The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1921-02-04
HOUSE VOTES PAY :.
ENOUGH FOR ARMY
or 10000 MEN
Definite Step in Reduction of
Military Establishment
MANY AMENDMENTS LOST
Attempt to Cut Down Number of Off.
cerS by smalled Appropriation
Falls.


step toward reduction Of the regular
Army to 10000 men was taken to,
day for the maintenance Of force OF
that size during the fiscal year begin.
ming July /.
The action was taken after at.
tempts had fa led to amend the Army
appropriation bill to provide for 150,.
600 enlisted men, and to decrease
the number Of officers from $4,000 to
approx mately 5000.
The instant the section of the bill
appropriatlng funds for the pay of
enlisted men during the coming
fiscal year was reached, a dozen rep
resentatiyes were on their feet CAIN.
orng for recognit on. Amendments
came pouring in and for an hour
members revived the small army
versus large army debate that has
enliyened many a session OF Con-
gress.
The net result, however, was sue.
cess for the efforts OF the appropr a.
tions committee to keep the measure
practically intact, all amendments
icing voted down except one by Rep
resentat We Johnson, Republican,
South Dakota, authorizing the dis.
charge from the Army of youths un-
der 16 years Of age on their applica-
ton or at the request Of thar par
ents or guardians. At the request of
Representative Wlngo. Democrat, Ar,
kansas, the House voted to grant
such lads honorable discharges
The appropriation b II as amended
carries $72,G7S.659 for the pay Of en-.
listed men during the 12 months be-
ginning July l. This amount Is suf.
hcient for a force of 100000 accord
ing to Representative Anthony, Kan
sas. chairman Of the appropr ations
subcommittee which framed the
measure.
Representative Greene OF Vermont,
a Republican member Of the mirtary
committee, introduced an amendment
to increase the amount TO sS4,SA9, 500,
enough. he said. for the pay Of 175,
009 men. It was voted down 45 to Is.
Another amendment. which met de-
feat, was offered by Representative
Hast ngs, Democrat Oklahoma,
which would have required the War
DEPARTMENT tc reduce the army TO
10000 within SIX months after the
massage Of the appropriation bill. The
amendment was lost by Go to ~
vote. opponents of the proposal
pointing out that 1t m ght he impos.
g BILE FOR the War Department to
reach that maximum, even though It
weNe t cease enI stments at once
Previous to the discussion OF the
enlisted strength of the army. an at
temrt was made by Representative
Jones, Democrat Texas, to have the
appropriation for the pay of officers
during the coming year reduced from
S42. .000. 900 to s30OO0,0O0 Such a cut,
he said. would necess tate a decrease
Of approximately 5000 in thor num-
be-,
Chairman Kahn of the military
comm ttee led the fght to keep the
officer strength OF the army at its
present maximum He said.
The experience Of this country
n the world war ought to be.
lesson for all times. II took aus
lS months to get ready to fight,
CHI eny because we acked trained
cflcers ! believe in economy,
hut at times it is pennywise and
pound foolish. Who wants his
son led into battle by an officer
who has not been thoroughly
trained
The Jones amendment was defeat
ed Sc to 80
During the debate over proposals
to fix the maximum strength of en-
listed personnel at $4,000 instead Of
10000, Representative Mondell, the
leader advocated the re.
duction to 100000 Congress he de.
c,ared, should attempt to realize the
hopes OF the American people by get
ting back to normal conditions.