The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-02-21
G. 0. P. FIGHTS
PAPER NAVY
PROGRAMME
Refuse to Allow Disarma-
ment Plans to Paralyze
L. s. Defence.
CrRB SET FOR DANIELS
Military Appropriation Bill
Doomed-COnsular Meas
ure Contested.
CURB SET FOR DANIELS
Sp,c,ai Despotch TO THE suS.


wAsHlSGroN, Feb. 20.-A bitter and
relentless fight against the proposed
.paper navy programme" was assured
to-day in the. Senate when the sub-com-
mttee on the annual appropriation voted
+avorabiy on this part of the measure
nv a strictly party vote. The vote was
2 TO 2, with Senators Swanson. Pittman
and Lewis voting for the report OF the
elastic authorization to the President and
Senator'S Lodge and Penrose opposing 1t.
Under the authorization of this stu
p,ndous programme, the central feature
Of which was to have been ten capital
ships and ten scout cruisers of the larg-
est type, 1t had been provided that no
contracts were to be let before June 1,
1870 Also It had been set forth that
The establishment of any world plan for
peace disarmament features embodied
therein would ADMIT of curtailment or
virtual elimination of the whole pro-
rramme.
The language on this point follows:
IF at any time before the construc-
ton authorized by this act shall have
been contracted for there shall have been
established with the cooperation of the
United States OF America any tribunal
or tribunals competent to secure peace
full determination OF International dis
putes and which shall render unneces-
sary the maintenance of competitive
ornaments, then and In that case such
naval expenditure as may be inconsis.
tent with the engagements made by
The establishment of said tribunal or
tribunals may be suspended when sc
ordered by the President of the United
States, and TO contracts for the con-
sSuction OF vessels herein authorized
shall be entered into prior to June !
1890"
The Republicans to a man will COM
bat the granting to the President of any
such supervisory power over the increase
in the navy Not alone are the Senators
unwilling to be led into any situation
where the power of determination OF
military and naval strength shall be re.
moved from their hands, but they re-
sent deeply the use TO which the ultra
ambitious plans of Secretary of the Navy
Daniels for outstripping the world ir
naval construction were put or were
supposed 10 have been put at the Peace
Conference.
They will combat the measure by ar.
glment and will not hesitate to resort
- filibuster If the Democratic organi
sdtOn IN the senate snail present
united front or be insistent upon the re
ientlon of the modifying language re
ferred to above.
But the naval appropriation bill Is
By no means the only measure which II
Is known now is certain to be d.tched
IN the concluding fortnight of the pres.
ent Congressional session. The military
appropriation bill. through the action Of
the House in striking out the War De-
rartment's request for an army of $780,
900 men and reverting to the authorize
tol OF AN army Of only $4,000 men, al
IN the law passed in 1916. Is In jeop.
ardy. II mas to be redrafted and it /:
Utterly a useless measure in the pres
e1t emergency as II stands.
The diplomatic and consular bill will
mt be accepted by the Senate in II
resent form and there are filibuster!
or at least bitter battles ahead for tn,
oil land leasing bill and the river anC
harbor conference report IL the $1,000
appropriations for Senator Fletcher
pei measure, the iOcklawaha improve
ment remains in the bill. 1t is certain
row that the long promised tangle Il
q. hand