Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1922-03-22
PRESIDENT MAY
VETO THE BILL
REDUCING Army
Reported AS Being Opposed
to Provision on Over
seas Forces
TOUCHES HIS RIGHT
Also Is Not In Favor of Proposed Re-
duction of Navy Below 5000
Mark.

Washington, March 22.-Prtsident
Harding has let it become known that
he would seriously oppose, perhaps
with veto, the Army Appropriation
bill as it was presented to the House.
He not only stands firmly against any
cut of the enlisted personnel below
what he regards as essential to the
national security but he resists out
right that provision which would take
from him the power to dispose Of
the troops as he might see fit.
The Presidents views upon these
phases of pending legislation. also his
views against cut in naval person
mel below the $4,000 mark, became
known in more positive form than
hitherto about the time the small
army" group in the House was achlev-
ing an initial victory in cutting the
commissioned personnel OF the army
to 1000 officers and mastering
strength to cut the enlisted force to
$4,000 men.
This victory came in the face Of
stubborn opposition on the part of
Chairman Kahn and other members
of the Military Affairs Committee,
widening the breach between that
committee and the Committee on Ap-
preparations, which is leading the fight
for wholesale reduction in both the
army and navy.
The Presidents disapproval Of the
hill. if passed as drawn by the House
committee, would be based upon an
encroachment by Congress upon the
Executives right as Commander-in-
Chief under the Constitution to dis
pose of troops. Mr.. Harding wants 1T
understood that he is not prepared
to surrender any Of his constitutional
prerogatives in this connection and
that the section in the bill which
would require him to withdraw troops
from overseas possessions Will not ne
approved by him.
White House officials today pointed
out two specific provisions of the pro-
posed army bill which is considered an
encroachment on Executive functions.
The first is the prohibition against the
maintenance of American troops in
China. These troops are stationed
there under the provisions of treaty
which require the United States ana
certain associated powers to keep
open the road from Peliing to the sea.
The second encroachmcnt IS the in
hibition against the maintenance OF
more than 5000 men at either Hawaii.
Congress-, the President and Sccre-
tary of War Weeks are holding dl..
vercont views as TO the number of
men necessary to bring the army to
2 point considered adequate for Sc
cmitv. The House Military Affairs
Committee holds that ll9 9.ooo men
would provide this security. President
Harding thinks in terms of l"u,0OO
and Secretary Weeks believes that the
Gcenral Staff plan. which is sun
poretd by General Pershing of l5O,-
600 men should ne provided.
Little army men are IN the saddle
in the House.
The fact was demonstrated today
when the lower branch of Congress,
bv vote of l42 to 6S, rejected the re-
commendation of the House Military
Affairs Committee for q force of 12.-
0OO commissioned officers and accept
cd instead the recommendations OF
the House Appropriations Committee
for | H.. 900.
The vote to cut the officers by =
600 was generally regarded last night
as forerunner of cut tomorrow IN
the enlisted personnel of the army
from its present authorized strength
If 15O. 900 TO 5000. The House Mill
tary Committee is for an army OF not
less than 10000 and the Approprla-
tions committee for 10000.