New-York tribune., 1919-06-30
Congress Expected
To Pass Army and
Navy Bills To-day
House Agrees to Increases
i'll Aircraft Appropria-
tions; Total Saving Esti-
mated at $780, 900, 900
Neao York Tribune
WQShiuOtO1l Bure0tt

4
WASHINGTON, June 29.-The House
and Senate tomorrow are expected to
approve the conference reports on the
army and navy appropriation bills,
which will save the army air service
from disntegration and enable the
navy to embark on its plans for devel-
opment of ighter-than-air pro-
gramme as recently outlined by Secre-
tary Daniels.
When the conference on the army
bill ended early this morning the con-
1errees had agreed upon giving army
aviation $40,000,000, instead of the S15,-
100000 originally appropriated by the
House. This decision, it is said, came
largely as the result Of testimony given
before the committee by aircraft ex-
perts, who declared this country has
not a single squadron of planes fit to
ny and not single first class plane
to show for the $1,500,0 100000 wartime
appropriation. 1t was largely in order
10 preserve, If possible, some of the
fruits OF war experience and remedy
this situation that the House confer
rees agreed to an increase
Aim to Save $5OO,0O0,O 600
Besides the agreement upon an army
OF $50 900 men, which is expected to
save $400,O00,000 over the War De-
partments programme, the conference
committee estimated that it saved $780,
100000 in limiting further purchases
Of land by the War DEPARTMENT.. The
House provision against this policy
was adhered to with two exceptions.
Camps and cantonments in use prior
to the armistice, it was agreed may
be bought where it has been found
more economical to buy them than to
pay rentals or damages Exceptions
n ar in
bought, or industrial plants purchased
or taken over by the government,
which are still considered necessary to
protect the interests of the govern
ment
The total appropriation for pay for
ENLISTED army men Of the line was set
at S93,386,650, with the provision that
pay due enlisted men shall not be with
held because service records showing
status OF pay accounts have not been
returned from overseas. 1t was pro
vlded that in such cases men should
De PAID upon their personal ahidavts
as TO the date of last payment and the
condition of their accounts.
Special Arms Extended
In continuing the several organiza-
tlons OF the army the conferrees de-
cided to continue the war chemical SER
vice, the tank corps, the motor trans
port corps and the air service until
June 80. 1920, under regulations in ef-
1cct at the time of the armstcc I'm
der the Overman act these branches
would nave gone out of existence auto
matlcally six months after peace.
Provision for pcrr.ittng the War
Department to sell motor cars, along
with other supplies. also was agreed
upon.
number of debated Increases was
lowed. The House appropriation Of
SlO,500 for vocational training under
the national defence act, for which the
Senate asked $5,000,00O, was increased
to 100000 The Senate figure Of
$4,000,000 for the reserve officers train
ing corps was allowed TO stand at $4,-
100000, against the House figure of
81 600 600.
Definite sindication Of the navy's in
tcntion to embark at once on an cx-
tcnsve experimental and building pr.
gramme with ighter-than- Graf. is
indicated in the itcmlzcd statement Of
naval appropriation allowances, when
are reduced to $25,O0O0OO, which is
$10,000000 under the minimum set by
Secretary Daniels.
Aircraft Plans Indicated
The largest single item is that If
$6,700,000 for continuing experiments
ana development work Tor all types OF
aircraft. In line with this appropria-
tion arc s3,7oo,0oo for construction Of
two large dirigib,e hangers on govern
mcnt land, $1,500,000 for construction
Of u dirigible, $2,5oo,ooo for purchase
abroad Of dirigiblc Of the latest type
$500 600 for conversion Of the collier
Jupiter, sister ship of the missing Cy
cop, into an airpldhe carrier, 800 600
for purchase abroad Of five special type
'r'nncs and $70O,000 for conversion Of
two merchant vessels into aircraft;
tenders.
In addition, s3o27,25o is allowed for
feet aircraft purposes; $3,o08,0O7 for
maintenance and operation of an air
craft factory, heium plant and air
craft stations; s618,000 for Marine
Corps advance base units; and for gem
eral and miscellaneous contingencies,
S2.H46,743.
reduction Of the navy personnel
to 100000 men was decided upon, with
proviso that the President may, il
sufficient emergency exists, increase
the total to 1871 900. A large number
Of ships will have to be put out of
commission, 1t is stated, II the force
is permanently reduced to the mini
mum fOurA