New-York tribune., 1921-01-18
Both Houses
Fix 175,O00
Army Limit
Continued from first paue>

officials If Congress, but in my judg-
ment they haven't filtered far enough.
~ still demand to know why an army
OF 10000 is not sufficient for the
United States in a time of profound
peace. We got along with an army Of
about half that size prior TO the war
We have 2,500,000 trained men in the
country and if any trouble with Mexico
should arise we could equip an army
II am inclined to regard with very
great discredit rumors that Japan is
working herself into q war for or
against the United States 1t would
be impossible for her economically.
She could only do it with the aid of
Great Britain. If there were any such
danger we would need not an army of
175,000, but military training and a
preparation such as this country never
yet has dreamed of.
IF Japan landed here with an army
of anything less than 100000 men,
and she could not do that because of
the ocean between us-she would sim
ply have landed them in a cemetery
where the last Of them would sleep for
ever"
Senator Reed said disarmament was
out Of the question, but reduction of
armaments was another matter.
Japanese War Idea Ridiculed
Senator Williams, Of Mississippi, ridi-
culed the idea of this country needing
large army to fight any country. He
called the idea of the United States be-
ing attacked by Japan or another for
elgn power absurd.
senator Borah, who estimated that
the country would save total of s35,-
flIn NV c,7%< L,
600 to 100000, recalled that last Friday
Senator Wadsworth said on the floor
of the Senate an army of 175,00O was
needed for domestic protection and
police duty.
Declarlng ,ayman was entitled to
some opinions if the army was to be
used for police purposes, Senator
Borah said he was utterly opposed to
an army of 175,O00 for such use.
General Pershing stated there was
q condition Of discontent," proceeded
Senator Borah, "and / know there is
discomfort, but it arises not from con-
dltions threatening us with war, but
from the ever increasing and growing
burdens placed upon the people"
Taking up the appropriations of Con-
grcss for 1920, Senator Borah said
those for past wars were 1886 100000,
or Is per cent of all the appropriations.
The appropriations for education were
but l per cent, or about $57 900 900,
and those for future wars rs per cent;
amounting to S1,424, 100000.
Nlnety-three per cent Of all appro-
priatlons made for the year 1920 are
for the purposes of wars, past or an
ticipated, the Senator added.
Only Four Adverse Votes
The Kahn resolution passed the
House after less than an hours de-
bate, with all but four voting for it.
They were representatives Carlos Bee,
of Texas; Fred l.. Blackmon, Of Ala
and Louis C. Cramton, of Michigan.
After calling up his resolution under
a special rule, Representative Kahn
told the House that Secretary Baker
had gone beyond his authority and en-
listed about $4,000 more men than had
been appropriated for by Congress.
This, he declared, demanded that Con-
gress reassert its wishes and direct
that enlistments be Immediately
stopped.
"After the signing on June of the
to 100000, and on the following day
of the appropriation bill providing for
only 175,O00, I talked with Secretary
Baker" said Mr.. Kahn. 81 had prcvi-
ously learned that the army was con-
Quoting an intensive campaign to en-
list the full total Of 100000.
"The Secretary Of War appeared be-
fore the Committee on Military Af-
fairs on December 10, 1920, to testify
in regard to the matter, and stated that,
in his opinion, the language Of the
army reorganization act makes it q
po stive and definite mandate from the
Congress t. the Secretary of War to
recruit the enlisted personnel to the
full strength"
Roosevelt Action Compared
. Representative Kahn said he called
Mr.. Bakers attention to the wording
of the reorganization act of 1901, under
which, with its similar language to the
new act, the then Secretary of War
had not seen fit to recruit the full
amount. Under Roosevelt, he said, the
army numbered only about $4,000,
while 100000 was permitted by Con-
gress.
There are to-day in the army about
100000 men, Mr.. Kahn said. This is
about $4,000 more than was appropri-
ated for and will bring deficiency
III IL