Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1922-01-18
DEMAND
TAX REDUCTIONS
FROM CONGRESS
Arms Conference Aroused Thorn
and They Are Writing to
Their congrsssmen.
PLANS THAT ARE PROPOSED
From Every Evenings Warrington
Correepcndcnt.

Limitation Conference has accom-
plished nothing more, It has brought
expressions from thousands OF people
over the country to their Congress-
men or the, subject OF cxtravagant ap-
proprations for naval and military
This condition OF affairs
holds out hope OF an era of common
sense In spending the peoples money
for the purposes Indicated. Senators
and Representatives In Congress have
been impressed by the unanimity OF
the popular feeling that something
drastic should be done to bring about
tax reduction.
There Will be saving of millions
of dollars In the naval expenditures
of the United States this year. not
In consequence OF the agreements so
much as In a capitalization of senti-
ment in Congress that the taxpayers
won't stand for further extravaganza.
Members of the Appropriation
Committee having in charge the ma
val appropriation bill say that this sup
ply bill will be. slaehed TO meet the
popular demand regardless of any dip
lomatic agreements. The junking OF
obsolete cruisers, battleships, gun
boats and other craft which has out
ljved its usefulness and a reduction in
personnel accordingly. Is one part OF
the formula by which IL Is hoped 20
turn back millions into the treasury
which the naval experts have set
their hearts on getting for the
navy. The sentiment for a big navy
has been so strong in recent years
that the Appropriations Committee
practically wrote It's 20. X" across
the estimates sent up from the Navy
department and shot them through. Ar
a consequence, there has been a lot
of useless expenditure of funds FOL
purposes which no one but the SHARP.
at the Navy department understood
Economy is a word wholly missin,
from the vocabulary OF Army and Ma
Wy officers. Supported by popular sen
timent for drastic tax reductions, tn
Appropriations Committee will scru
tinize closely every item of this year
supply bills for naval purposes an
there will be much "wailing an
gnashing Of teeth" at the Navy de
partment.
Representative Kelley, OF Michigan
chairman of the Naval Sub-commil
tee of the House Appropriations CON
mittee, believes that 500. 900 900
year can. be saved without detrimer
to the navy's efficiency. Estimates fc
this years naval bill, which Will /
reported to Congress by the committe
in March or April. carry approxlmat,
ly $4,000, 900, OF which 500 900 OF
is for new construction and 1920. 900
600 for maintenance. The agreemer
] as to capital ships will stop ne
construction. 1t will require. accors
Ing 10 Representative Kelley, abo,
$5o,00o.0oo 10 complete the BATH,
cruisers Colorado and washingto
convert two uncompfeted cruisers IN
airplane-carriers and build the ne
hight cruisers permitted under II
terms of the Washington agreemer
and this money is available from Il
current appropriation.
q Mr.. Kelley believes that 5000 600 O
q viii cover cost of maintaining 4
: navy al the peak of efficiency for Z
Q year. If this figure is adhered to
q the limit, 1t Will mean a cut OF mo
V than 90 per cent in the new appr
priation BILL
Q Representative Kelley takes the %
d sition that promises for reduction
n naval expenditures should be !
: deemed. A lot of talk. largely politi,
# propaganda, has gone out to the cou
y try from the Washington conferen,
l. which has raised the hopes of the Ia
J. payers very high. 1t is Kelley's DO
ton Congress should make good" a
n not convict the administration
Ie -four flushing" on so grave a gu,
n ton.
IN Keeping obsolete ships in comm
n sion and maintaining personnel
)r them Is one of the ways invented
some Of the naval authorities for &C
u Stunning taxpayers money, accordi
In to Representative Kelley, who
h made a careful study of this phase
~ the situation. He has discovered Il
In there are three hundred destroyers
commission, which is at least TIL
OF times as many as are necessary. Tn
lie vessels consume an enormous amor
es OF fuel. One hundred of them VIII
OF are supposed to be "in reserve" hs
ne used more fuel this year than the
tire navy required before the war.
We Even the economies already Diet
nd mined upon do not represent the
n amount that can be saved, in
lie opinion of Chairman KELLEY. ''E-
s. the $500 100000 to which i expect
es reduce the cost OF naval maintena
this year is twice what was requi
for this purpose before the war" 5
he.
Kelley has in mind reducing
on personnel of the navy some so
'ol cent. This can be brought about lar
e. ly by taking out OF commiss
or scores of obsolete ships which
to maintained at great cost and WI
mt would be of no manner of use IL
st should develop.
n II is doubtful, according to auth
ties in Congress, If appropriate
will be authorized for many new ne
stations during the nSxt two years
view OF the existing situation.
Iy There may be one or two new ns
nv. bases constructed on the Pacific co
IVY for which there has been long felt
ga ficiency. No new ones are likely tC
red authorized for the Atlantic coast
,cl5 those already existing Will be OF
nd ated on a basis OF minimum expel
. ture to keep them ready for zen