Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-12-17
SLASH ESTIMATES
BILLION AND HALF
WARNS M0NDELL
Republican Charges Ex-
travagance by Baker
and Daniels.
LIGHTEN TAX BURDEN is
MAIN IMPORT OF PLEA
Hardy and connally, of Texas,
Rush to Defense of Two
Secretaries.
RIGID ECONOMY is URGED
War Chief Recruiting Beyond An-
thorfzcd Strength Alleged by
q. o. T.. Spokesman in House.
RIGID ECONOMY IS URGED
War Chief Recruiting Beyond An-
thorized Strength Alleged by
G. o. T.. Spokesman in House.
tBy Associated press.l

WASHINGTON, Dec l6.-Declara-
ton in the House today by Repre-
sentative Mondell, of wyoming, tho
Republican leader, that Congress
should cut departmental appropria-
tion estimates, especially those from
the Navy and War Departments, by
nearly billion and half dollars.
started round of political debate
that occupied most of the session.
Representative Mondells criticism
OF army and navy estimates. made
in the course OF a speech on goy-
ernment finances, brought defense
from Representatives Hardy and Con-
naily, Democrats, OF Texas, for seq
retaries Baker, of the War Depart
ment' and Daniels. of the Navy De-
partment. This led to charges by
representative Mondell. Represents
tive Blanton. Democrat. OF Texas. and
others, that the War Department
was spending money not authorized
by Congress. and that the NAVY De-
partments chief had presented estf.
mates so extravagant that they can
not be described"
Rigid economy in appropriations to
iishten tho tax burden was urged by
the Republican leader, who said that
tho total submitted estimates OF
si,6o3.s0o.ooo should lie scaled down
by fl.4oo,Oooooo. Army and navy ed
inmates weer criticized as 1--WE ana q
ha't times the highest peace time AM.
proprtation, OF 1915. The estimA ~;
MT. Mondell said, also might be "a
ther swollen Indefinitely by deficH -
cies resulting, he said. from what
described as the War Departmenl ~
policy OF recruiting ,tne army up "
fu!l strength contrary to the under
standing that it should not be IN,
creased above "the total OF IFS. 0oo,
men contemplated by the approprfa-
tions made Mt the last session"
Replies To Monden.
representative connally. replying
10 Mr.. Mondell, cited the Republican
leaders vote for the army reorganiia
2atioh bill under which the Secretary
recruited the army to strength ex-
ceedinE that possible under the ap-
propriated funds. Representative
Hardy accused tho majority leader OF
voting for the measure reauirinp
funds and then making 1t impossibIe
for the war secretary to obey the
law by refusing to give him the
necessary funds
When they concluded, Represcntas~
tive Mondell renewed his attack. He
declared Secretary Bakers attitude
was SO utterly a. variance and SO
contemptuons OF Congress" that all
rules had been disrcgarded.
From now on" Mr.. Mondell said.
so long as we deal with officials. of
this administration, it will be neces-
sary to add to all bills passed
warning not to act contrary to the
views of Congress" s5
Criticizing the administration for
the "unfathomable inconsistency in
the estimates submitted to Congress
and the pleas for economy made by
the President and the Secretary of the
Treasury" Mr.. Mondell declared he
would leave it tc others to properly
characterize these estimates"
Pointing out that current defloien-
c!es were not included in this total,
Mr.. Mondell declared these may be
swollen indefinitely" il the War De-
partment continued it's policy OF re-
cruiting the army up to full strength,
contrary to the understanding. he
said, that 1t should not be increased
above the total of 17S.000 men con-
templated by the appropriations"
Action "in Entire Harmony"
Declaring this action wns ain entire
harmony" with the attitude which tho
war and some other departments
had assumed toward Congress in this
Mr. Monden said IL
hu1 L. Il,
take action that would prevent such
sqnandering of the peoples money by
creating deficiencies In violation OF
law
Asserting that IL the economy in
appropriations advocated by him was
carried out, the tax burden for the
calendar year 1921 might be Sub
stantialiy lightened," AR. Mcnden said
he believed continuation of q tax pro-
gram designed to raise minimum
revenue OF @4.oOo.oo0,ooo for two
years as recommended by the Sec
retary of tho Treasury. was ..unjusn-
fed" 1, is not JUSTIFIED. he added.
even for one year"
The Republican leader said he was
opposed to Secretary Houston's plan
for retiring with current revenues
more than $4,000, 100000 of the coun-
'ry's floating and bonded war debt,
including 100000. 900 Victory notes, hy
January 80. 1898. as placing an an
necessary burden unon tho people and
business" With ~ per cent OF this
not cost OF the war. excluding for.
eign loans. already paid. he said, II
was Unnecessary to .keep up war
rates OF taxation Tor tsie purpose os
redusink tho Spnbtis dsbt All fn rate