The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-03-17
Military Committee Chairman
Declares Proposal Too Drastic.
tFalSe Economy Poorest Kind
to Use," Rep. Kahn Declares.
HOLDS OUT FOR 15O, 600 men
Strength Should Not Go Lower
Than 10000, He States.
Strength of All Allies Per Cap
ita Cited to Prove Point.

Washington. March 17.-OppOsition
to further withdrawal of American
troops from China was expressed by
Secretary Hughes in letter read in
the house today by Chairman Kahn
Of the military affairs committee. dur
ing debate on the army appropriation
bill. which would require withdrawal
OF all of the 500 men in the regular
amy stationed IN that country.
Washington, March 17.-Warning
members of congress that false econ
ony is the poorest kind of economy
Chairman Kahn of the house military
affairs committee declared today dur
ing consideration of the army appro-
priatiOn bill that reduction in the size
OF the regular army to 115.0OO enlisted
men and 1000 officers, as proposed
in the measure, would be altogether
too drastic a cut at this time"
The California representative held
that pay provision should be made for
10000 men and 1900 officers during
the economic fiscal year. as required
by the war department. or if congress
were determined to direct a reduction
in the interests of economy, that the
enlisted strength should not be de-
creased below 40, 900 men
Lately il has seemed to become
profitable on the part of a good many
OF the men in congress to insist on
cutting down the allowances for our
army and navy" Mr.. Kahn said
Economy is the watchword of a good
many legislators. But let me call the
attention of the house to the fact that
false economy is the poorest kind OF
economy"
Reviewing the military situation
prior TO the entrance of the United
States into the world war, the chair
man asserted that by reason of our
lack of preparedness. we were COM |
a. . -. Meraaa Hlalnv
months we were in the war the start
ling sum of $4,000, 900. 000- When
compared with the expenditures of the
American people for pleasure, or nom
essential commodities. the outlay Tor
military purposes sink into compare
lively ignificance." he contended, !
as he quoted variety Of statistics
Compares AcfunI Appropriation.
During the fiscal year 1921. the
house was told when appropriations
for the regular army, national guard |
and the organized reserves aggregated 1
S41S. 100000. the public spent SS97.- [
600. 900 for admission to theaters. con- |
certs. cabarets, baseball games. and |
other entertainments; S1,151 .0OO,O 900 |
for tobacco and related materials; /
S75O.0OO.O0O for candy and chewing /
gum. 1884. 100000 for sodas and con- !
fections. and s959,OO0.0O0 for personal /
Comparing the expenditures of the /
United States during 1920-21 on Its /
army with that expended by other ma
tons Mr.. Kahn said the United States /
totalled $343155.303. or /
SS-22 per capita. while those of the /
British empire exclusive of depen- I
dencies. amounted to S562.123, 900. or !
S12.35 per capita; France S933.92T,- /
U0O or S22.52 per capita; italy. S246,- /
USI2OO or S6.7O per capita. and ia
pan. S1S9,OS2. 900. or 3.S per capita.
These figures show that we are
exceedingly mindful of the welfare of I
our people in keeping down military
costs and expenditures" declared the 4
speaker.
Contrasting with other leading /
powers the size of the army in com 4
rsrison with the population Mr.. Kahn i
said that for the year 1921. the num- /
her IN the American army was LAP 1
per 900 population, while the num- 4
her in Great Britain was 7.34. France /
14.4T. Italy. SIT, Japan 5.4. and China /
/