The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1921-02-15
GIGANTIC NAVAL
APPROPRIATION IS
PASSED BY HOUSE
Carries Sum Reaching Almost
0ne-half Billion Dollars.
Brooks Amendment De-
feated BY Decisive Vote


Washington, February 1.-THE naval
Appropriation bill, carrying approx
mately sS95,0o0,o00. was passed today
by the House after il had declsiveIy
voted down an amendment which would
have prevented the expenditure OF any
part OF the $s0,000,0oo provided for bat
tleship construction until an lnterna-
tional disarmament conference shall
have been called by the President The
amendment offered by Representative
Brooks. republican. Illinois. was de-
feated, 12f to so.
The House also. refused to cut the
amount that would be available for
work on the navy's building programme
during the coming fiscal year to $780,
100000. as proposed by Representative
Dickinson, publican, Iowa. and by a
vote of 2S2 to 8 defeated motion by
Representative Blanton, democrat
Texas, to recommit the bill for the pur-
pose of cutting the appropriation for
construction work to $1,000, 900. and of
eliminating a section. which prevents
the use of stop watches in navy yards
and arsenas.
The measure, as it goes to the Sem
ate, however, carries an amendment,
offered by Representative Oliver. dem-
ocrat, alabama, that no part of the
$so,0O0,0O0 carried for new craft shall
be used on ships on which construction
has not started or for which contracts
have not been let. Chairman Kelley of
the subcommittee that framed the bill
agreed to this limitation, saying ii
could not be started before July 4, 1922,
on ~ destroyers, six fleet submarines
and one transport. authorized in 1915,
but not yet placed under contract.
Although somewhat riddled by points
OF order that had been made against
number of sections, the bill, SO far as
It's main features were concerned, was
approved by the House practically as
1t was reported by the appropriations
committee Reduction of the enlisted
personnel of the marine corps from APP
proximately $1,000 to 10000 men was
agreed to today without comment, as
was the decrease in the enlisted
strength of the navy from $4,000 to
! 90, 900 men.
The Brooks amendment provided that
all nations would have to be invited to
disarmament convention, to be held
in the United States before work on
the navy building programme could
proceed after July /. Opposition to the
proposal instantly arose, and for two
hours it was debated. Most Of the
members who spoke attacked the
amendment, a majority OF them con-
tending thatAit would be unwise for
Congress to tie the hands of the incom-
ing President in such manner
Republican leaders especially asserted
they strongly favored an early interna-
tional convention on disarmament and
the prediction was freely made that
President-elect Harding would do his
utmost to bring about such conference
soon after his Inauguration. 1t also was
argued that 1t would be a mistake to
put the construction program of the ma
Wy in peril by taking a step which
might require suspension of building OPP
erations for a time
Representative Mondell, the republican
leader. expressing the conviction that Mr..
Harding would evolve disarmament
said 1t was the duty Of Con-
gress to let MN start negotiations in
that direction.
IF he delays or hestates,'' said MIR.
Mondell, then Congress can act"
Representative Kelley took the posi-
tor that the peace Of the world could
best be preserved il the United States
and England we're equally powerful on
tiIc oOd. s~OtulICtlOH VI LIE lSlD Dujlu-
ing programme, he argued. would bring
the American nav. 20 par with that OF
Grta Britain.
Representative Britten Qlinois. the
ranking republican on The. naval CONF.
mittee. urging completion Of the al
ready authorized construction. said dis
armament before then would mean that
the United States would be hopclessly
in second position on the high seas.
He charged that "insidious propaganda
was emanating from London in favor Of
Representative Madden. OF Illinois. was
another republican, who held ii would be
a mistake for America at this time to
agree to naval holiday, while Chair
man Butler of the naval committee, de-
clared It would be grave mistake to Try
to force President-elect Harding's hand
before his inauguration He expressed
confidence that the new administration
would be instrumental in bringing about
reduction Of ornaments.
Representative Connally. democrat.
Texas. urging adoption OF the Brooks
amendment. said the United States |
should let the world know II was willing
% disarm, but equally willing to accept |