The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-04-22
ILLINOIS HOUSE
GROUP DIVIDED
ON NAVY FORCE
MADDEN for Reduction but Yates
Takes Direct Issue; Copley's
Defeat opens Committee.
washington News Bureau.
htock Island ArRas.


washington News Bureau.
bock Island Afsas.
washington, ID. G., April d.
sfter downstate Illinois members
81 Inc house nad diviGed evenly on
me navy bill late this week. the
roeasure went to the senate with
sse practical assurance that both
Illinots senator's will vote for the
navy personnel OF $4,000 men, as
recommended by President Hard
inx. Secretary hughes and the navy
department..
irhe hight in the house, during
which many of the Republican
leaders attempted to cut tie per-
sonnet to $1,000 men, was one of
fhe most spectacular contests of
rue present session. Illinois con-
gressmen were prominent on both
sides OF the question
On the final roll call on the
amendment, eight Illinois members
yoted for navy Of $4,000 men and
eight voted for navy of $1,000.
sixteen OF the delegation were re-
corded as absent and not voting.
Representative Madden, Chicago,
led the fight for the little navy"
forces, as chairman of the house
committee on appropriations.
aIf you increase the personnel
OF the navy from $1,000 to $4,000"
Madden declared, by the addition
Al cost, with bills now pending and
others that will be pending, you
will bring the expense of the army
and navy at this time to $S00,000,-
900. as against the expense during
1916 .of $2S0.0e0, 000."
The Illinois member predicted
that If the increase in the navy per-
sonnel is voted, the government
Will be left with deficit of many
hundreds of millions, and we shall
be compelled to go to the American
people with a new tax bill"
Representative-at-large Richard
Yates, Springfield, took the floor
for navy of $4,000, placing him
self squarely at issue with Repre-
sentative Madden.
Il am very sure that if there is
one thing that is demanded above
all others by Illinois it is an ade-
quate navy" the former governor
stated.
Having no technical experience
and no expert knowledge, we must
seek the best advice to be secured.
We must trust somebody. The
f0ple trust Harding, he is trust
ing DENLY and Hughes, and Secre-
tary Hughes has stated that to al
Ter the $3.50 ratio would be a very
serious matter for the United
States"
Quoting from the last speech de-
livered in Illinois by Theodore
Yates continued:
81 believe / know how this lover
Of liberty and of his country would
vote On this question. He would
vote for an adequate navy and take
no chances
It is taken for granted here that
both Senators Mccormick and Nc
kinley will vote with the admin
for a naval personnel of
$4,000.
Senator Mccormick was a mem
Der Of the naval affairs committee
Of the senate until last year, when
he was selected to fill a vacancy
on the committee on foreign rela-
tons. On both committees he has
been strong advocate of pow
erful American navy, and has voted
uniformly for increases in naval
appropriation bills. The fact that
both Illinois senators supported the
four-power pact, the treaty fixing
the 5-5-3 naval ratio, and the other
treaties drafted by the arms con-
ference increases the probability
that they will favor the personnel
Of $4,000 as recommended by Pres
ldent Harding and Secretaries
DENLY and Hughes.
The defeat of Representative Ira
Copley, Aurora. in the Illinois
primaries in the Eleventh district
april ii has raised the question Of
selecting an Illinois member of the
ways and means committee for the
next congress.
Copley had represented the state
Tor number of years On this BODY.
which is considered the most i'm
portant committee of the house,
having jurisdiction over all tariff
and taxation legislation.
Illinois has never been without
representation on the committee
Whiie the Republicans have been
N power and it is a certainty that
one or the Illinois members will be
ssiected TO succeed Copiey as soon
IS The 6Sth congress comes into
session after next March 4.
The Republicans are confident
mat they will control the next
aouse and are therefore looking
scout for an Illinois Republican
member to fill the vacancy.
IL is practically certain that the
will go to downstate Il
mos rather than Chicago. OF the
anlcago members of long service.
aarun B. Madden is chairman of
ae committee on appropriations