Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-02-15
wilson TO VETO TARIFF
AND TAKE FAREWELL RAP
AT COP. CONGRESS WAYS
.$395,OOO,OOO
Navy Measure
Passes House

washington, Feb. 1.-THE Naval
appropriation bill, carrying approxi-
'niately s395,0oO 900. was passed today
by the House after it had decisively
voted down an amendment which
would have prevented the expenditure
of any part of the 100000 provided
for battleship construction until an
international disarmament conference
shall have been called by the Presi-
det The amendment, offered by Rep
resentative Brooks, Republican, ILL.,
nois, waadefeated 1914 to 80
The House also refused to cut the
amount that would be available for
work on the navy's building program
during the coming fiscal year to $780,
100000 as proposed by Representative
Dickinson, Republican, Iowa, and by
vote CT 2S2 to 9, defeated motion
by Representative Blanton. Democrat,
Texas, to recommit the bill for the
purpose of cutting the appropriation
for construction work to $1,000, 900 and
OF eliminating a section which pre-
vents the use of stop watches in ma
val ship yards and arsenals.
The measure, as it goes to the Sem
ate, carries an amendment that no
part of the 100000 carried for new
craft shall be used on ships on which
construction has not started or for
which contracts have not been let
Although somewhat riddled by
points of order that had been made
against a number OF sections the
DILL, as far as it's main features were
concerned. was approved by the
House practically as it was reported
by the appropriations committee. Re-
ductipn of the enlisted personnel of
the Marine corps from approximately
lI'ooV to 10000 men was agreed to to-
oay without comment, as was the de-
crease in the enlisted strength of the
navy from $4,000 to 100000 men.
The Brooks amendment provided
that all nations would have TO he in
Vlted to disarmament convention.
to be held in the United States be-
fore the work on the navy's building
program could proceed after July I.
opposition to the proposal instantly
arose and, for two hours it was de-
bated. Most of the members. who
spoke attacked the amendment. n
majority of them contending that II
would be unwise for congress to tie
the hands of the incoming president
in such a manner.
Republican leaders especially as,
serted they strongly favored an err.
'W International convention on dis
armament, and the prediction was
freely, made that President Elect
Harding would do his utmost to bring
about such a conference soon after
his inauguration. It also was argued
that 1t would be mistake to put the
obstruction program of the navy in
peril, by taking a step which might
require suspension of building opera :
tioGs for time
representative Mondell, Republican
leadti. expressing the conviction that
slr. Harding would evolve a disarm-
a'nent program, said it was the dutv
Q. congress to let him start negotia-
u"hs In that direction.
IL ne delays or hesitates," said Mr.
Mondell. then congress can act,
representative Kelley took the no.
sition that the peace of the world
could best be preserved if the Tinted
states and England were eo,1a1,v
powerful on the sea. Completion If
the 1916 building program. he argued.
would bring the American Navy to a
par with Great Britains.
representative Britten, Illinois, the
ranking Republican ton the naval
committee, urging completion of the
construction already authorized, said
disarmament before then would mean
that the United States would be hope
lessly IN second position on the high
seas. He charged that '.insidious pro-
paganda" was emanating from Lon
don in favor of disarmament