The New York herald., 1921-06-21
SENATE CONFEREES
VOTE 10000 Army;
/. navy CUT FORECAST
House Economists Force )
Months Reduction in
Land Forces.
DEADLOCK NEAR END
Naval Experts Admit That
100000 Enlisted Men
Will Man Vessels.
DENLY ASKED FOR 10000
Obsolete Ships Would Be Need
ed to Care for 10000,
1t Is Shown.
DENBY ASKED FOR 10000
Special Despatch to THE New YORK HERALD.
New York Herald Bureau.
Washington. ID. c., June 20.

New York Herald Bureau,
Washington. ID. c., June 90.
The House won q decided victory to-
day in its stand for economy and a
close limit on army and naval expendi-
lures. Senate conferees on the army
bill voted to accept the House position
on the measure for an army of 150, 900
men at the end of three months.
In the House Republican leaders op-
posing the s10O,oOo,OOO increase made
in the naval bill by the Senate OBJ
tanned an admission from the navy
that 100000 enlisted men will man all
naval vessels.
With the vote by Senate conferees
on the army bill it seems the squabble
of several weeks between the two
houses will be ended. 1t remains to be
seen. however, whether the Senate will
accept the recommendations of it's
conferees and pass the bill on the basis
of the army strength fixed by the
House.
The Senate originally provided $S1,-
100000 for enlisted personnel in the
army. This would mean an army Of
10000 men by the end of the next
fiscal year. The House provided s72.-
100000, which would mean an army of
10000 at the end of the fiscal year.
Conferees failed to agree. Last Friday
on the report of failure the House gave
way. voting s77,00O.o00. which would
mean an army Of 10000 at the end of
three months. 1t was this provision
that Senate conferees determined to-
day to recommend to the Senate. 1t
position of the two houses as main
tanned throughout the conference.
Representative Patrick Kelley
(Mich). in charge of the naval bill in
the House. challenged the Navy De-
partment to present tables showing
where it would place the 10000 men
Secretary DENLY stated in recent let
ter to Senator Poindexter (Wash.)
were necessary for an adequate navy.
One OF the main points in dispute be-
strength during the next fiscal year.
The House insists it shall be cut TO
100000. while the Senate, on the ad-
vice of Mr.. DENLY, IS holding out for
10000. Mr.. Kelley. who has made an
exhaustive study OF naval conditions
and who always has stood for a strong
navy. believes 10000 men will be suf-
ficient for all the needs of the navy in
the next year.
His view was virtually confirmed to-
day when in response TO his challenge
to high officers Of the navy tables were
presented which revealed places for
only about 10000 men. In these tables
were included an unalloted reserve of
about 5000 men which naval officers
admitted they did not know where to
place, nearly 1000 on 1877 small patrol
boats which Mr.. Kelley says have no
naval value, and between 1000 and 1900
more on the old battleships which at
present are being used Tor training
Annapolis midshipmen.
The information which ] have re-
ceived from the department for the Sec
ond time makes me more cer;ain than
ample" said Mr. Kelley. "And I feel
certain the House never will yield to
the increase TO 10000 men as asked
by the department and the Senate
am at a loss to understand why the
department asks for 100, 900 men when
by its own figures 1t has places for only
10000, and many of these on ships
that have little naval value.
II am in favor of keeping our modern
fighting craft In first class trim. but at
this time, when the entire country is de-
mandIng economy. I cannot see the
necessity at rc,ping UP many vessels
that arc almost obsolete.
above AL things I think Congress
would not De- justified in passing
larger naval appropriation bill for next
year than Cor the current year. when
about $4,000. 900 were allowed. The
Senate now wants to make It S49t t.00o.-
600 for next year. despite the fact that
virtually everything the navy buys has
shown a big decline in price"
House members OF the Appropriations
Committee conferred to-day and agreed
TO back Mr. Kelley and the House con-
ferees Cn."SS the Senate yields un-
cxpectedly tie bill Is almost certain to
fail OF passage before the beginning OF
tho new fiscal year. July l.
There Is Indication the Senate may
yield. as Senator Swanson (Va.), one OF
the cpnfeceS Is said TO be swinging to
the House position that nearly all the
increases sh oUld be eliminated.