The Washington herald., 1922-03-18
KAHN SCORES
CUT IN ARMY
MOndell Declares 115,000
Men Sufficient for
Needs.
LEADERS ARE FIRM
Many Fear Congress Will
Make Still Further Reduc-
tions in Personnel.
LEADERS ARE FIRM

Congressional efforts to ham,
string the army and usurp the pow
ers of the Commander-in-chie were
bitterly condemned in the House
yesterday by Representative Kahn.
chairman of the Military Affairs
Committee, and others who are seek
ing to prevent a reversion to the
unpreparedness of pre-war days.
Their attempts were answered by
Representative Mondell. Republican
leader. who declared that the lis, 200
army allowed by the House Appro-
priations Committee was adequate,
Notwithstanding the War Depart
ment's warning that the proposed
reduction runs below the safety
mark.
Knhn's Plea Doomed.
So intent are House members on
making showing for economy in
this years budget that Mr.. Kahn's
plea for the army appears doomed
to rejection. The fight will be car
ried to the Senate. where the Mill
tary Affairs Committee is preparing
to make a vigorous defense of the
army.
House members seem so deter
mined to go the limit in cutting
down the army that the administra-
ton will be fortunate if the bill gets
through without any further reduc-
tiOn. Representative Sisson, of
Mississippi. Democrat. expects to
make motion to cut the enlisted
strength to 100000 men, and some
of the Democrats may support a
motion to reduce it to $4,000.
Kahn Scores Plan.
The controversy today took place
in the course Of general debate on
the army appropriation bill. At the
appropriate time Mr.. Kahn probably
will make motion TO maintain the
army at its present enlisted strength
of 10000 men. He or one of his
colleagues on the Military Commit
tee will offer a motion to strike out
that portion of the bill which un-
dertakes to compel radical reduc-
ton of the garrisons in Panama
and Hawaii and which would COM
pei the withdrawal of the troops
from the Rhine and from China.
Lately" said Mr.. Kahn. 'it has
seemed TO become profitable on the
part of a good many of the men in
Congress to insist on cutting down
the allowance for our army and
navy. Economy is the watchword
of a good many legislators. But
let me call the attention of the
House to the fact that false econ
omy is the poorest kind of economy.
Prior to our entrance into the
world war our national debt was
only about $1,000. 100000. BY reason
of our lack of preparedness we
were compelled to expend during
the nineteen months we were in
the world war the startling sum
Of $4,000, 100000. The generations
which come after us will groan un-
der the burden of paying taxes to
meet the cost of the world war.
Now it is the purpose of the
members of the Appropriations
Committee to reduce the force to
$4,000 enlisted men and 1000 Of
ficers. This is much lower than we
have had since the end of April.
1917. In my opinion. IL is altogether
too drastic a cut at this time.
Mr.. Kahn gave statistics to show
that the per. capita expenditure for
the maintenance of armies was
lower in the United States than any
other nation and that the expendi
lOE NhC ihAO
significance when compared to the
national expenditures for pleasure
or non-essential commodities. For
instance. the country spent for ad-
missions to theaters, concerts. cab
arets. baseball games and other
similar entertainments s897 .0OO. 900
last year-more than twice the ap-
preparation for military purposes.
Candy and chewing gum cost the
country $3.50, 1000 900, he said
Representative Dallinger, of
Massachusetts,, invoked the spirit
of Theodore Roosevelt to protest
against the army reduction.
IF he were living today" said
Mr.. Dallinger. Il can well imagine
his astonishment and disgust at the
attitude Of leaders OF his own party
in 50 reducing the appropriations
fer the army and navy as to de-
stre- iaeir fighting efficiency"