The New York herald., 1921-01-18
SENATE AGREES
TOLMIT ARMY'S
SIZE TO 175,OOO
Reverses It's Stand for 15O.-
600 by Vote of fl
to 33.
STRENGTH NOW 22o.0OO
Nine Republicans Vote
With Minority After
Long Debate.
HOUSE VOTE IS 285 TO 4
MOndell Attacks Baker for
Contemptuous Violation of
Will of Congress-.
HOUSE VOTE IS 285 TO 4
s.eciol Despatch to THE NEW YORK HERALD.
New York Herald Bureau,
Washiuetou. ID. O.. Jan. IL.

New York Herald Bureau,
Washington, ID. c., Jan. IL.
Both houses of Congress, acting al
most simultaneously, voted to-day to
order the Secretary of War to reduce
the enlisted strength of the army to
175,000
That will be accomplished by stop
ping all enlistments as soon as the
resolution is enacted and allowing the
normal discharges to bring down the
army to the Congressional limit. No
restriction is placed on reenlistments.
While the resolutions passed by both
houses agree on IT'S 1000. the texts diff
fer somewhat and a conference will be
necessary before resolution can be
sent to the President for signature.
The debate revealed the fact that the
present size of the army is 225,000.
Nny REQUIRE sixteen Months.
Testimony OF Gen. Pershing and Sec
retary Baker was that 1t would require
about sixteen months for the army 10
reach the 175.000 figure.
The Senate took IA back track in its
attitude on the size of the army. and by
a vote Of Al to 33 ordered an army OF
IFS. 900. reversing the action of last FRI
day. which fixed It at 10000. Two Re-
publican Senators Colt OR. ID ana
Curtis (Kan), who had formerly
favored the smaller army. to-day sup
ported the majority. The House vote
to-day was 2S5 to 4.
The following nine Republican Sena-
tors voted to reduce the army to 10000: !:
Borah (Idaho), Capper (kan),
cronna On. d., kenyon (Ia.), Jones
wash) ). McNary (Ore.), Norris (Nebo
ana Smoot (Utah).
Final action came after n long debate
following adoption of Senator Phelans
tCal.) motion to reconsider last weeks
action The California Senator insisted
that there was grave menace to the
United States because of the attitude OF
Japan. While he did not go so far as TO
say Japan is preparing for war, he said
that nation had no friendly feeling for
the United States" and that III feeling
over the racial question, coupled with
The general condition OF unrest in the
world. made it unsafe for America to re-
cuce her military or naval forces.
There Is no peace in the world to-
day" said Senator Phelan. "and the
United States still is technically at war
with Germany / lay great weight on
the testimony of Gen. Pershing to the
Senate Committee on Military Affairs"
RidicuIes War Menace.
Senator Williams (Miss.) ridiculed the
idea of a war menace between Japan
and America and scoffed at the sug-
gestlon of Senator Phelan that Califor-
MIA would defy" the Federal Govern
ment IL there were an insistence on
abandonment of the California alien
land laws restricting the rights Of Jap
anese to holding land.
Japan would be bankrupt in six
weeks IL she tried to go to war with
us" said Senator Williams. "All the
world would be with this country and
all credit and means of continuing the
conflict would be taken from Japan"
Senator Borah charged that the Gov
ernment was furnishing insufficient
funds to take care OF soldiers of the
world war suffering from disease.
'Tt is the part of patriotism" he said.
ito disregard the army organization and
take care of soldiers who are dying for
want OF care. There are insane SOL
diers now roaming the streets because
of lack of proper care tuberculosis
patients, l am told are without proper
hospitals and are dropping dead for
want of It,"
Senator Borah said in 1920 war ap-
propriations totalled S3,S55. 4S2 .5S6,
while the appropriation for educational
purposes was only S57 $3.50. 900, or 6S per
cent. for war and 1 per cent. for educa-
tion.
THAT is more deplorable record
than Germany ever had" lac continued.
"and infinitely more deplorable than the
Soviet Government OF Russia has now"
He urged that America had no fear of
attack from any foreign foe. that an
army OF 175,00O was too large for mere
police duty, and that the thing 20 do
was TO change the provisions of the
army reorganization act so that the
army and It's cost of maintenance could
be reduced.
Senator Reed CNIo.) insisted the army
ought to be reduced 90 100000. and said
there was no danger from any foreign
foe Dlsposlng of the possibility OF at
tack from japan. he said that III Japan
brought an army OF 5000, 600 men here,
which she would have to do 20 whip
us, she would simply have landed them
In cemetery, where the last OF them
would sleep forever.