Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1922-03-02
Committee Cuts the Appro-
priation to About One
Halt the Estimate Sub
mitted by Department.
SITUATION SERIOUS,
OFFICIALS BELIEVE
Vessels Must Be Kept Idle
at Anchor to Keep Within
the Deficiency Limit, Say
Those in Charge.
tBy The Associated Press,

/ w dSillHBlun, MdtCu IN eCcSsiiY
Of tying up every ship in the navy
for lack of fuel to permit opera
tlon, faced the navy department
as an immediate probability to-
night, due to action of the house
appropriations committee in re-
porting out today a deficiency item
of $6,20O,00O for naval fuel to be
used during the remainder of the
fiscal year. This sum is about one
half of the original fuel deficiency
estimate submitted by the depart-
ment.
AS drawn by the committee, the
| bill does net provide for an addi-
tional a. preparation, but merely
authorizes the department to spend
money it might be able to take
from other current appropriations
for fuel up to the limit set. Naval
officials are known to regard the
situation as serious, although Sec
retary DENLY refused tonight to
authorize any comment on the
action Of the committee. There
were indications, however, that
orders must go forward to all parts
Of the navy almost Immediately
under which no ship would be per-
mitted to operate under steam for
1.-THE remainder of the fiscal year,
unless administration officials wgre
successful in inducing congress 10
make more liberal fuel provisions.
While the navy department has
authority under existing law to
IA 4 90 icfE nc q
matter. it is known that the policy
Of the administration is against
that practice and that Secretary
Tenbv proposes to keep eXperdi-
lures of his department within
limits of appropriations. il 1t is
Ihumanely possible to 10 so.
In presenting the fuc. deficiency
situation to the subcommittee on
naval appropriations, Secretary
Denbv pointed out that the original
estimates for the current year were
IS37, 100000, which was ultimately
reduced by the department to $780,
| 600 600 and cut by congress 10
Ism. 100000. OF that sum, only
lS14,O00,000 was available for fleef
fuel and Mr.. DENLY explained that
should every ship now in commis-
Ision remain at anchor throughout
1.-THE year, the total fuel bill to keep
Them under necessary steam IN
port would amount to $f2,850 LOW.
which would leave the navy only
IS1.15O,OO0 for operations under way
against s13.5O0,0OO requested for
the 1922 year.
Destroyers on both coasts ara
now reduced to n maximum OF
eight hours stcaming per month,
to save fuel and capital ships OF
both fleets to a maximum of tlVe
days steaming per month. TO keep
within the deficiency limit indicat-
cd by the appropriations committee
today. however, 1t is said to be OBJ
vious that even these steamlng al
Ilowances must be suspended ana
every shin from battleships and de-
stroyers to naval transports ana
tugs. be kept idle at anchor, or at
the dock with only sufficient steam
in the boilers to provide fire oro-
lection. lights. heating and other
vital necessities of ship life Train
ing of the navy for war service
cGnnOt be conducted under SUCH
circumstances, officers declared and
the department is understood TO
be awaiting the final action Of con-
gress on the fuel deficiency with
great anxiety.
Mr.. DENLY told the committee in
regard to the deficiency estimates
that naval efficiency rested on four
inter-dependent elements. These,
he said, were efficiency of person.
mel, gunnery, steaming ability OF
the invididual ships and fleet
training or the ability of the fleet
as whole to function.
"In view of the urgent necessity
for government economy. however,
] IEnntinlipn on Hnrn Two