The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-12-15
Senate Finance COMMITTEES
Head LOath to Act.
Says Bonus Now Would Be
Heavy Load in Taxes.
NAVAL RACE WITH JAPAN
Present Building Program Puts
q. s. Even With Britain.
Japan, However, Builds Many
Ships, House Is Told.

Washington, Dec. ia final vote
in the senate not later than January
"a on the Kenyon-Kendrick bill for
federal regulation of meat packing in
dustry was agreed upon today by Re-
publican leaders.
Washington, Dec. 15.-Grantfne of
a soldier bonus at present would in
flict a great hardship on taxpayers.
Senator McCumber of North Dakota,
acting chairman of the senate finance
committee, declared today.
The fight to have the senate adopt
the bonus act passed by the house last
session was opened today before the
senate finance committee by represen-
| tatives of World War veterans. A de-
cision on the bonus will be reached az
this session of congress, McCumber
predicted.
II have no doubt congress eventual
~ VIII grant liberal bonus to the vet
erans, said McCumber But the
principal question now is whether IL
would be wise to grant 1t at the pres
ent time.
We are now providing literally for
the disabled war veterans"
Fear Demand for Cash.
Spokesman for the American Legion
NOOdy CSAlHidlGu lndI not more rnEn SO
per cent of the men would ask for q
cash bonus payment, but Senator
Smoot, Republican of Utah, disagree
sharply with this estimate, declaring
that postcards he received from indf-
/ vidual service men from all parts OF
the country indicate that IS per cent
] of the men will ask for cash.
Senator Smoot said that the post
! cards were furnished by the stars and
Stripes for transmission to senator's
and labelled My opinion on the bonus
i question" Gilbert Bettman. OF Ohio.
chairman of the legion's legislative
committee. suggested that the post
cards probably were propaganda
against the bill proposing a soldier
bonus"
Senator Smoot and Senator McCum-
Der. Republican, North Dakota. acting
chairman. replied that the cards. of
which Senator McCumber produced n
! high stack. appeared TO represent act
ual views of war veterans
At Naval Cross Roads.
With the United States at the cross
roads leading either to naval conpe-
tition or a world agreement to limit
armaments, the house naval affairs
committee set out today to learn what
the other great powers are doing in
warShip construction.
| To gain this information the com
mittee called on Rear Admiral Robert
E. Coontz. chief of naval operations
Data obtained here today in naval cir
I cles including facts which Admiral
! Coontz was expected to elaborate
upon before the house committee.
showed:
I 1. Great Britain, while possessing ton
mage almost twice that Of the United States.
has checked her building for the present.
2. The United States. the basis Of her
program now under way, viii surpsss tie
Britain adopts new building measures
3. Japan, while actively engaged IN
building both large and small TvarerafS.
will remain far behind the United States
when this country's progam is completed
japan Has Big Program.
Japan has projected seven super
dreadnaughts. Three of them. Of
33,S00 tons EACH are now being built.
Four others. 40 tons each. prob
ably will be finished in 1927. In 1927.
Japan will have four new battleships
and four new battle cruisers. the
"eight-eight' program. for many years
the ambition of japanese naval men,
In 1927, japan will possess twelve bat
. tleships and battle cruisers. but four
of each will represent an early type.
! The Japanese navy now includes
five capital ships totaIllng 1880 tons.
When the seven under construction are
/ finished. Japan's tonnage in capital
ships will total ASSOC
The United States today possesses
ten battleships and ten cruisers. but
eieVefl DdNlfeSnips are Dr4LB DIAAAs
This is on the basis Of the 1915 author
ization for sixteen capital ships
British Building Few.
Britain. which abandoned many OF
! its vessels when the armistice was
signed, today is believed to be building
five light cruisers totalling 500 tons.
eleven destroyers, 11,122 tons. and
nineteen submarines. 21.S00 tons IL
. is even possible that England has can
icel1ed some of these vessels recently
Just the United States and japan
are the only two nations active today
in extensive naval construction 81
the present time however. Britain'=
! first line strength IS estimated at S6s.-
$50 tons nearly twice that Of the
/, United States.
Race for the Future.
The tonnage of the entire British
navy is placed today at 2.345.712.
which embraces SOS ships OF all
classes. The United States has 5f7
ships in service today. totaling i.137.-
/ 914 tons. but 127 American ships are
either building or projected with .
1 combined tonnage Of S9o.459- Pros
pectfve American vessels are said to
represent newer type and greater gun
power.
1 Japan's future provision for snaller
craft includes nine light cruisers. 81
ocean going dextroyers and ~ sub
! marines. most OF them over 500 tons
I The United States had provided for
the construction of eleven superdresd-
naughts eight dreadnaughts. fourteen
Of the pre-dreadnaught period. SIX
battle cruisers, ten cruisers. ten light
cruisers. As destroyers and 81 sub