The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1921-04-27
DISARMAMENT
DEBATE HOLDS
UP NAVY BILL
Naval Appropriations Bill Halt.
ed When SO!Ons Ask Naval
Holiday
PROPOSE AMENDMENTS
Ore Would Provide no ApprO.
priatiOns Until President
Had Sounded Nations

Washington April 27.-After an al
day fight over disarmament, the hous,
was forced to quit work last nigh
without reaching a vote on the nava
appropriation bill, because Of the de
mands Of members for time in which
to air their views.
At the end Of the long debate ther,
was pending an amendment proviu
ing that no part Of the appropriation
should go into new cOnStruc. on in
til the president had called an inter
national conference to consider limi
tatlOn Of armament. The amendmen
proposed by Representative Connolly
Democrat, Texas, was precisely like
one offered when the bill was EcfOrt
the house in the closing days Of the
last session by Representative Brooks
Republican, Illinois, and rejected by {
vote Of about five to one. Leaders
predicted it would be thrown out by
a similar vote when the bill is taken
up again Thursday.
Demand Disarmament Farley.
The disarmament discussion brok,
early in the session after Representa-.
tive Knight, Republican, Ohio, had
announced he would vote against the
bill because of the contemplated ex
penditure of $90,000,00O for new bat.
tleships, the general need of economy
and the alleged questionable advan-
tages of capital fighting ships ir
modern naval warfare. The speecl
Started a veritable whirlwind of talk
Seeing where the house was head
ing, Chairman Kelley of the subcom
mittee of appropriations in charge of
the measure tried to stop it, and his
plea that the real disarmament de-
bate be held back until the section
relating to new construction had been
reached, prevailed after a sharp ver-
bal clash in which Representative
Huddleston, Democrat, Alabama, sup.
ported Mr.. Knight and declared gen
eral opposition to big army, coast de-
fense and navy appropriations.
Amendments Ruled Out.
Two amendments, calculated to
bring the disarmament Question
squarely before the house, were ruled
out on points of order, and then Mr.
Connolly again stepped to the front
with a revival Of the Brooks propos-
al. 1t held it's own against a point
of order.
Mr.. Knight, new member, ex-
planned that he had introduced a res
olution for appointment of commits
sion to investigate and report on the
value of battleships and cruisers be-
fore proceeding with the naval expan.
sion program. In the general dis.
armament discussion and in the
ruled out, the question OF
limitation specifically involved the
United States, Great Britain and Jap
an. Advocates of the bill insisted
that the government should go ahead
with its building plan and then when
a navy second to none was within
reach, it would be in better position
to urge halt.
Wonld Let President Do 1t.
Pointing out what he regarded as
big objections to q cessation Of build
ing, Chairman Kelley pleaded for cor.
rection of all proposals relating to
armament conferences with other ma
tibns.
'Let the President alone" he shout
ed. "Let him work out way with
hands united. If the President can
hit upon a plan to lift the burden of
his will be the greatest
our country has ever
had. regardless of what else might
be done
Turning to those insisting upon 4
which, he said, would hold
back work Of navy building until a
conference had been called and thel
it with a rush once the Gail
was issued Mr. Kelley declared:
Don't, urge you, place the United
States in a position of showing bad
calling nations to discuss a re-
duction Of navies, and Instantly
starting work upon greater navv
for ITSELF