Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-01-01
HARDING TAKES Up
FINANCE AND ARMY
Tells House Members He Wants
Military Bill Cut, But Train
ing Plans Kept.

nv Associated Press to Every Evening
Marion, Ohio Jan. I.--Prcsident-cieet
Harding took only part holiday IN OBJ
servance of the coming OF the New year,
spending much Of the day at his desk at
work on miscellaneous business that had
accumulated during his almost continuous
conference on the policies Of his administra
ton He arranged 20 have his New Year.
dinner at home with Mrs Harding and
several personal friends.
Marion, Jan. 1.-The country financial
situation aud the problem ~ ciittng down
government expenses were canvassed by
Prcsident-elect Harding yesterday ~
conference with Congressional leaders and
officials of the Federal Reserve Board.
Particular concern was shown by
MIR Harding in the c1rtailment Of army
and navy appropriations at the present
session Of Congress and he went over that
subject in detail with Representative
Mondell, of Wyoming, Republican leader
of the House. and Representative An
| thony Of Kansas, chairman Of the House
subcommittee which frames army ap
preparation measures Recently he had
| similar conference with Representative
Kelley OF Michigan, chairman OF the
appropriations subcommittee on naval
cxpenditures.
W p @. Harding, governor Of the
| Federal Reserve Board, Edmund Piatt
! the vlce-governor. and Bevcral officials
| of the Cleveland Reserve Bank, talked
| about general financial conditions with
/ the PresideEt-elect aud gave him their
advice on wise governmental policy
| during the next few months Farmer re
| lief is understood 20 have been ono of the
/ Il 4 a.
officials advising against special govern
ment protection for any particular group
MIR Mondell told the president~elect
the governments s greatest saving during
the present session could be accomplish
ed by holding down the army and navy
budget and predicted that by careful ecOno
my the annual appropriations for all de-
partTnents could be scaled down 70 APP
proxinately two billion dollars. lie r.
commended against any armament re-
duction until there has been A. information
nj disarmament agreement, but said
millions could be saved in expenditure
OF the military and naval establish
ments without seriously crippling their
efficiency
Legislation fxing tn enlisted strength
OF the army at 10000 or $4,000 N
place Of the present authorized strength
Of 2Sl 900. was suggested by RepreEenta-
, tive Anthony as one practical way n r.
, duclng expenses He alsO detailed various
economies which no SAID could be ac-
, complished by the exeoutiYe branch n the
government IN It's uae ( army funds
After the cOnferanoe Mr. Anthony said
, He told me of his deap interest j
maintaining . policy making adequate
provisions for voluntary military training
lie desiros the reserve officers training
oorps be- continued. together with civilian
/ schools and college training whereby W
shall keep az all times not less than i50.
900 young men in voluntarily training with
the conception that their education a7l
not BE- properly completed without this
training"
A note Of optimism IN regard n fran
cal conditions was sounded by Governor
Harding 10 conference with the President
elect, 10 whom he reported the busines'
position haa passed ia most trying stages
The conservative influences which
have been ia Operation during the year
said the governor IN statement issued
after the conference, have Prevented
larger measure Of distress than has actual
ly occurred. Business generally is beginning
70 adjust tself TO new levels and Is getting
ready 20 Proceed on a sounder and sanel
basis