Middletown transcript., 1921-02-19
with the grievances were not party
to the national agreement.

Inspired by the conviction that the
United States should have navy as
strong as that of any other nation,
the senate naval affairs committee re-
ported against the Borah resolution
for six months naval construction
holiday. The report, presented by
Senator PoindeXter, said the commit
tee was as anxious as possible to
bring about reduction of armaments,
but that no disarmament would be OF
value unless it were general and, in
the case Of the great maritime powers,
universal. "Unhappily this is not the
case at the present time," continued
the report, "and we must deal with
conditions as they exist. For one
nation to leave itself exposed to at
tack while another is preparing all
the engines of war would be not only
folly, but the greatest danger to the
peace of the world that could be imag-
ined."
A temporary suspension of building,
it was pointed out, would cost the gov
ernment immense sums through de-
terisration Of material and disloca-
ton Of contracts; would throw large
numbers Of workmen out of employ
'ment, and, by rendering it difficult or
impossible to reassemble these forces
should work on vessels be resumed,
would give an immense advantage to
powers that had not interrupted the
construction of their fleets.
The committee upheld the cOnten-
ton of the navy board that the capital
ship Is not obsolete. 1t recommended
that twelve destroyers and six sub
marines, authorized in 1916 but not
yet contracted for, be eliminated from
the building program. These Is ships
were expected to cost the government
about $55,OO0,OOO. The committee sug
gested the use of this amount for the
construction of two airplane carriers
of the most modern type and of the
most advantageous size.
Another senate committeeman on
immigration-alsO took important ac-
tion when it rejected, by vote Of 5
to i, the bill passed by the house pro-
viding for the suspension of immigra-
tiOn for one year. Senators Johnson,
Washington; Harris, Georgia; Har-
rison, Mississippi, and King, Utah,
voted for the bill, and Colt, Rhode
Island, chairman; Dillingham;, YER
mont; Sterling, South Dakota; Keyes,
New Hampshire, and Phelan, Califor-
MIA, against it.
Next day the committee began con-
sideration of the Dillingham; substi-
tute for the house bill, and the indica
tions were that it would be acted on
favorably. This measure provides
that the number Of aliens of any ma
tionality entering as immigrants in
any one year shall be limited to 5 per
cent Of the total number of persons of
such nationality already in the coun-
try, as determined by the latest cen
sus. The legislation would not apply
tinents and adjacent islands, nor to
the Asiatic 'barred zone," from which
immigrants already are excluded, nor
to Japan, immigration from which is
regulated by agreement. Some Of the
radical restrictionists will make
Aght to have the percentage cut down,
perhaps as low as 2 per cent. In
Washington it was said there was mo-
likelihood that the bill would get
through congress before March L.
Frequent charges that thousands of
sick or disabled ex-service men are
being inadequately cared for by the
government had their effect on con-
gress. The senate adopted an amend
ment to the sundry civil bill appro-
priating $12.5OO,OOO for five new build
ings and $6,1OO,OOO for the enlarge
ment and improvement of existing
hospitals. The house, by unanimous
vote, passed bill carrying an ap-
preparation for $13,OOO,OOO for addi-
tional hospitals and enlarged facilities.
Under this bill five new hospitals are
to be located-one in the central At
lantic states, one in the region of the
Great Lakes, one in the central south
western states, one in the Rocky
mountain states and one in southern
California. In addition, the secretary
of war is instructed to take over at
once and equip for hospital use Fort
Mackenzie, Wyoming, and Fort Walla
Walla, Washington.
Foreign Minister S1mons has noti-
fed the allies that the German gov