The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1922-03-13
ARMY BUDGET
SHARPLY CUT
Reduction Of $4,000, 900
Recommended By
Committee
FORCE OF 115,O0O
MEN PROVIDED
-------------
Many Troops in Foreign
Lands Would Be Recalled
Under Bill

i Washington, d. G., March l3. With
provisions which would necessitate re
duction of the regular army to ll5,00o
enlisted men and II, 900 officers, the
army. appropriation bill, carrying
/ S27e,353, ,036.67, was reported to-day
| by the House appropriations commit
tee The amount recommended for the
military and non military activities of
the war department during the coming
fiscal year is reduction Of sll6,ooo,-
! 600 from the total appropriated for the
current year and ss7,996,0S6.s0 less
than budget estimates.
As drafted by subcommittee
headed by Representative Anthony.
Republican, Kansas, the bin would re-
quire the return to the United States
by next July of all troops stationed
in China; $500 men from Hawaii;
about 1000 men from the Panama ca
nal zone and all but 500 officers and
men in the army Of occupation on the
Rhine.
No limitation is proposed on the
number of men to be maintained in
the Philippines, the committees re-
port. stating, however, that Secretary
Weeks believes that under present
conditions ssome reduction can be
made in the force there.
The contemplated Withdrawals, IL
was said, would leave 5000 men in the
Hawaiin islands, and like number in
the canal zone. The present actual
strength of the army was given by
the committee as about 10000 officers
and 1872 900 men, exclusive Of 1000
Philippine scouts. An appropriation
of 1885 ,260 is recommended for con-
tinuance of work on various river and
harbor Improvements, for which the
chief Of engineers requested $4,000
900. Sl2,43l 900 for the air service
against Sl5,000,000 requested, and sal.
10000 for the National Guard. about |
$a,000,000 less than budget estimates. |
The committee recommended $780, |
600 for the chemical warfare service,
declaring that sum sufficient TO provide |
for q minimum amount of develop /
ment work and training along lines
with present conditions"
and for maintaining Edgewood ar
senal in standby condition. An APP
of S2,750.000 is recommend
ed for supplies and equipment of the
reserve officers training corps, and 81 j,
100000 for civilian military training
camps.
The bill carries S7,740,000 for tlie
ordinance department to meet, in addi-
tion to other expenses, the cost of
skeleton force at arsen
ais to keep alive the knowledge of
he method of manufacture"
The amount carried in the bill for
'ea coast fortifications, the committee
reported. would not provide for any
lew projects. but would go entirely
or maintenance of existing fortifica ,
ions and for continuing the construe- |
ion Of limited number of sea coast ,
,uns.
The total recommended for river and Z
Iarbro Improvements, about Sl5.00O. {
700 less than the amount sought by 3
he chief Of engineers, is carried as
ump sum and projects on which work :
would be continued are not specified. I
zone OF the appropriation win 90 for |
Iew projects, however.
For the subsistence of the army the ,
recommended Sl6,5O0 600, 1
pproximately $l3,O00,000 less than
ast years appropriation.
The subcommittee which spent
lree months in holding hearings and !
raining the bill reported that "the
xcessive cost Of maintaining the reg
lar army over pre-war expenditures
fas found TO be largely due to the
expensive methods of its administra-
ion"
lit seems to be the fixed policy of
he general staff TO station full di-
isions in Hawaii and Panama." the =
,port said. Except in times OF emer
ency it is not believed such policy
justified. as it win cost as much 20
iaintain these two divisions in Pana
IA and Hawaii as our entire regular y
rmy cost US in the years following \.
le Spanish war"
Commenting on the cost of main :
liniag troops on the Rhine. the com =
iittee calls attention TO Germsnv's
lilure to pay the cost. The commit
e also declared that mo ADEQUATE
'ason has been shown for the mainte-
,nce of the troops in China" r