The Washington herald., 1921-02-15
Effort to Defeat Ninety
Million Dollar Pro-
gram Is Lost.
S4OO,OOO,OOO GOES
FOR MAINTENANCE
Attempt to Stop Con-
struction Fails on Basis
Of Economy.

i'' -APNAt' NNN'A n aNltFA any AANM@
itation OF the construction on the
1916 naval building program pend
/ ing the calling Of an international
conference for the Limitation OF
armamsnts. It defeated by -vste
OF 12i 10 80 an amendment 10 tho
naval appropriation bill offered by
! Representative Brooks, Of Illinois,
to prohibit expenditure Of $4,000
1000 for the construction OF battle
ships partially under way until
such a conference had been called
1t also defeated overwhelmingly
two attempts 10 reduce this cNpcn-
oiture and passed the bill carrying
almost {4O0,O 900 900 for the msinten-
ance OF the naval establishment
There was mo opposition 10 an
( International conference on dis
armament Pho opposition to the
Brooks amendment sponsored
chiefly by Republican leaders was
on the grounds that IL would likely
'cmbarrass the Presidentselcct ia
whatever plans he might have for
calling such conference.
Waits on Harding.
That President-cleCt HARDIN
would call such 4 conference was
the belief expressed throughout
The expressed policy was 10 kccp
the powder dry until such time ar
rived as all nations agreed 10 re- q
duCe their war machines. u was
also Contended that 10 was more
economical to complete the shirs
underway than 10 stop construction
Il
seQUent claims.
An amendment offered by Repre-
sentative oliver, Of Alabama AMI
passed, prohibited expenditure or
any OF the sec, 900 OOO on the ninc-
teen auxiliary craft vet 20 be con
traCted for. II made Wy for the sub
IstitUtion for these ships, as pro-
posed hy sorsor hSEh naval orncsrs
iof ais-PIans larfisrz- The -construE-
tion Of The latter. h-r-tAaF, mus.
yet be authorized - ltw.
Came rs Surprise.
The Brooks amendment came as a
surprise to many members. II was
at first ruled out on a point Of ordeT.
but subsequently, allowed on the
grounds that il gave no directions
10 the President and provided only
a limitation for an appropriation.
1t was pointed out that in as far
as this country was still technically
. at war. the President still had aU-
thority TO call an International coll
ference on disarmament under tn"
so-called Henslcy amendment TO the
1915 naval building program act.
In the preceding debate. Repre-
r sentative Bsrkley. OF kentucky.
S pointed out that with Germany 10
e. hg
excuse for vast military and naval
expenditures was THAI this country
feared war with one OF the allies
The contention OF those fsvorinE the
, !9O. 600 OOO for ther1 1916 program was
that the construction had gone 80
far that IL would be more economy
! TO complete IT than to scrap H.
Promises 10 Excel
, Ecpresentative Madden reiterated
, This point when the Brooks resolU-
! tfon appcarcd. The time has not
s come for a naval holiday, he said.
urging that the government clean
A .up its obligation fr~t' in relation
. to the construction OF the hattlc-
o ships. Representative COnuslly. az
(. Texas, strongly favored the amend
[ ment.
4 we will by this action say to tn"
G nations that we are willing TO dis
r arm il you arc" he said. and u you
c arc not willing to disarm, then "'
" shall continue on our building pro-
n gram for 1916. and il you enter into
-lrompetition with us i'm the butldlnE
Of navy We will pledge our re-
sources to build a navy that will "A-
eel that OF any nation OF the world.
Representative Fess. OF Ohio,
=, questioned whether the Initeo
Q states would be in as advantageous
= a strategic position II the step
CONTEMPLATED in the amendbent
o were taken. The possibility OF wal.
ol Representative DenisOn, Of Illinois
n said, hardly warranted such step.
Express Confidence.
ExnressinE absolute confidence
that an international conference on
n disarmament would be called, Rep
n resentative Butler. of Pennsylvania.
III pointed out that the passage Of the
II amendment might prohibit the eN-
II penditure OF the money unless q
III conference were called TO discuss
II disarmament alone. He Ventured
Il that an international conferece
II might be called to discuss other
III matters.
ili The anne moment Caifttu Aut AHANi
II ence that the President-elect did
II not favor an International confer
III ence on disarmament, Representative
II Newton, Of Minnesota, pointed out, II
II no such conference should be called,
II Representative Byrnes, OF South
II Carolina said. by the provisions OF
III the amendment the money could not
III be expended on the program when
III il would be most needed
I'LL Representative Mann, OF Trinois,
N said Congress would present
III pretty spectacle" by the plan pro
III posed in the amendment Repre-
III sentative Carswsy. OF Arkansas,
III oontended that & would be -sbso-
II Iutely a crime" to reject the oppor-
III tunity for an expression on dis
iii armament.
The proposal Of RepreSentstive
II Dickinson. of Iowa. TO reduce the
III SOC, 900, 600 by S4o.OOO,0O0 was de-
lll feated by a vivc vOCe vote. Repre-
IN sentative BIanton, OF Texas, who
III previously alleged that the stccl
II interests were responsible for the
vast expenditure on srmaments pro
III II posed TO reduce the $s0. .0oO. 900 %
III 81. coo, 900. His amendment was de-
u