The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1921-05-25
ECONOMY FORCES
MEET SETBACK. IN
NAVY BUDGET BILL
Many Increases Recommended
BY Naval Committee Adopt
ed BY Senate Over Wig
orouS Opposition
BY Associated Press

Washington. May 24.-The economy
drive against the S495,O00,o0O naval appro-
priation bill was shattered in the Senate
today when many increases recommend
ed by the naval committee were adopted.
By vote of As to 20 the Senate adopted
"a committee amendment, opposed vigor-
ously by the economy forces, providing
for a personnel Of 10000 men as against
10000 authorized by the House. After
demands from the economy advocates for
roll calls, committee amendments calling
for increases aggregating about $780,
900 were approved.
The roll call on the navy personnel ap-
parently broke the attack of senators.
who have been fighting to overturn the
increases recommended by the naval COM
mittee. The way also was paved for pass
age OF the bill tomorrow or Thursday
after prospective adoption of the Borah
amendment for disarmament confer
ence
There were reports today of negotia-
lions looking to restoration of appropria-
lions for a new Pacific coast base at
Alameda, California, and for continuing
dry dock and dredging projects at Char
lesion. S. c. Whether these negotiations
figured in the vote today sustaining the
committee increases was not disclosed
PARTY LINES BROKEN
Party lines were broken in the vote
on fixing the navy personnel at 10000.
Thirteen republicans voted to hold the
personnel to 10000, but the loss of these
republicans to the committee provisions
was off set by IA democrats who voted
to keep 10000 men in the navy.
Among committee increases adopted
we're SIS, ST. 900 for pay of personnel, $o,-
900 for reserve forces, 49, 600 for
provisioning,s $4,000 for fuel and its
transportation and $4,000 for the
marine corps. Nearly all of these in
creases were bound up in the decision
for personnel of 10000 men.
Senator Lenroot, republican. Wisconsin.
led the battle today against the COM
mttee increases and gain warned the
republicans tisat the country would noe
stand for them. He was joined by Sena-
tor Hitchcock, democrat, Nebraska, who
announced he would vote against the bill
If the committee increases should be SUBJ
stantially substained
OPPOSE LONE DISARMAMENT
senator Swanson, Virginia, ranfirg
democrat on the naval committee, how
ever, supported the committee pro-
gramme, declaring that with the AVA
ton and other programmes of the navy
| 600 men were neeced. Senator Under
| wood Alabama, democratic leader, who
voted for the 10000 personnel, made a
! lengthy address advocating international
disarmament agreements. but opposed
disarmament by the United States in the
absence of an agreement with other
powers.
| Senator Lenroot offered an amendment
| to prohibit further payment of bonuses
| to enlisted men for re-enlistment, bul
! it was defeated without a record vote.
Senator Poindexter. republican, Washing
| ton, in charge of the BILL said the Len
root amendment would result in saving
only $2,OO0, 900 and would discourage re-
enlistment of trained men, who also
regard the bonus as recognition of serv-
| ice.
| Entering the debate for the first time,
Senator Underwood, urged retrenchment
| in armament expenditures.
There has been no greater burden lald
! in the progress of civilization since the
beginning than that of maintaining
armies and navies,' said Senator Under
wood.
CONTINUED on Page T,voo