Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1922-02-16
FOR
A REDUCTION N
NAVAL EXPENSES
GAINS STRENGTH
MidShipnnen To Be Gradu-
ated Next June May Be
Turned Back to Civil Life
Without Commissions,
DENBY'S ESTIMATE IS
LIKELY TO BE PRUNED
Figure Mentioned As the
Most Probable to Be Set
By the FramerS of Bill
Is $250,000, 900,

Washington, Feb. 15.-The house
naval committee, in trying to dis
cover some way Of reducing appro-
priations for the naval establish
ment next year, was reported to-
day to have agreed informally to
recommend that the first class at
Annapolis be graduated in June, be
turned back to civil life without
commissions in the navy
Although members declined to
discuss this proposal it is under
stood that such a recommendation
probably will be made, along with
the further proposal that the num-
Der of men to be admitted to the
academy each year be reduced from
five to two for each member of con-
gress, Secretary DENLY proposed
that the reduction be cut on con-
gressional allotment from five to
three.
Urge Dropping of Glass.
There are about $40 members OF
the first class, all of whom natur-
ally expected to be sent to sea. A
committeeman urging that the en-
tire class be dropped, declared
inal decision on this question wo I'D
be reached at the earliest possible
time in order to let the midslip-
men know whether they could eX-
peCt to remain on the government
payroll.
While the committee continued
today 10 hear naval experts tell OF
the needs for the next fiscal year
under what they described aS the
treaty navy house members were
canVassing among themselves in
an effort to find how much could
he cut from Secretary DenUy's esti-
mate of $3.50, 900 fer the fiscal
year. On all sides It was admitted
that the drive for a reduction from
that figure was gaining heauWdy.
although many leaders insisted thar
to cut much under the DENLY csti-
mate would put the navy below the
ratio rating fixed by the arms con-
ference.
The figure most persistently men,
toned as the most probable to he
set by the appropriations commit
tee, which win frame the navy bill,
was $250,000. 900. There are many
claims by "little navy men" de-
manding drastic cuts, that the
house, at least, would not stand for
more than $200,000,000.
In asking for $350,O00, 900 Sec
rotary DENLY explained that this
amount would give the navy an en-
listed personnel of 10000. or TO-
600 less than fixed by the last ap-
preparation bill. Nobody in au-
thority was prepared to say off
hand what the enlisted personnel
would be IL only $200,000,0O0 was
allowed, although all agreed It
would scrap "the treaty navy" and
give it an actual strength less than
that allotted by the conference to
Japan.
May Not Support DENLY.
1t was indicated that even the
naval committee might not support
Mr.. Denby's request that the per-
sonnel of line officers be left in
tact. 1t would not follow his sug-
gestion in standing out against
commissions for the first class at
Annapolis, which he strongly rec
commended.
The committee, II Is said prob
ably will ask congress to repeal the
law under which retired officers
are not permitted to be associated
with concerns contracting to sup
ply naval supplies or war materials
to the government Representa-
tive Macarthur. republican, oregon,
q member Of the committee said
there was strong sentiment In COM
mttee for such move, at Is would
tContinueo on Page Two.