The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1922-04-22
NAVAL BILL
PASSED BY
BIG MAJORITY
Harding Credited With
Victory in House
Over Little Navy
Leaders

leadership. stood behind the prCS!-
dent and passed III" 1923 naval APP
preparation bill with IN amend
ncnt fixing the enlisted personnel
1T $1,000.
Ware amendment. the big point il:
dispute. which increased tho man
force from G7.6o0 as provided in
tbs. bill. was 22l to i4S. with two
members answering present. Nine
ty Republicans voted against the
S6. 800 amendment With IS Demo
Gratis supporting il.
a bare hand clap or two greeted
the announcements by the speaker.
The galleries. half deserted. made
no attempt at I. demonstration.
With the fighting section out Of
;lie way The bill was put on its pa:;-
sage and went through. 279 to IS.
AS amended. the measure car
ricd a total Of 10000. Or
about $lS.O00.0G0 moro than th"
total fixed by tho appropriations
committee. which, framed it, Ii
goes now to the senate. with TIC
charge by Chairman Kelley Of the
naval appropriations suncomnlil-
tee that many millions will be add
cd and which the house will be
asked to add had not the, bis;
navy men changed front III the
last
As compared with the SO Hepub-
licans who voted against the
amendment. 173 Republicans voted
for it. while IL others were palr-
ed for it.
AS against the IS Democrats who
voted for the amendment. -
Democrats voted against it. while
Il others were paired against It.
Except on two occasions today
tho bill sailed along ,hrouS: unrut-
flcd seas Once. however. Chair
man Kelley broke loose in What
members characterized as vlciou;
attack on the navy yard conihl1'"-
tor" charging that despite The
arms conference there were still
demands from navy yard and naval
project districts for more money
than was carried in the bill.
Starting in the Massachusetts
village of Squantunl. where de-
stroycrs were built during the war.
Mr.. Kelley. in Il picture Of the
plea for more jumped across
West Virginia. with its armor plate
factory. TO the South Atlantic coast
across to New Orleans. and then TO
California and up the West coas:.
The house was in Il tumult as he
declared that everywhere the feel
ing seemed to be that the pur-
pose Of the arms conference was
to build up and provide more work
for the government plants.
Half dozen members were
drawn into the fight, Representa-
tive Duprc Democrat OF Louis
lana declaring Chairman Kelley
had proved himself "a naval wreck
or. The battle RACED for ten min
utcS
The other clash developed when
Mr.. Kelley presented a letter re
ccivcd today from Secretary Den
by in reply to one for Information,
in which it WAS stated that the
added cost to the bill through in
crcaSing the enlisted force by D
900 men would be around si0.0oQ,-
600
Mr.. DENLY explained that in
crcascs already put into the bill
provided for pay and subsistence Of
the larger personnel, that no adj
dition for clothing would be need
ed and that the item for trans
por;ation and recruiting ought 10
bc increased by $G,000.900.
While these increases arc the
only ones involving personnel,
The secretary wrote. tho depart
mcnt is Of the opinion that the APP
propriations recommended 3y the
committee for the maintenance ct
the material OF the navy are who'll
il Inadequate TO maintain its etIl-
cheney and TO permit ii TO carrN on
its duties. This is true whether
the ships in commission are those
covered by the committees distri-
button fer G7.oo0 men or the li"-
partnlcnts proposed distribution for
SG.nOn." Us already submitted 10 the
house.
Mr.. Dcnby's increases included:
I:neineering.. $4.7S1. 900: construc-
ton and repair. $i:41,Voo: ordn-
ancc. $1.2uo 900: supplies and ac-
counts. 5000. 900: fuel and trans
portation. $3.S94.0oo: aud yards
and docks. $1,250.000.
Chairman Madden of The appl'o-
priations committee declared that
the cost of the increase would
reach $50. ono 400 and Chairman
Kelley asserted it would run beyond
$4,000 coo.
No roll call was demanded and
the Swing amendment increasing
from Approximately $I0.oeo.poo 10
$4,000 600 the pay for officers and
men WAS adopted.
Supporting tn" $1,000 program.
Representative Reed Republican,
oil New York referred to the rclus-
III OF the subcommittee TO accept
the views OF naval experts. on
accepted their word Tor il III time
OF war." he shouted but YOU
won't do il nov.
In reply 70 Representative NaIle
Republican, OF Colorado. who haa
declared the Nest would not stand
for an American navy interior t.
.Japan'.. Representative EyrneS ci