump sum Of $4,000. 900 is provided
for the pay OF the reserves. The COM
mittee contemplated 4 gradual reduc-
ton in the force in deciding upon the
appropriation.
No mention Of the new three-year
building program Is made In the bill.
For continuing construction on the 1915
program appropriations totalling N53,-
600. 900 arc recommended.
The amount carried for aviation IL
al5.N0o, 600. Secretary Daniels asked
for s35, 600, 900 for this branch OF the
service. Under this section Of the bill
there II a provision requiring tho
secretaries of war and navy and the
postmaster-Eeneral to repcr to con-
Eress on the hrst day OF the regular
sc ssion in December on all the aircraft
and facilities they have in connection
with aircraft, in order that the COM
mtttee may have adequate Information
on which to base n permanent appro-
priation policy for the navy.
Another provision of the bill author
Tres the secretaries Of war and navy to
exchange without compensation surplus
material. including government owned
real estate.
In making the appropriations for
construction and maintenance of naval
stations the committee contemplated
the carrying out OF Secretary Daniels
announced policy OF keeping two fleets
Of equal strength in the Atlantic and
Pacific.
In providing for maintenance Of the
navy's radio work. the committee un-
derstood that the department would
continue Its control OF wireless opera
tions in the United States.