Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-06-03
NAVY BILL FIGHT
Up TO HARDING
Presidents Intervention Appar.
emily Necessary to Break
House-Senate Deadlock
CABINET MEMBERS DIVIDED
BY CLINTON w. GILBERT

stan Correspondent Evening Public ledger
Copyright. 1891. bv. Public Ledger Co.
Washington. June 3.-Thc deadlock
between the House aud the Senate on
the army and navy appropriation bills.
particularly the navy bill. cannot be
broken unless the President personally
intervenes or unless the Senate Yields
to the House, which is for smaller ap-
preparations. Tho members of the House
face the necessity Of going before their
constituents next year for re-clection
and they arc afraid OF the issue unless
they take some effective steps for dis
armament and for the reduction Of ex-
penditures.
They feel so strongly the political
dangers of the Senate military and
naval appropriations that 1t is doubted
whether even request from the Presi.
dent for an army and navy Of the size
asked for by the War and Navy De-
partments and generally granted by the
Senate will be enough to induce them to
grant the larger appropriations. Presi-
dent Harding has not yet taken sides in
the controversy.
Cabinet Divided
There Arc indications that the Cabinet
is divided, the Secretary of the Treas.
ury being supposed to be against the
larger appropriations. Secretary Wca'is
is apparently for economy and has re-
sisted the pressure of the professional
army men TO which Secretary Baker
yielded in swelling the size of the army.
He asks only for 10000 more men than
the House granted in it's bill, at an in
creased cost to the public of only S15.-
600, 900. The House fixed the army at
$50. 900 men. Mr.. Weeks asks for and
the Senate granted 10000 men. He
stands a better chance of success than
does Secretary Denby, who is requesting
almost $lOo.O 100000 more than the
House was willing to give him.
Tho House allowed 1906 900 900 and
a personnel Of 100000 in the Navy plus
10000 in the Marine Corps. The Sen
ate being urged by the Navy Depart
ment increased the allowance to the
Navy to $494 900, 900. providing for
personnel Of 100 900 in the Navy and
81 900 in the Marine Corps. The ad-
dition of nearly 500, 1000 900 in the
Senate appropriations covers other
items than the increase Of personnel.
The House adhered strictly to the
1916 program, refusing all additions to
it, The Senate added to the building
program two now aircraft carriers to
cost $50 100000, appropriating $15.-
100000 for their construction. The
Senate also authorized new shore sta
tions on the Pacific Coast and in Guam.
apropriating 5000, 900 to start their
construction, but committing the coun
- N-I L r
lions of dollars for additional naval ia =
cilities.
The Administration is committed to
various policies. somewhat inconsistent
with each other which makes it difficult
for President Harding to take stand
| for either the House or the Senate bill.
In the first place, it is pledged to econ =
omy and the reduction of taxation II
savings of any size are to be made they
must be- made in appropriations for
armament. The total amount involved
In this controversy is S113, 900 900. too
great n sum to be lightly considered at
time when economies arc both ncces-
sary and difficult.
Committed to Disarmament
Moreover the Administration is com :
mitted TO disarmament and the Senate
OIL HIbNlN'S l'l Win what IN
said to be larger personnel than any
other In the world. It opens the way
to additional construction and provides
for greatly strengthening our naval
power in the Pacific.
Members of Congress report that the
sentiment of the country is intensely
strong for disarmament. They hear
almost as much from their constituents
in favor of disarmament as they did n
year ago against compulsory military
training. This is especially true Of the
| Middle West. which is as much inclined
to pacifism as it was before the war.
Whole delegations in the House from
agricultural States say that they can
never vote for the increases in military
and naval appropriations carried in the
| Senate bill
The disarmament advocates urge that
| 10 provide for increases in the 1915
| building program and to begin the
| building Of naval bases in tho Pacific is
| the worst possible way to approach the
world with suggestions Of an agreement
to disarm. These signs Of naval de-
vcloDment on our part, they say. wiz
oreratc as challenge to othor nav"
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