New-York tribune., 1922-04-04
Mondell Tells Hin, House
Will Not Provide for
More Than 81, 900 Force:
Macarthur Asserts 1t Will
Insists on $4,000 Men
Harding Said To Be Against
Drastic Cut; Bill Carry
ing Out Treaty Prepared

WASHINGTON, April An omni-
bus bill, giving Legislative authority
and approval for the carrying out Of
| the naval limitation treaty recently
ratified by the Senate, is being pre-
! pared and will be taken up by tire
House in the near future, Representa-
tive Mondell, OF Wyoming, Republican
House leader, said to-day on leaving
the White House after conference
with President Harding
The bill. Mr.. Mondell said, would
! provide for the cancellation Of coll
tracts, the conversion Of tTTo battle
cruisers into airplane carriers and the
scrapplng Of other vessels rs agreed
| Washington conference. The bin will
| operate to give complete congressional!
approval TO the treaty, Mr.. Mondell
added. The House leader sad drafting
| Of the bill involved decisions as to the
policy toward big naval establishments
which have been built up along the At
lantic and Pacific seaboards such es
/ those at New York. Philadelphia and
Norfolk. Which Of these would be
continued and which curtailed Mr.. Mon
j dell would not predict
! TIeSl0eNL HearS Both Sides
J With the naval appropriation bill.
winch ultimately will tx the size c3
Americas peace time sea forces. due
70 come before the House probably be
fore the end Of this week, Presiden n.
Harding was visited today by leader
OF both the "big navy" and little
navy movements. He was told b.
| both callers that their sides Of Che
question were supported by a majority
of the House. Representative Mrrtell
informed Mr.. Harding that the House
Would provide for personnel Of nos
more than G7.0o0 and Representative
Macarthur, Of Oregon, Republican mem
Der Of the Naval Affairs Committee
later advised him that the mo- e1nent
for a larger sorce than that provided
| in the bin is gaining ground.
Upon leaving the White House, NJ
Mondell declared he had made tne
attitude Of the House clea7 to tho
President. mat body VIII not permit
FUNDS for more than $4,000 men. which
he said would -.rovide adequate con-
piemcnts for the eighteen capital ships
called for under the 5--5--3 rat:o
agreed on in the iive-rower naral
treaty.
May Increase $1,000 Force
During Mr.. Mondell's absence tro,.,
the Capitol this morning, however. the
Appropriations Committee is under
stood TO have agreed to increase the
personnel carried in the bill 10 81 ,00o.
Representative Macarthur was en-
phatic in his assertion that the House
will accept his amendment to tie
money measure increasing the per
sonnel 10 $4,000. He deciined to quote
The President in any way, but it is
generally understood that the latter is
opposed to the drastic reduction pro
posed By the Appropria Com
Mittee.
The latest action Of the committee
in making provision for CT 900 enlisted
men as compared with $4,000 originally
agreed upon, said Mr. Macarthur, IS a.!
indication that the committee realizes
the weakness of It's position and the
general feeling among members thu.
the proposed personnel is not sutticien
Tor The proper maintenance OF the
navy: lie also declared that many
members had voluntarily told hin? tiley
VIII support his amendment aad be Is
confident it viii be adopted.