New-York tribune., 1920-12-30
Harding Hears
New Plan for
Cheaper Navy
Kelley, of Michigan, Favors
Radical Cut in Personnel.
Retaining Officers and
Nucleus of Organization
Would Depend on Reserve
Dropping of Every 1000
Sailors Saves 81, 500, 900;
Wentz Reports on Coal
From q Stor Correspondent,

outlined to President-elect Harding to-
ssy Congressional plan of naval re-
trenchment that contemplates partial
rehabilitation of the enlisted strength
of Americas sea force and the dis
nisssl of many of the trained civilian
bic personnel OF the navy yards. Rep
resentativc Kelley is chairman of the
sub-committee OF the House Appropria-
lions Committee dealing with naval
affairs.
A scheme for denuding the navy Of
much Of its man power is now being
worked out, according to Representa-
tive Kelley, who explained that in his
view the potential strength OF the navy
vas more important than its actual
force at given moment. Mr.. Kelley
brought many statistical documents for
the conside ration Of the President
elect, among them chart showing that
for each 1000 sailors dispensed with
the United States could save $780, 900.
Under the proposed policy the prin-
cipal task OF the next Secretary of
the Navy would be to create a smaller
navy instead Of larger one. The
commissioned strength would be pre-
served; so, too, would be the warrant
officers, those non-commissioned sailor
men whose knowledge of sea fighting
is only degree less than that OF
zdu1irals. But the bluejackets, under
this plan, would be sent home on the
reserve list to Dillon, Mont, and Amer
lilo, Tex, or wherever else they hap
pened to have shipped from.
Would Abandon Recruiting
Under this scheme intended to ,e-
6uce the expenditures of the govern
ment navy recruiting Offices all over
the country would be abandoned So,
toe, would be Secretary Daniels 8
promised cruise around the globe.
Ships of the navy would be kept in
commission, but with skeleton crews.
Lengthy cruises would be impractic-
able.
Representative Kelley said the Navy
Department was working in conjunc-
ton with the Naval Affairs Commit
tee Of the House on feature of this
plan which provides for the dismiss al
time Of some navy yard and shop
civilian employees. Foremen and the
more highly skilled men. Representa-
tive Kelley said would be retained as
nucleus to be expanded in emer-
gencies.
"lf the naval vessels and industrial
Establishments are maintained," said
Kelley. "at the point of absolute readi-
ness OF operation, and If the corps Of
officers is at all times sufficient to
handle the navy then the actual num-
Der Of men in the organization is Of
secondary importance. At present we
have naval reserve numb bering some
thing ike 100000 men, who have had
from SIX months to two years serv-
ICE with the forces, and who under
sne present law can be given thirty
Gays actual service each year. thus
keeping them closely in touch with
the actual operation of the navy. With
such reserve thus efficient it would
be matter OF very little time to
NIL out the organization for active
service. Because of this it is not OF
the utmost Importance whether the
enlisted personnel Of the nav is TX.
100 or 100000 or 10000 But verv
great ECONOMY can be effected if the
personnel is kept down, because every
!oVU men means an expenditure o,
N,6Oo,oo0 per annum.
Decision to Determine Budget
II is thus matter OF greatest i'm.
Rortancc what policy is 10 be adopted
tne naval appropriation bill will be
isfser or smaller according as it shal
pc determined whether The organiza.
son shall be in greater or less degret
@a!ntaIned, IN expectation Of drawing
11em the reserve
me House com mittee has not re-
ported the naval bill. The estimate.
on which it was based asked for s67o.
VVoouO; the current naval approprja.
.ion act provides s435 900 900, and
imagine the bill as reported will bt
,s'ner less than the current year,
Oadge.. But this must necessarily de.
Yeho on the policy that will be adopted
IN dealing with the features l have
suggested.
The naval building program or
- n'en ;n we are now working was adopt.
ca IN 1916 and has been continuing
since since IL looks to total expenditure of
sssopo0, 900, Of which about onc-hall
sas already been used. Appropriation.
sol tnls program simply run until The
program is completed, and there is nc
Sfessne apparent reason for haste
Inc British government is not
pudding for increased naval strength
Veesuse its navy is already far in the
iead Of any other. There has been 3
su2gestion that we should reduce oul
oul'ding program. We already have
tSlce the naval power Of japan, and
wnen both our current naval program
and Japan's have been completed ths
relations will be about the same. In
ny judgment there is only one way to
'asugurate the reduction Of naval arna-
ments. and that is by agreement for
proportional reductions. When oul
present naval program is completed W.
VIZ have approximately the same
strength as Great Britain | should
Ialnk that when that time comes i,
would te quite feasible for us to con.
sioe1 an agreement governing future
.ohssrnc.ion under which the proper.
hons should remain unchanged"
Coal Situation Discussed
Colonel Daniel 3. Wentz, of Phila-
seipnia, president of the National Goa
association. discussed the btuminout
soai situation, which is the zpccia
soneern Of mis- organization, with Sena
~, harding to-day.
a committee Of Chicago livestock
cnsn. headed by s. B. Stafford, Everet'
= = Dfnwn and Kay Wood, urged upon
sae fresident-elrct the appointment
"a Secretary Of Agriculture whose
soncies would ztend toward "lcsr sgi
hess.o '""'
While declaring that they did not