New-York tribune., 1921-05-26
Borali Amendment Au-
tflorizing President to
Ask Conference With
Britain andJapan Passes
Defects Charged
On the Tennessee
Wadswortl Says Motors
Have Been Fixed; La
Toilette Renews Attack
From The Trtbume's Washington Burec

FROM The Tribume's WASHINGTON Bureau
WASHINGTON, May 25.-Without a
dissenting vote the Senate this after
noon adopted the Borah disarmament
amendment to the naval bill. There
was no discussion. The vote was "a
to O.
Senator Pomerene also has a dis
armament amendment which would
suspend construction pending negotia-
tlons. This was not offered, Follow
ing is the text of the Borah amend
ment:
" That the President is authorized
ana requested to invite the govern
ments of Great Britain and Japan to
send representatives to a conference
which shall be charged with the duty
OF promptly entering into an under
standing or agreement by which the
naval expenditures and building pro-
grams OF each of said governments.
70 WIT, the United States, Great Brit
am ahd Japan, shall be substantially
reduced annually during the next
i've years to such an extent and upon
such terms as may be agreed upon,
Which understanding or agreement is
10 be reported to the respective gov
ernments for approval"
Discussion Of the naval bill continued
throughout the day Uncertainty pre-
vailed tonight as ta when final action
on the measure would be taken.
On resuming consideration Of the
blli, an amendment offered by Senator
Mclean, of Connecticut, was adopted,
winch permits building, out of the S9O-
Uo0oOU item Tor construction, one sub
marine torpedo boat and one transport,
IN addition to craft already under con-
Structlon.
Income Tax in Virgin Islands
Senator Kenyon, who explained that
certain persons in the Virgin Islands
retained Danish citizenship, and one of
them was a member of Che Colonial
Council, got al amendment adopted re-
curing all persons holding office to be
American citizens and applying the
American income tax laws to Che
Islands, The proceeds are to be used
Tor meeting expenses of local govern
ment for which the United States is
appropriating about $4,000 year.
An amendment, proposed by Senator
Swanson, which would have permitted
navy officers who resign to enter the
Reserve Corps with the rank they hold
IN active service, was defeated on 4
point of order raised by Senator Smoot.
senator King, of Utah, stirred up q
sharp sharp discussion by reading excerpts
from newspapers and statement of
an officer of the navy whom he re-
used to name, indicating the new
oattleshlp Tennessee was developing
serious defects of machinery. He said
the Tennessee had recently gone into
Ponobscot Bay for trial runs and that
the ship had developed trouble with
motors and with the electric drive He
asserted major defects existed, and de-
clared in spite of this the same kind
of machinery was to be furnished the
MASSACHUSETTS and number of other
vessels.
"This vessel was commissioned
year ago" said Senator King. "The
defects developed are major machinery
defects, not minor"
Defects Repaired, Says Wadsworth
Senator Wadsworth said he had
lately been on the Tennessee at Hamp-
ton Roads; that he was told one of
the motors burned out at the time Of
the maneuVers off Cuba, but that this
had been repaired.
Senator Poindexter also insisted the
defects had been repaired, saying the
motors had been furnished by the West
inghouse company, but the company
had remedied defects.
Senator Lodge tried to get Senator
King to name the officer who informed
him Of the defects. Senator King de-
clined. and the two Senators had
peppery exchange.
Senator Poindexter said the Ten
nessee was about to leave for the Pa
cific Coast. He agreed with Senator
King that there was no reason why de-
fects of the navy should not be fully
aired and thought it had a good effect.
Discussion of the alleged defective
machinery of the Tennessee arose in
connection with an amendment, which
probably will be adopted by the Senate
under which the limit of repairs which
may be made to any one vessel of the
navy is fixed at 100000 instead of
$300,000.
Senator La Toilette again assailed
features of the bill in lengthy speech.
He spoke in connection with the Naval
Continued page three)