The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1922-04-15
PRESIDENT HARDING TAKES OPEN
STAND AGAINST THE NAVAL CUT.
Chief Executive Sends Letter
to Congressman Longworth.
Declaring Country WouldBe
Disappointed With Person
mel Under $4,000.

Washington. April 14.-President
Harding, in his first public utterancc
on the 1923 naval bill, declared In a
! letter presented today to che house
! that, while the decision must lie with
congress, he would be greatly disap'
pointed, as he believed the country
would be, il the enlisted force was
brought below $4,000.
The opinion was not sent g.atui'
tously. 1t was given In response TO
! request for the presidents view By
Representative Longvorth. Repubii.
can, Ohio, one OF the leaders in the
fight to defeat the proposal in the bill
! limiting the force to $1,000. There
had been unofficial statements to the
effect that the president opposed
drastic reduction In personnel and
stood for the figure he proposed IN
! the Macarthur amendment ..
Will Vote Saturday.
! In presenting the letter toward u
close OF an all-dAy debate, Mr.. Long.
worth said he was glad to accept the
challenge from friends Of tho meas
ure as framed to ind out what
the president wanted and to let ths
house know.
The vote on the enlisted provision
section will come tomorrow. On the
eve of the battle, both sides tonight
still were claiming victory.
Everything is fine and tho bill. -
written, will pass" said Chairman
Kelly, who is in charge Of the bill.
I'VE will win, unless too many OF
our supporters leave town for Easter,
said Representative Macarthur. OF Ore
goh. Republican member Of the naval
committee, ready with an amendment
providing for $4,000 men the moment
the section is reported.
Delay Resisted.
Friends O; the "big navy" had
planned early today to force the night
over until next week, but Chairman
Kelley resisted all attempts to delay.
I When the measure was called up 70
be read, item by item, the clerk had
barely turned a page when the night
started on the enlisted question, and
it ragged increasingly until night. ID
the end the house, worn out By ho9rS
Of talk, quit nine pages ahead OF th0
disputed provision.
One amendment was accepted -
one was voted down. There was -
objection to the first. by Represaut1r
tive Towner, Republican, lows, for S1
increase from $3.50, 900 to $343, 900 Tor
the government Of the Virgin Islands,
but the other for increasing the -
preparation for the grest lakes n2S0
station from $160.O00 to S2so.ooo, a.
fered by Representative Chindoloom.
Republican, Illinois, the homo stSts q
the station. was rejected. Sc to 81.
But the figures did not represent the
full voting strength on the floor.
The Presidents Letter.
The president said he would Be
greatly disappointed, as he knew the
country would be. II the enlisted per
sonnel was reduced beloy $4,000. the
figure which has been proposed BY the
"big navy group =.
While the decision must lie With
congress. the president said he could
only repeat formally what he had said
Informally, that he was persuaded u
would not be wise to make 30 drastic
cnt as proposed in the house bill
| The letter said that . navy OF G7,ooe
men might be reached ultimately, On
"the trend toward peace and security
ought to be more firmly estAbltSheo
before going beyond the limitations
to which we were gladly committed 1t
the international conference.
: The president. while not doubling
the good faith Of the committee ma.
jority." said he must believe IN the
GOOD faith Of the navy and naval I'd.
yisers, who declared very emphatic.
/ aIly it was impossible to maintain
within the proposed appropriation the
standard set for the navy 1t the con
ference and which was proclaimed 70
: the world.