Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-02-12
BRITISH EFFORTS
(Continued from PAGE One)

tConetnueu from rage Onel
the United States accepted the
building postponement, plan ii would
become a defeated nation, would
lose its insular possessions and its
citizens would be able to travel the
seas only upon terms laid down by
rival nations"
Before sitting down with these
nations at the conference he said,
1.-THE committee feels we should take
precautions not to sit down disarm-
ed. If the six months suspension
We're adopted we lose, in addition,
between s15.000,000 and s25.o00,ooo."
The senator said he would like to
know whether Great Britain would
reduce its fleet to the present
strength of the American navy and
if Japan would actually stop naval
construction. He asserted that the
Britain main feet was twice as
strong as the American and that
Japan would equal the American
strength within the next three or
four years.
Senator Smith, Democrat, Georgia,
SuS6CotNo thdl Seit ID AieAAh 6t'S sN~>
United States in payment for its
war debt half of it's naval forces
that the two powers may be equal
in strength.
The naval appropriation bill ran
through hostile waters in the House,
but at the end of the day was still
afioat.
Shot at from all sides, 1t almost
went down at times as members at
tempted to riddle some of the provi-
sions of the 1925, 100000 measure.
One section, on. the point of going out,
was saved by Chairman Butler of
the naval affairs committee, who
went to the front and rescued it.
Opposition to the bill cropped out
as result of the general dissatisfac-
ton with the new method of framing
legislation. Heretofore
the naval bill has been drafted by the
naval committee, but under the So
called budget system that committee
holds it's hands while a subcommittee
on appropriations does the work.
Representative Britten' of Illinois
ranking Republican member of the
naval committee threw most of the
bombs, using always the argumen,
that funds recommended by the franz
ers of the measure were not author
lied by law. In this way many sec
lions went out on points of order
with indications that many more will
go out, for only a little Roadway was
made with the reading today.
Advocates of economy and friends
of disarmaemnt jumped to their feet
in all parts of the chamber to throw
out an amendment by Representative
Kicks, Republican, New York, provid-
ing 81, 800, 900 for navy aircraft AT the
end they had their way, it being ruled
cut on 4 point of order as new legis-
lation.
Mr.. Britten failed to upsetan appro-
priaticn of $4,000 for temporary
government in the Virgin Islands.
There were many speeches for and
against the biggest navy in the world
Representative Pou. Democrat, North
Carolina, declared that, while he haG
voted for a big navy every year dur.
lljS itlo ~ > tlio VI SSINICe, ne HdC
hoped the time might come when h,
could cease giving such support
"A battleship is of no earthly value
exceptto kill or Destroy" he said
Right now, 80 per cent of all govern.
ment appropriations are for the arm,
ard navy, and God help us if thi:
thing is to continue. 1 see no hope
for the future. The chairman of the
military committee recently made &
startling statement which was calcu
lated to shock, but which nevertheless
is true, when he said America toda.
was without friend among the ma
tons of the world. So 1 shall continue
10 vote for an unconquerable navy
not a navy as great as the greatest
hut navy that can defeat any under
the SUM-