, 1922-03-17
ARMY REDUCTION
BRANDED FALSE
ECONOMY KAHN
.FLAYS PROGRAM
Californian Says the Pro
posed Cut too Drastic,
Urges a Provision for
10000 Enlisted Men

YIN, marCn II.
Warning members of con-
greSs that false economy is
the poorest kind of economy"
Chairman Kahn of the house
military affairs committee de-
dared today during consideration Of
the army appropriation bin that a re-
duction in the stzo of tho REGULAR
army to lie 900 enlisted Mon and IL
600 o~fficers, as provided in he meas
ure would be altogether too drastic
n cut Mt this time"
The California representative held
that pay provtsion should be mnde
for 10000 men and 13.0oo officers
during b coming car &c requested
by the WIZ department. or If congress
were determined to direct a reduction
In the interest OF economy that the
enlisted strength should not be de-
creased below 10000 msn.
Tho California representative held
shat pay provision should be made rpr
sc. 900 men and 1900 officers during
the coming fscal yca-, as requested
by the war department. or II congress
wero d~eter1ntned % direct n reduction
In, the interest Of economy that the en-
listed strength should not be decreas-
cd below 100000 men
Lately 1t ha. seemed to become
popular on tho part of n good many OF
the men In congress to insist on cut
ting down the allowances nor our
army and navy" Mr.. Kahn Ric-
ECONOMY Is the watchwurd OF n
good many le~gfHfatora But let mo
oil thu attention OF tho house TO tho
fact that false economy is h poorest
kind OF economy.
Rex3ezdnx tho miritaU aituafhon
PRIOR to the entraBoe of the United
sfates into tho world war. tho chair
man asserted TINT by reason OF our
lack OF preparedness. we were Gin
PEELED to expend during tho ID months
we were in the war tn startling sum
OF 81. 900 100000"
When compared with fhs UpeDdL
turesof tho AmeriuEn people for pleas
ure or non-essenttal commodities. tho
outlay for military purposes ~sfnks
into comparative insigntficanoe." he
contended. as he-quotedAa variety OF
statisticsL
During tho FISCAL year 1871. the
house was told, when appropriations
o the regular army. national guard,
and the organized reserves aggregat-
cd f41S, oo0, 900. the public spent SSs7,
600 900 for admission to theatres, con-
carts, cabnrets. baseha1 games IND
other entertztnmants- N,1k1. 900 for
tobacco and related materials: $780,
o0o, geo for candy aud chewing gum;
1894, oo0, 900 for sodas and CONNECTIONS.
ana $95s, 900 900 for personal adcrn-
ment.
Comparing the expenditures Of the
United States during 1eze-1ez1 ON Its
army with tho sums expended by
other nations. Mr.. Kahn Sid the
United States expenditures totailed
s34s ,155, sos. or ss.z5 per cspita while
those of the British empire. exclusive
of dependencies amounted to $685.
i23. 900 or s1z-35 per capita; France
sss3, s2I, 900 or-$3s.52 per capita- ITALY
s24s, os1- 300 or 500 per capita and
Japan Iss. oSz, 300 or 5-ssper capita
These figures show that we are
exceedingly mindful of the welfare of
u people IN Keeping down military
costs and expenditures" declared the
speaka-.
Contrastfng-with other leading pow
ers the size of tho army in~comparison
with the population. Mr. Kahn said
that for the year 1871 tho number in
the American army was La per 1000
population, while h number in Great
Britain 7.34. France 1A-47; Italy BIT;
Japan 5.4 and Chtm4.o3.
"A comparison of u national
wealth with the number OF soldiers
now maintained I'm tho regular army"
the house was informed. SHOWS that
each soldIsr IS charged with affording
protection and national security to
s1,755,5s7 of tbe $3.50. 100000 900 total
OF our national wealth
Each of these soldiers is at the
present time protecting some rs square
miles o TERRITORY OF our mainland and
dependencies. and with giving s4s OF
our people a guarantee against foreign
interference with their constitutional
rights in their pursuit of health. hap
piness and lawful gain All this at a
cost of 1922 per capita OF population
Tho army appropriation bin which
until aHar ago vaS-drafted annually
by tho committee of which Mr.. Kahn
is chairman, was framed under the
the new rules of the house by a sub
committee of Eve members of the ap-
-prupr1ations committee headed by Rep
resentattve Anthony. Republican,
Kansas.