Polk County news. [volume] (Benton, Tenn.) 191?-1983, 1921-07-07
HARDING PROTESTS
ARMY'S REDUCTION
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE STRONGLY
DISSENTS FROM PROVISIONS
IN APPROPRIATION BILL
LEGISLATION WILL Be ASKED
Says This Provision Will Cause "very
Great Embarrassment" To The
Army And Be DemoraIizing

! Washington. - President Harding
sent a message to congress recently
strongly dissenting from provisions in
the army appropriation bill which re-
quire the army to be reduced to 100000
men by October /.
The president announced his approx
al of the bill, but warned congress
that he does not feel justified in ask
ing the secretary of war to enforce
dismissal of men prior to expiration
of enlistment as would be necessary if
the provisions of the measure are car
ried into effect.
The president said this provision will
cause very great embarrassment" to
the army and will be demoralizing to
the spirit of the army itself, probably
causing serious difficulty in securing
enlistments in the future
The restriction was vigorously OPP
posed by Secretary of War Weeks, who
declared it a violation of contract"
with enlisted men.
President Harding advised congress
that he would probably ask additional
legislation to remove the restrictions,
and said that while the secretary of
war will seek to avoid creating any
deficit prohibited by the bill every eff
fort will be made to deal justly with
enlisted men.
1.-THE secretary of war;" said the pres
ident in his message to congress, will
seek to avoid the creation of any de-
ficit, but if a probable deficit develops
in a just procedure to reduce our en-
listed forces, l will report to the con-
gress at the earliest possible day and
ask it to relieve the embarrassment of
the secretary of war"
The president is understood to have
adopted this course instead of vetoing |
the measure because the fiscal year for |
which the bill appropriates funds be-
gins with July l.
Mr.. Harding sent this message to
the senate and house:
81 am advising the congress of my
approval of H. B. 500, bill making
provision for the maintenance and sup
port of the United States army for the
fiscal year ending June 80, 1922. l
cannot resist calling to the attention
If the congress at this time the very
great embarrassment in carrying out
is provisions while dealing justly with
he enlisted forces of the army SO that
/ later call for a slight modification
aay not be wholly without notiSSy
"The bill necessitates very large
'eduction in the enlisted personnel of
he army, and it is doubted that this
eduction can be brought about with
tut the summary dismissal of many
thousands of men who have a right
o expect at the hands of the govern
nent the same moral obligation which
he government requires of them when
hey enlist for service.
"In perfect good faith the secretary
f war will proceed to reduce the army {
o figures contemplated by the con-
ress. The normal expiration of enlist
lents probably will approximate one I
alf the reduction which the congress s
as directed and every effort will be I
lade to meet the requirements of the I
Cngress at the earliest possible day.
would not feel justified in asking ,
ne secretary of war to enforce the dis
lissal of men who have enlisted for
definite term Of service. There seems q
, be a moral obligation involved, the 2
collation. of which would be democrat !
ing to the spirit of the army itself and
light prove a very serious discourage :
ent when enlistments are desired in
lie future. a