Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1922-03-16
USURPAII()N0F
PRESIDENTIAL.
POWER Anglers
Harding Will Force Show.
down on Attempt to
Dictate to Him
PURSE STRINGS HELD
Appropriation Bill as it Now Stands
Would Compel Withdrawal of
Troops From Foreign Stations

Wa shington, March 16.-The adj
ministration has made up its mind to
force a showdown with congress
over what it regards as an attempt
by the legislative branch of the gov
ernment to usurp the powers OF the
president as commander-in-chlef OF
the army and navy.
The issue will be brought squarely
before the house tomorrow when the
army appropriation bill is brought
up. Representative Kahn, of Cali
fornia, chairman of the military af-
fairs committee, with the backing OF
President Harding and the war de-
partment, will seek to eliminate the
provision of the bill which is design
ed to regulate the distribution OF the
UTited States army.
Making use Of its control Of the
government purse strings. the mouse
appropriation committee has written
into the army bill provision which
says that mo part of the appropra-
tions made herein for pay OF the
army shall be used, except in time
of emergency, for the payment of
troops garrisoned in China or for the
payment of more than 500 officers
and enlisted men on the continent Of
Europe; nor shall such appropria-
tions be used except in time of emer-
gency, for the payment of more than
5000 enlisted men in the Panama Ca
nal zone or more than 5000 enlisted
men in the Hawaiian Islands"
The provision means that the ad-
ministration would be compelled on
or before July to withdraw all the
troops on. the Rhine, leaving only
about 500 in France to finish certain
necessary work The limitation, if
adopted, will require the return of
approximately $500 enlisted men
from the Hawaiian Islands, approx
mately 1000 from the Canal Zone,
approximately 5000 from Germany
and about coo from China. making
total of 14,100 to be returned to
the United States.
The total strength Of the army
provided for in the bin is II 900 Off
GERS and 115,000 enlisted men, COM
pared with a present strength of 49,
900 officers and 10000 enlisted men,
which the war department regards
rs minimum to which the size OF
the army can be safely cut.
When the appropriations commit
tee first proposed to cut the enlisted
strength of the army to $4,000 the
war department protested that this
figure would not allow sufficient men
to maintain the army in continental
United States at an efficient peace
time or skeletonized basis. The "little
army men" on the committee. led by
Representative Anthony, of Kansas,
promptly retaliated by proposing to
cut down the overseas forces in or
der that the continental strength of
the army might be left practically un-
disturbed.
Mr.. Anthony, explaining the pro-
posed reduction of overseas forces,
made this statement:
at seems to be the fixed policy Of
the general staff to station full di
visions in Hawaii and Panama. En-
cept in times of emergency, ii is not
believed such policy is justified, as it
will cost as much to maintain these
two divisions in Panama and Hawaii
as our entire regular army cost us
in the years following the Spanish
war Another source of large ex-
pense is the maintenance Of Ameri-
can troops on the Rhine. Germany
has failed to fulfill her contract Of
paying for these troops and it is
proposed that after July /, 1922, the
number of American troops on the
continent of Europe be limited to
500 men. with the idea that only such
troops will be kept there as are need
ed to finish certain necessary work" "