Albuquerque morning journal., 1922-04-19
STORM RACES IN
THE HOUSE OVER
A|NENDMENTSTO
1928 NAVY BILL
Decision Not to Ask for
Money Increases for Shore
Activities Starts a Fight
Among SOI0AS.
MANY ARE DRAWN INTO
THE 0RATORICAL FRAY
Everybody Wants DiSarm-
annent in the Abstract, But
Not in the Concrete, Chair
man Kelley Says,

tBy The Associated Press.)
Washington, April 1S.-Decision
of "big navy" men on the heels of
their victory for q bigger enlisted
force. not to offer amendments to
the 1928 naval bill providing money
increases for shore station activi-
ties, provoked a bitter row in the
house today in the course of which
Chairman Kelley charged "they
had backed down, expecting the
senate to complete the job"
Starting Unexpectedly. it ragged
for an hour or more and drew
many into the fray. The good
faith" of those who had changed
their plan at the eleventh hour was
questioned by Chairman Kelley and
Representative Mondell. the repub-
lican leader. and quickly resented
by those who had put through the
amendment increasing the person
mel from $1,000 to $4,000.
Ready With Proposals.
Ready with proposals, one call |
ing for 100000 additional for the |
bureau of construction and repair, |
and another for S2,000.O00 for the |
bureau of engineers. the forces op-
posed to the committe measure
agreed to let the bill sail along as
framed. When the engineer Sec
tion was reached and not a voice |
was lifted in an effort to amend 1t, |
the leaders on that side glanced up
at Mr.. Kelley and grinned and Mr.. |
Kelley grinned back,
Then the storm broke. 1t came |
while the house was considering
the item providing commissions in
the navy only for 200 of the 5i1
members of the fl st year class at
Annapolis. Pending was a pro-
posal to commission all.
This discussion said Chairman
Kelley, simply illustrates that
everybody wants disarmament In
the abstract. but not in the con-
crete.F
"Cat Out of the Bag"
Declaring the "cat was out of the
bag" he shouted to the house that
the whole question at issue circled
around the number of officers, and
then charged that the navy depart
ment is insisting on an increased
personnel, wanted TO put 200 ad-
ditional destroyers in commission.
"They hoped to get these de-
stroyers at the other end of the
capitol" he explained. "The car
cass is in plain view now. More
destroyers mean more repair work.
The men who wanted more money
for the navy yards have marched
right up to the place where they
could take it out. then backed
away, saying: Don't let's go any
further. let's let the senate do it.
Half the job was done here and
they propose to finish 1t at the
other end"
Denial From DENLY.
There came later denial from
Secretary DENLY. trans m t d
through Representative Macarthur,
republican, Oregon. of the charge
that the department contemplated
putting into service larger num-
ber of destroyers than allotted by
the bill. Half a dozen members. in
Guiding Representative Tague OF
Massachusetts, and Raker of Ct IL
fornia, both democrats. resented
the insinuation that their stand for
an adequate navy was actuated Wy
selfish motives in behalf of navy
yards.
The storm subsequently blew
away, but it broke again with uneX-
pected fury when Mr.. MondeU, |
pressing the "big navy forces. de-
clared he was surprised that the
amendments had not been offered
when the sections were reached, in
view of the request last week that
they be passed over until the per-
sonnel had been fixed.
Acted i'm Good Faith.
"I assume they have acted In
good faith" said Mr. Mondell, but
| wonder what their constituents
around the yards and shore stations !
will think when they hear this
afternoon that the sections had |
been passed without increases
meaning so much to them"
The whole proceeding. he said,
was ''farcical.'
Representative Johnson, repub-
lican, Washington. broke in with
demand that the house might bet
ter adjourn than "sit here to be
roasted"
Mr.. Macarthur, one of the leaders
for the $4,000 enlisted proposal,
declared that Mr.. Mondell ought to
put in the amendments himself.
"or forever afterward hold his
peace" Mr.. Macarthur said he was
not concerned with any effort to
obtain navy yard increases, ana
that he would not necessarily vote
for the amendments. which had
been expected, but which were not
introduced.
After conveying Mr.. Denby's de-
NAL of the report that he proposed
to 'add to the fleet" Mr.. Macarthur
said he had been informed by Rear
Admiral Potter that the cost OF
maintaining 10000 additional en-
listed men would be s22,o0o,oVo
and not $6O,00O,000 as claimed by
supporters of the bill.
Given Much Discomfort.
Mr.. Macarthur declared that
hackers of the bill were given
much discomfort because we did
not load it with shore Station pork.
as they had thought
A poster displayed at the Brook-
lyn navy yards and signed by capt.
C. T. Vogelsang. the commandant'
saying among other things there
was the possibility of some yards
closing IL the bill was passed, was
read to the house by Chairman
Kelley. "as an evidence of navy
to get more money
Commissions Limited.
The provision limiting commits
sions as ensigns to first class men
at Annapolis was approved. The
by Representative
Swing. republican. California. in
creasing from approXimatelY $l0,-