The Washington herald., 1921-05-19
BORAHFACTION
WINS BATTLE
ON NAVAL BILL
S en- at e Votes 80 to 81
Against $1,OOO,OO0
Increase.
INSURGENTS AIDED
BY % DEMOCRATS
Disarmament Advocates
Aim to Cut Navy
Personnel.

Republican insurgents. allied with
Democrats, Ieaped into control in
the Senate yesterday and broke up
the regular program" calling for
next year.
On the first test OF strength the
Insurgents demonstrated that they
are not only able to overthrow many
of the Naval Affairs Committees
recomme ndations, but they can also
muster sufficient votes to force the
adoption of virtually any kind of a
disarmament proposal they see ft.
They are not disposed. however,
to go to unreasonable extremes.
their leaders declared. 1t Is prob
able that they will go no further
than adopting the Borah amend
ment, which mereIy requests the
President to enter into negotiations
with Great Britain and Japan for
building. 1t is possible that they
may 80 OHC sNtp ana
the Pomerene amendment asking
pend the present naval building
proposed negotiations.
Votes Down Iscrease.
After days OF spirited debate the
test of strength between the opposi-
ton factions came on the naval
committees recommendations in
creasing the house appropriation
for recruiting, transportation and
other purposes from $3,50o,0o9 TO
s4,5eo,0oo, a boost of $1,000. 900. The
lineup. which may furnish a key
to the Willingness of administration
leaders to drop their fight against
disarmament proposals. was as fol-
lows:
For the increased appropriation:
Republicans. IS; Democrats, 5-to-
tai. II. - ~ - ,sz---
Against the increased appropria-
ton: Republicans, l6; Democrats,
23-total, 80.
The regulars" rallied temper
arily from this defeat and, obtained
the adoption of an appropriation of
100000 for the maintenance of
docks and yards. This was $500, =
poo more than the House allowed.
The Senate committees amendment
carried by vote of SO to 30. An
other small item of $3.50, ,o00-an in
crease of 100000 over the House
allowance-for vehicles was adopt-
ed BY vote of 81 to 20.
Kills Dry Dock Appropriation.
The insurgents regained control
a few minutes later when Senator
Jones, of Washington, proposed an
amendment holding up the unex-
pected balance of an original an
preparation of $500, 900 for deepen-
ing the channel to the Charleston,
s. c., navy yard. The amendment
was carried 81 to %.
senator Borah then proposed an
amendment cutting off an appro-
priation OF S1,150,0 900 for a dry doch
at the Charleston navy yard. The
naval committee had recommended
giving the Secretary of the Navy
authority to hold up the expendi-
ture for three years. The Borah
amendment killed the appropria-
tion outright. The Senate adopted
the Borah amendment 40 to 20.
Various Pacific projects approved
except that at the request of Senl-
tor Borah. the amendement for
naval supply base at Alameda,
Calf. was passed over Borah will
fight this provision.
Aim to Cut Personnel,
Disarmament advocates expect to
use their full strength in an attempt
to reduce the personnel of the navy
to 100000, which is 10000 below
the figure in the naval apropria-
tion bill.
Senator King, of Utah, Demo-
crat. announced yesterday that he
will offer an amendment reducing
the personnel.
Asked IL he would accept this
a amendment, Senator Poinde xter
chairman of the committee. said
10000 was the figure carried in
the bill. and that he was not au-
thoriZed to accent YeductIon