The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-02-08
Leaders Plan To Go Even
Farther Than Arms Pact.
Declare Z. s. Now Has Double
Number Ships Needed.
MAKE IT REAL SEA HOLIDAY
Sum of S9O,OOO,OOO for Building
Already Topped OF.
Half of S145, ,154, ,191 for Upkeep
To Be Cut in Half.

Washington. Feb S.-The American
navy is in for the greatest cutting 1t
has ever experienced at the hands OF
congress- slashing that will carry it
far below the mark set by the arma-
ment conference.
Republican leaders in congress,
those who handle the money bags.
said today that the American navy is
just about twice as big as is necessary
under existing conditions and that be-
fore congress finishes up its work this
session. the navy will be reduced by
approximately one-half all along the
ine-appropriations, personnel, both
enlisted and commissioned ships.
shore stations and other factors that
go to make up the navy of today.
Eve Need the Money"
The big navies of the world are
now limited" they said. I'VE have
declared a building holiday with our
chief competitors. We are told that
the peace of the world has been in
sured for fifteen years at least by the
armament conference. Then, why do
we need a big navy? Besides, we need
an economy program to be put thru
and We need the money
The house naval affairs committee
announced today that hearings would
be opened Monday to determine how
reduced in accordance with the ten
year naval holiday established by the
armament conference.
Secretary of the Navy DENLY has
been asked to appear before the com
mittee on Monday.
Put Knife to Upkeep.
The first touch of the knife will be
felt in the appropriations for the up
keep of the navy in the next fiscal
year starting June 80 next. The
budget estimates call for an appro-
priation of $425.9 .952,367. This will be
cut at least $225. 600, 600, congressional
leaders said today needing but slight
ly over 5000, coo 900 to run the Ameri-s
can navy from June 80, 1922. to June
80, 1929.
In the original estimate, there was
$50, ,000,O 900 for the completion of the
1915 building program. This will be
knocked out completely as under the
naval treaty with Great Britain.
France, Italy and Japan, the pro-
gram is not to be completed
In the original estimate was $145,-
154.191 for the pay and sustenance
half by the simple expedient of re-
ducing the personnel by half
BY the present authorized strength
of the navy is approximately 1O6,-
600 men and $500, officers. Before
the house gets thru with it's present
plans, the authorized strength will be
not more than $4,000 men and 1000
officers. its leaders said today.
May Go Beyond Treaty.
Congress also plans to do some
scrapping on its own account. Not
satisfied with the number of capital
ships which the armament conference
assigned to the junk pile, house lead
ers are going to direct the scrapping
of numerous older vessles OF all
classes and then force obedience by
the simple method of not providing
men and money for their continued
operation.
1--WE have naval peace assured
now" they argue. why continue to
pour millions of dollars annually into
the maintenance and operation on q
lo1 of old vessels that would be good
only for shore defense in time of war.
They merely make the navy larger,
and not more efficient, SO save the
money"
The congressional pruners are ex-
pecting a howl to go up from navy
heads over the slashing program pre-
pared They are prepared to meet
this, however with assertion that the
war bogey has been chased away now
for fifteen years at least and that this
can be translated to the voters and
taxpayers of the country only by re-
duced expenditures and consequent
reductions in federal taxes.
Copyright. 1922, by I. n. 50