The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1922-05-04
Winning The $4,000 Navy
BY FREDERIC }. HAsklN

WASHINGTON. D. c., May 4. - A
short time ago the house voted, 1T
ayes to 100 noes to increase the per-
sonnet of the navy from $1,000, recon-
mended by the Appropriations commit
tee in the interests of economy. to
81, 000,s urged strongly by President
Harding in personal message to the
house.
Behind his message to congress,
which is credited with the overturn of
the committees recommendations and
the overruling OF Republican leader
ship of the house in this matter, was
pressure which was brought to bear
on the president by members of the
senate. The action taken by the house
was and still is viewed from many
angles. BY some it is called a severe
and unwarranted attack on the pocket
book of the American taxpayer. 1t has
been called a victory for militarism.
By others still It is said that even
$4,000 men is not the full number
needed to man the ships properly of
the restricted navy allotted the United
States under the treaty agreed upon
at the recent conference for the limi-
tation of ornaments.
The members of the house all have
TO go before their constituents this fall
Tor reelection. 1t was generally felt
mat the country at large wants gov
eminent OUTLAWS of money cut to the
very bone. Any war of the future is
lelt TO be many years away, if not
entlrely improbable, even impossible
Inc countries of the world, carrying
enormously heavy war debts and con-
sequent large loads of taxes, are not,
as matter of fact, eager to resume
hghting with each other on any con-
siderable scale.
But while the treaty to limit the
naval ornaments of the great powers
was still before the senate for ratifca-
tlon, president Harding was told in no
uncertain terms by certain western
senators that unless the larger per-
sonnei Tor the navy was strongly rec.
commended by him to the house, the
prospects for ratification of the naval
treaty would be slim indeed.
The Senate Situation
In the midst of all of the row about
the personnel of the navy, with most
members of the house facing an i'm
mediate accountability to their con-
stltuents for voting $4,000 additional
men, a strong group of senators took
the stand That it would be ridiculous
thing to have a certain number of
hgnt1ng ships be allowed in the Amer
lcan navy, if some of them were going
to be so stripped of crew that they
would have to lie idle at their moor.
ings, with only sufficient force aboard
TO keep the vessels from being utterly
ruined by rust and neglect.
The navy department repeatedly
pointed out to congress and the people
that only portion of the capital ships
allowed the United States could be
Kept IN commission, with trained men
10 operate them. If the cut to 81. 900
men was made in the personnel of the
navy. In spite of this, the leaders of
the majority in the lower branch of
congress, in the interests of economy
and In response to the public clamor
against continuing heavy taxes if they
can IN any way be reduced, were bent
on putting through the smaller navel
quota.
President Harding did not want to
embarrass any members of the house,
particularly the leadership of that
body, by using his influence in the
hight. He having been a member of
congress he knew the exact situation
In which many of its present members,
with an election on their hands, found
themselves. However, he was moved
TO urge the larger personnel because
or the fact that otherwise ratification
OF the naval treaty in the senate would
nave been the subject of real fight, |
with strong possibilities of defeat.
1t can be stated on the best author.
lty that one of the western senators.
and one who has long been associated |
with naval legislation, told the presi- |
dent fatty that he and several of his
colleagues would have to fight the
naval treaty to the last ditch unless
what they considered an adequate per
sonnet for the American navy was pro-
Vlded. The defeat of the treaty would |
nave been far more serious question
lor the country and the whole world |
tnan would the addition or subtraction |
OF $4,000 men from the personnel of |
the American navy. 1t would have m |
set all of the international agreements |
reached here in Washington by the
world powers 1t would have meant |