Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-03-13
TREMENDOUS CUT IN
NAVY APPROPRIATIONS
House Committee That Framed Bill
Prepares to Report 1t Out
Next Week.
BY wINDIsR II. HARRIS.

WASHINGTON, March 12.-Thc 1921
naval appropriation bill to be report
cd on; next week will carry apprQpria-
tons agSrcgating between S405, 0OQ.-
600 and s41o.00O,O0O, according to re-
auctions made today by the subcom-
mittee of the House Naval Affairs
Committee framing the bill.
THIS Is a cut OF about $l65,000.000
IN the revised estimates submitted by
Sssrs."ry nap hs,Is II The ,1o original re-
500, 100000
in the bill about S73.O00,o0o will he for
continuation of construction on the
1916 building program. because Of
TINS large expenditure and in view Of
the Republican drive for economy all
alo5S the line, members of the COM
mittec explain they do not feel justi-
tinm. M the shipyards in this coum-
try. they say. now have as much work
as they can handle, and TO crowd them
With any more would simply promote
iucfi;ciency and waste.
Secretary Daniels had recommended
q new CONSTRUCTION program embracing
necessary TO round OUT the fleet
These ships were: ten light cruisers
six mine laying light cruisers, ten To-
tilla leaders, six fleet submarines four
airplanc carriers, one destroyer ten
der, and one submarine tender.
Fix Enlisted Personnel.
listed personnel IN the navy was fixed
ut $4,000, and in the marine corps e.
800. These figures represent tho tenn
i,orary strength of both services now
and are in line with the recommcnda-
tons OF Secretary Daniels and Maipr-
General barnett: commander OF the
strength OF tho navy was $4,000 ana
between $1,000 and 1900 for the ma
rinc corps.
AS the number Of officers in the two
n
per cent OF the enlisted strength, $3.50
officers will be authorized for the navy.
and l,QSb Tor the marine corps.
Provide Only One Base.
Only one of the bases recommended
by Secretary Daniels for Immediate
development on the Pacific Coast will
be provided for in the bill. according
10 AN agreement reached by the sub
committee. This will be submarine
base at Astoria. Oregon, at the mouth
of the Columbia River.
the committee to turn down the secrc-
tarys recommendations for a great
raNy-ynrd and base at San Francisco.
an auxiliary base at. San Diego. and
submarine bases at Los Angeles and
Port Angeles, Wash.
The estimated cost OF the submarine
will carry $3.50, 1000 TO begin work.
The appropriation asked for i'm
provem"nts at the naval station in
Pearl llarhor. Hawaii, will be cut In
two, IL was learned
Secretary Daniels has urged the i'm
mediate development OF a great avia
ton, submarine, destroyer and supply
base a. this point. He also wants II
marine railway, repair shops and other
improvements declared necessary for
full use Of the mammoth drydock now
nearing completion there.
Guam, "U. :. IIcligoland."
The subcommittee has not taken up
the Sccrctary's recommendations with
regard to the Island of Guam us yc,
Ia, lNn i,.t. In& i,t, nnNf
OF Guam ns The american liel!Goland"
in the Pacific Ocean.
Aviation is another important fea-
turc OF the sccrctary's recommenda-
tons set TO be considered. The bill
he submitted TO the committee carries
80. 100000 for flying activities. The
subcommittee hopes TO be able to cut
this amount To $i5,000000 tomorrow.
The subcommittee expects 10 com
plete its WORK in time 10 permit the
iull committee 10 approve the bill and
order it reported out Tuesday.