The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1920-03-13
Appropriation Bill
to Garry Nearly
| Half a Billion
To Meet Secretary Dam
iel's New Construction
Program for the Navy.

WASuIuEtCHt ndFCn lL.--1HS lS4t
naval appropriation bill to be re-
ported cut next week will carry ap-
preparations aggregating between
s405, 100000 and 100000, 90. accord
ing to reductions made today by the
subcommittee of the house naval af-
fairs committee framing the bill
This is cut at about $1s5,00o,-
600 in the revised estimates sub
mitted by Secretary Daniels. The
various bureaus in the navy depart
|ment totalled 800. 900, 900.
OF the amount to be recommended
in the bill ABOUT $T2,000.o00 will be
for continuation Of construction on
the 1916 building program. Because
OF this large expenditure and in view
of the Republican drive for economy
all along the line, members of the
committee explain they do not feel
Justified in authorizing any new con-
structfon. All the ship yards in this
country, they say, now have as much
work as they can handle and to crowd
them with any more would simply
promote inefficiency and waste
NEW PROGRAM.
Secretary Daniels had recommended
new construction program embrac-
ing thirty-eight ships which he said
were necessary to round out" the
cruisers. six mine-laying light cruisers.
ten fiotiila leaders. six fleet sub
marines. four airplane carriers. one
destroyer tender, and one submarine
tender.
The permanent strength of the en-
listed personnel in the navy was fixed
at $4,000, and in the marine corps
27,4o0. These figures represent the
temporary strength Of both services
n ~. IT,, a..
mendations of Secretary Daniels and
Major General Barnett, commander of
the marine corps The pre-war en-
listed strength of the navy was sc, 900
and between f6, 900 and II 900 for the
marine corps
As the number OF officers in the two
services il regulated on a basis Of four
percent OF the enlisted strength, s..
IT2o, officers will be authorized for the
navy and 1896 for the corps
Only one Of the bases recommend
ed by secretary Daniels for immediate
development on the pacific coast will
be provided for in the bill according
to an agreement reached by the sub
icommittee- This will be a submarine
base at Astoria. Oregon. at the mouth
Of the Columbia River
KOR ECONOMY.
The necessity for economy caused
the COMMITTEES 10 turn down the secre-
| tar's recommendations for a great navy
yard and base at San FRANCHISES. IN
lAuxiftary base ~ san Diego. ana sub
tmarfne hases II Los Angeles and Port
lAnEeles. wAshn.
This. estimated cost of the submarine
base At Astoria is 1850. 600. The
| bill will carry $2st.eee to begin work
The appropriation asked for improve
ments at the naval station in Pearl
HArbor, Hawaii. will he cut in two,
lit was learned
| Secretary Daniels has urged the i'm
mediate development Of a great avia-
ton. submarine. destroyer and sup
ipiy base at this point. He also wants
marine railway. repair shops and
lother improvements declared neces-
sary for full use OF the mammoth dry
dock now nearing completion there. ,
The subcommittee has not taken up
1.-THE secretary's recommendations with
regard TO the island of Guam as yet
He urged the Immediate development
Iof Guam as the American Heligo-
land" in the Pacific ocean.
/ Aviation is another important fea-
ture of the secretary's recommends
tions yet to be considered The bill he
submitted to the committee carries
VS.. 100000 for flying activities. The
subcommittee hopes to be able to cut
this amount to $15.ono.n0A tomorrow.
The subcommittee expects to COM
plete It's work In time to permit the
tfull committee to approve the bill and
order 1t reported out Tuesday.