Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1921-04-27
NAVAL HOLIDAY
FIGHT BLOCKS
PR|AT|ON
Amendment Denies
Cash for New Ships
Till International Meet
"A Member From Ohio
Leads Opposition in
House on Construction

Ao OPPOoAIAO11 4Il
House on Construction
Washington, April 26.-After an all
day fight over disarmament, the house
was forced to quit work Tuesday with
out reaching vote on the naval ap.
preparation bill, because the demands
of members for time in which to al,
their views.
At the end of the long debate there
was pending an amendment providing
that no part Of the appropriation
should 60 into new construction until
the president had called an interna-
tional conference to consider limita-
ton of armament. The amendment
proposed by Representative Connolly,
Democrat, Texas, was like one offered
when the bill was before the house
in the closing days Of the last session
by Representative Brooks, Republican,
Illinois. and rejected by vote of about
be thrown out by similar vote when
the bill is taken up again Thursday.
Breaks Early In Session.
The disarmament discussion broke
early in the session after Representa-
tive Knight, Republican, Ohio, had an.
nounced he would vote against the bill
ture Of 500 O,OOO, 900 for new battleships,
the general need Of @eeonomy and the
alleged questionable advantages of cap
ital fighting ships in modern naval war
fare The speech started veritable
whirlwind Of talk.
Seeing where the house was heading
Chairman Kelley, of the subcommittee
of appropriations, in charge of the
measure, tried to stop it, and his plea
that the real disarmament debate be
held back until the section relating to
new construction had been reached,
prevailed after sharp verbal clash
in which Representative Huddleston,
Democrat. Alabama. supported Mr..
Knight and declared general opposi-
ton to big army, coast defense and
navy appropriations.
Disarmament 'Detour' Falls.
bring the disarnment question squarely
before the house, were ruled out on
points of order, and then Mr.. Con-
molly again stepped to the front with
a revival Of the Brooks proposal. 1t
held its own against point of order
Mr.. Knight, new member, ex
planned that. he had introduced Tues
day a resolution for appointment of a
commission to investigate and report
on the value of battleships and cruisers
before proceeding with the naval ex-
pansion program. In the general dis
armament discussion and in the amend
ments ruled out, the question of limit
alton specifically involved the United
States, Great Britain and Japan. Ad-
vocates Of the bill insisted that the
government should 60 ahead with its
building plan and then when navy
second to none was within reach, it
would be in better position to urge
a halt.
Let President Alone,' Plea.
Pointing out what he regarded as big
objections to cessation of building,
Chairman Kelley pleaded for correction
of all proposals relating to armament
conferences with other nations.
LET the president alone," he shout
ed. "Let him work out a way with |
hands united. If the president can hit
upon a plan to lift the burden of arm
ament, his will be the greatest admin
istration our country has ever had, re-
gardless of what else might be done.
Turning to those insisting upon a |
program, which, he said, would hold
back work Of navy building until a |
conference had been called and then |
was issued. Mr.. Kelley declared:
Don't, I urge you, place the United
States in a position of showing bad |
faith-calling nations to discuss q re-
duction Of navies, and instantly start
ing work upon a greater navy for it.
self"
Representative Mondell, of Wyom-
ing, the Republican leader, declared the
Connolly proposal had been advanced
last session from Republican sources
and overwhelmingly defeated.
Attack Economy Cry.
'This is the argument we Away.
meet when disarmament is proposed"
said Mr.. Connolly, who led the fight
for his amendment. always the cry
is 'wait-and hush, don't let's talk
about IT, We know where the road
leads; it leads to bigger navies, an
other war, and then more talk about
disarmament. We want to lead the
world in reducing our naval strength.
you say, and vet you insist we must
build the biggest navy afloat"
Attacking the cry of economy, Mr.,
Kelley said nothing could be saved by
stopping construction Of ships author
lied in the 1915 program, because they
were under way, with contracts long
awarded, materials bought and hand
and keels laid.
Notwithstanding, the government
can make q substantial saving" said
Representative Fish, Republican, New
York. Now we can approach the con-
promise. Finishing the ships is not 1.-THE the
only way out