The Washington herald., 1922-12-14
URGES
SPEEDON NAVY
bU|[D|NGPLANS
House Committee Approves
Appropriating $4,000, 900
More Than Budget Figure
sl4,e47, 900 FOR AIRCRAFT
Recommends Limiting MILDLY
Appointments to Three for
Each Member Of Congress
~ Universal Service.

e Completion of all the fifty-six
ships permitted under the five
power naval treaty except the
two converted aircraft carriers
by July 1, 1924, is contemplated
in the navy appropriation bill re-
ported to the House yesterday.
The physical work on the car.
riers cannot be finished within less
than that period. members Of the
Appropriations Committee stated.
The other vessels are, two battle
ships, ten scout cruisers, one re.
pair ship. two destroyer tenders,
one submarine tender, one gunboat,
thirty-four. submarines and three
fleet submarines.
EXCEEDS BUDGET FIGURES.
Completed tabulations of the
bitems carried for this work total
s65 ,000, 900. Of which sec, ,00O, 900 is
direct and $36,000, 900 indirect ap-
preparations. In both cases, how.
ever, the cash will be available.
The budget estimates were for only
$4i.ooo.0 900. Of which $29 9,00o. 900 was
direct and $12.00o,o00 indirect ap-
propriations.
Pointing out that $ss,s 900 ID
needed to finish tho nifty six ships,
the committees report says of the
$41 .oo0. 900 recommended by the
Budget Director:
such a sum would. require the
cessation Of work on some vessels
and the slowing down of work on
others, the resultant effect of
which would be to increase the
ultimate cost of getting these ships
into commission. - Obviously
1t is to the best interests Of the
Federal Treasury to wind up this
work at the earliest moment prac.
ticable."
TOTALS $325,67O,OOO.
The total appropriations, direct
and indirect, carried in the bill for
the naval establishment are $685..
670,sl2. The budget estimates az.
gregated S317. .503,97s.
Vigorously attacking the policy
of indirect appropriations. Repre-.
sentative James F. Byrnes OF South
Carolina. Democratic member of the
subcommittee in charge Of the bill,
said:
These funds are in the Treasury
like all other moneys, but are cred
tied to the naval supply account.
They should be covered into the
general funds of the Treasury and
the navy bill directly appropriate
the amount the navy needs. so that
the country can know the annual
cost of maintaining the navy"
URGES FEWER MIDDIES.
The present strength Of 81. 900 en-.
listed men in the navy proper and
la,500 in the marine corps is contin.
ned. An increase Of 225 officers.
making a total of 6,6l5 officers In the
navy. is provided.
Taking the position that there will
now be an adequate number of Off
GERS. the committee inserted q pro-
vision reducing the number of ap.
pointments to the Naval Academy.
After next year, every Senator, Rep.
resentative and Delegate in Con.
gress can appoint only three instead
OF five midshipmen annually, under
the proposed reduction.
In the marine corps, 1908 officers
are allowed, against 9S8 at present.
For naval aviation. appropriations
aggregating s14.647,174 are proposed,
This section stipulates that only six
heavier-than-air stations may be
maintained on the coasts of conti-
mental United States, and that none
uf the fund may be used In the con-
struction of factory for the manu-.
facturp of afrplapeS