New-York tribune., 1919-06-12
Limit of Former Tentatively
Fixed at 100000 Men;
Daniels Estimate Pared
Down to 5000, 900, 900
War Wages to Continue
Personnel Fixed on Sliding
Scale From 24l 900 on
July l to I 10000 in 1920

WASHINGTON, June 1.-THE House
of Representatives to-day moved to
reduce the military programme asked
for by the Administration by cutting
the size of the army from 100000 to
100000 and reducing the navy personnel
by third, in both cases by withhold
ing appropriations.
Further reduction in the size of the
army to be maintained for the next
fiscal year was tentatively agreed upon
by the House in deciding to base ap-
preparations for pay and maintenance
on an army of 100000 men, instead of
100000, as recommended by the House
Military Committee.
The War Department had recon-
mended provision for an army of
100000.
The controversy over the army's size
was brought to a test vote when an
item of S28,6o5,oO for the pay of line
officers came up for consideration.
Representative La Guardia, Repubh-
can, Of New York, moved that it be
reduced to $2O,20O,00O, making it in
proportion to an army Of 100000 men.
After two hours debate the amend
ment was passed by vote of So to
81.
Supporters of the amendment con-
tends1e, that if provision were made for
100000 the War Department would
make no effort to carry on the de-
mobilization as rapidly as might be
possible.
Return of Troops Demanded
Representative Kearns (Republican)
of Ohio, asserted that people over the
entire country were demanding the re-
turn of the soldiers.
Representative Kahn, of California,
chairman of the Military Committee,
urged that the original estimates, based
on an army of 100000 men, be passed,
saying that it would be physical i'm
possibility to obtain lower average.
"On July L." he said "there probably
will be 100000 men still in the service,
and 100000 by August /. Thereafter
the decrease will be less rapid, and !
doubt that the number will fall below
100000 by the first of the year. By
the end of the fiscal year the number
will be reduced to 225,00O. Taking an
average for the year, it can be clearly
seen that it will not fall below 400 ,OOO'
Representative Dent, of Alabama
ranking minority member of the COM
mittee, said Congress was morally
bound to make ample provision for the
soldiers, and that this could not be
done "by blindly slashing the appropri-
ations."
In pursuance of the new Congress
sional policy of economy, the Naval
Affairs Committee has cut down the
estimates of appropriation submitted
by Secretary Daniels about one-third
The naval appropriation bill to be
reported tomorrow will carry approx
imately $600,000,000, which is $300,0Oo,,
900 less than the appropriations asked
by the Secretary and $780, 900 under
] the total carried in the bill as it was
passed by the House at the last ses-
sion.
The navy personnel is fixed at 241,-
900 from July to October l. $4,000
from October l to January /, 1920, and
10000 from January l to July /, 1920
The personnel of the Marine Corps is
fired at 27,400 for the full fiscal year
No new naval construction beyond
that already authorized is provided
for in the hill. The appropriation for
construction previously authorized
amounts to $133.O00,000.
Pay Fixed on War Scale
A permanent increase in pay OF en-
listed men, making the rate paid dur
ing the war continu, through times
Of peace, is authorized in the bill, and
an appropriations of $163,274,11o is
made for this purpose.
The proposal of Secretary Daniels to
divide the feet into two squadrons
one In the Atlantic and one in the Pa
cifc, was approved by the committee
and some appropriations were recon-
mended for new construction at naval
stations in the Pacific in conformity
with this policy.
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