Arizona republican., 1922-03-22
HOUSE APPROVES
CLAUSE CUTTING
1000 OFFICERS
FROM ARMY LIST
[RepubIIcan A. ?. Leased WIrel

WASHINGTON, March 21.-After
approving a clause in the army ap-
preparation bill which provided that
by July / the number of regular army
officers must be reduced from ap-
proximately $4,000 to 1000. the
house adjourned late today as it was
about to plunge into fight over the
enlisted. strength. A vote on pro-
posals to slash the enlisted person
mel, which, now approximates $4,000,
exclusive of 1000 Filipino scouts, to
$4,000 or less, is expected to be
reached tomorrow.
Standing by the recommendations
OF the Subcommittee which drafted
the bill, the house in quick succession
rejected three amendments which
sought to fix the officer strength
at different levels. BY a vote of 142
to Sc, an amendment by Chairman
Kahn OF the military affairs COM
mittee to provide pay for $4,000 Off
GERS during the coming fiscal year
was defeated. An amendment by
Representative Sisson, Mississippi, a
Democratic member OF the sub-com-
mittee in charge of the bill, to cut
the number of officers to 5000. swas
showed under, $50 to 40,, while a
poll by Representative Hull of Iowa,
a Republican member of the military
affairs committee, to fix the maxi
mum at 10000, was voted down, 115
to 65.
When the house quit work for the
day it had before it a series of
amendments which would increase
the allowance of the officers reserve
corps. The bill carries $250,000 for
salaries, an inadequate amount. in
the opinion of Representative Hill.
Maryland; Crago, Pennsylvania, and
Rogers of Massachusetts, all Repub
licans, who proposed increases of the
item in varying amounts.
Once these amendments are dis
posed of, the house will be ready for
a. skirmish over enlisted strength.
The trainers of the bill have provided
for a reduction to 115,000 men, eX-
elusive Of the 1000 Philippine scouts.
Mr.. Kahn, who has declared his
approval or war department
recommendations for 10000 men.
| has indicated he will offer
an amendment to provide pay
| Sissons has announced he will pro-
pose that the enlisted personnel be
| cut to 100000 men.
During the discussion of officer
! strength today Republican members
| of the military affairs committee gem
! orally came to the support of Mr..
| Kahn. Representative Fisher of Ten
nessee, Democratic member of the
| committee, also made a speech in
| support of the Kahn amendment.
! Chairman Madden of the appropria-
! tions committee and Representative
Mondell of wyoming, Republican
! leader, however, rallied to the sun
I nf faf i've
publican of Kansas, in charge of the
bill. Mr.. Madden said congress. in
appropriating for the army, should
make an effort to relieve the tax
| payers, at the same time providing
/ for the security of the country. En-
dorsing the bills provisions for a re-
! duction in officers to il 900. he said
force of this size was adequate for
| all needs during the coming fiscal
year.
Mr. Mondell said the committee S
recommendation constituted a SEN
sible middle ground between the
stand Of radical large and small army
men.
On the other hand, Mr.. Kahn held
/ 1T would be a grave mistake to slash
arbitrarily the provision for officers.
! Such action, he said, would seriously
handicap the war department. Mr..
/ Fisher said General Pershing, was
l appealing to the country for support
against a "hostile" congress which
was attempting to break the back
! bone of the army
| Representative Green, Vermont. a
Republican on the military affairs
committee, declared ii would be a
most stupid blunder "the most eyre
gious folly OF follies. IF we, permit the
art of war to languish among our
people so that they soon will be liv-
ing in a FOOLS paradise"