Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1922-04-21
HOUSE D. k s THE
BIG NAVY BILL
Advocates of Adequate Sea
Force Win Signal Victory.
MEASURE PASSES, 279 TO 10
Party Lines Are Smashed as the Ad-
ministration Bill, With Democratic
Amendments, Comes Up for
Action-Adds $17,995.729.

Washington, April 20-"The big
navy bill was passed by the house
and sent TO the senate. The vote was
20 to IS, with two members voting
present.
Prior to the passage of the bill, the
amendments increasing the authorized
enlisted personnel from $1,000, pro-
yided for in the small navy" bill re-
ported by the appropriations commit
tee subcommittee, to $4,000 demand
ed by President Harding and the Navy
department, was approved POI to 14S,
with two voting present.
Advocates of the big and little navy
locked herns over the size of the en-
listed strength required to maintain
ihe American fleet at the 5-5-3 ratio
Gxed by the naval treaty, up until the
last minute.
No attempt was made by either side
10 reach a compromise and when the
time came for voting both sides an
nonnced that they wanted the issue
settled by vote on the "big navy"
amendment, which had been adopted
In committee of the whole house last
Saturday.
Appropriation Increased.
The bill as passed by the house ap-
propriates $251 ,269,737 as compared
with $46S,000,000 for the current year
The increase in the personnel voted
by the house increased the appropria-
tons in the bill by SIT ,995, 729, consist
ing mostly of increases in allowances
for pay and subsistence of the 10000
additional men provided for
An amendment offered by Repre-
sentative Lanham (Dem) of Texas
appropriating 100000 for the con-
struction, maintenance and repair of
helium plants was adopted without a
record vote.
Representative Hicks (Rep.) of New
York sought to have the approprla-
tions for maintenance of naval air
craft and air stations increased from
$5,475000 TO $7,039,000, but the house
rejected the amendment by vtoe of
"a TO 20.
Chairman Kelley, of the naval APP
proprlations subcommittee, in a last
hour appeal for "small navy"
charged that the supporters of the
$4,000 navy personnel plan were ac-
anated by desire to keep navy yards
and stations in their districts open.
Representative Osborne, of Cali
fornia, pointed out that the submarine
base site and pier at Los Angeles had
becl donated by the city of Los An
geles to the Navy department, and
denied that he was supporting tie bin
in the hope of establishing navy
yard there in addition.
Kelley Fights Increase.
up at San Francisco Chairman
Kelley continued they have been
urging that we provide for navy
yard at Alameda that would cost $780,
100000, when they already have the
finest yard In the world only twenty
eight miles away at Mare Island, and
it cost only $40,O00,000. They won't
get it,"
Mr.. Kelley declared that Secretary
of the Navy DENLY had submitted
figures to him upholding the conten-
fion of small navy" men that the
increase in personnel would increase
abe bill by $400O0,000.
Il have seen the letter from the
secretary to the chairman of the sub
eomntttee," interjected Representa-
fiye Rogers, of Massachusetts. Read
Is ALL"
The house cried, "Read it, read it,"
nntll Chairman Kelley finally did So
In the letter Secretary DENLY said
that the increased cost of the person
mel because of the house amendments
would be $22000,000 md urged that
an additional Sl7,s16,662 be included
for fuel, construction and repair.
yards and docks and other navy ac-
aiyitles whether the house should
fnally approve the $1,000 or the So
900 bill.
Party lines were broken on the vote
for the $4,000 amendment. Democrats
and Republicans from Atlantic and
Pacific coast states united in support
OF the amendment, with the delega-
lions from the Central West about
divided. Far Western and Southern
members voted almost solidly against
the big navy.