Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1922-03-22

4 He 1EtSlucIlL s UeUlduu was convey gu
to Congress by Representative Darrow,
Republican, of Pennsylvania, and Repre-
sentative Hicks, Republican, Of New
York, two members of the Naval Affairs
Committee, with whom he conferred.
The President informed his con-
gressional callers that the Administration
Is opposed to any cut that viii bring tht
American Navy below the poiut of
efficiency contemplated IN the confer
ence treaties, either In equipment of per
sonnel. He left them TO figure out for
themselves whether q presidential veto
will greet the naval appropriation bill,
now In committee, which is ready to be
brought out providing for pay for only
5000 men and 1000 officers.
Within q few hours after the President s
views were communicated to the Naval
Affairs Committee it reported out q bill
fixing the strength of the navy at $40
officers and $1,000 men, plus 5000 ap-
prentices. This IS a reduction OF 1,O60
officers and 81, 800 men from the present
authorized strength.
There is a vast difference. however,
between authorized strength and actual
strength. The authorized strength today
Is 137 800; the actual strength is around
101 900 men.
WILL HAVE TO
LOOK TO SENATE.
Thus while the Navy Committee. which
determines policy. was fixing the au-
thorized strength of the Navy at $1,000,
figure commensurate with President
Hardings wishes, the Appropriations
Committee went blithely ahead on the
blu ?royidiDg pay fof only sizty-fye
thousand. Its members said TosiIiyely
fhpf for would he
vided
The "bIg" Navy men OF the House
served notice they would seek to amend
the bill before its passage, but their
chances were considered by leaders AS
small In view Of the disposition Of he
House generally to cut naval and mill
tary expenditures to the bone.
The upshct Of the days Developments
was that President Harding apparently
viii have 20 look to the Senate to stop
the wholesale cuts of both Army and
Navy.
Passage OF tho Army and Navy bills
in the House and their rejection by tie
Serate IVES forecast.
Two days Of contact between President
Harding and Republican leaders have
heightened rather than allayed the acute
friction that exists between the executive
and legislative branches Of the Govern
ment on pending legislation.
Something closely akin TO open war
fare exists between the White House and
House leaders Of Capitol Hill
In the face Of strong White House
disapproval, House leaders are calmly
proceeding with their plans TO pass the
pending Army bill, cutting the size Of
the Army to 10000 men and directing
the withdrawal Of a majority Of the
troops which the United States main
tains in its overseas possessions. They
asserted that the bill would be passed
and sent along to the Senate by night
fall
Again tomorrow the House leaders
plan to disregard the open disapproval
of the White House by passing the pend.
ing bonus" bill.
President Harding regards the "bo-
nus bill as inadvisable and unworkable
He regards the House attempts to cut
the Army to 1150O0 men and the Navy
10 65,000 men or less, and the directions
as to how the various troops should be
stationed as a bold move to usurp his
prerOgaives.
''The President Is still commander-in-
chief and he has not, nor will he dele
gate his authority in this respect to the
Appropriations Committee of the House,
or any other congressional body" 1t was
stated officially at the White House.
When this message was conveyed to
leaders of the House 1t drew the reply
from one of the leaders that:
THE House is going ahead We will
absolve ourselves from criticism in any
event by passing the bills, both bonus
and Army"