Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1921-02-15

Vote Down Rider to
Prevent Expenditure
of $50, 900, 600. Until
Disarmament Meet Is
Called by President.

Washington, Feb. 1.-THE naval
appropriation bill, carrying approxi-
mately 1896, 600 600, was passed Mon
day by the house after it had decisive
" voted down an amendment which
would have prevented the expenditure
of any part of the $50 O,OOO, 900 provided
for battleship construction until an
international disarmament conference
shall have been called by the president.
The amendment, offered by Represen-
tative Brooks, Republican, of Illinois,
was defeated, 124 to 30.
The house also refused to cut the
amount that would be available for
work on the nayy's building program
during the coming fiscal year to $5O.-
100000, as proposed by Representative
Dickinson, Republican, Iowa, and by
vote of 2S2 to 8, defeated motion
by Representative Blanton, Democrat,
Texas, to recommit the bill for the
purpose of cutting the appropriation
for construction work to $4,000 600
and of eliminating q section which
prevents the use of stop watches in
navy yards and arsenals.
Halt New Construction.
The measure, as it goes to the sem
ate, however, carries an amendme ent,
offered by Representative Oliver,
Democrat, Alabama, that no part of
the $90,0OO,O0O carried for new craft
shall be used on ships on which con-
struction has not started or for which
contracts have not yet been let. Chair
man Kelly. Of the sub committee that
framed the bill, agreed to this limita-
tion. saying it would mean that work
could not be started before July 1.
1922, on twelve destroyers, six fleet
submarines and one transport, authori-
Zed in 1916, but not yet placed under
contract.
The bill, as far as its main features
were concerned, was approved by the
house practically as it was reported
by the appropriations committee. Re
duction of the enlisted personnel of the
marine corps from approximately 27,-
coo to 2O,0O0 men was agreed to to-
day without comment, as was the de-
crease in the enlisted strength Of the
navy from 10000 to 100000 men.
Attempt to Tie Harding
The Brooks amendment provided
that all nations would have to be in
vited to q disarmament convention, to
be held in the United States, before
work on the navy's building program
could proceed after July 1. Oppos:-
ton TO the proposal instantly arose.
and for two hours it was debated.
Most of the members who spoke at
tackled the amendment. majority of
them contending that it would be un-
wise for congress to tie the hands of
the incoming president in such manner.
Republican leaders especially as-
serted they strongly favored an early
international convention on disarma-
ment, and he prediction was freely
made that President-elect Harding
would do his utmost to bring about
such a conference soon after his in
auguration. 1t also was argued that it
would be mistake to put the construc
ton program of the navy in peril, oy
taking step which might require sus
pension of building operations for q
time.
"Naval Holiday" Hope
Representative Mondell, the Rerub-
lican leader. expressing conviction that
Mr.. Harding would evolve disarma-
ment program, said it was the duty
Of congress to let him start negotia-
tions in that direction.
"If he delays or hesitates," he said,
"then congress can act"
Representative Kelly took the posi-
ton that the peace of the world could
best be preserved if the United States
and England were equally powerful
on the sea. Completion of the 1915
building program. he argued, would
bring the American navy to par with
Great Britain's.