Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1922-05-04
NAVAL TREATY
PASSED BY AID
OF PRESIDENT
BY FREDERIC j. EAsK1N.

SOHHtl Ol lle navy from OttUUU,
recommended by the appropria-
tons committee in the interests of
economy. to $4,000. urged strongly
by President Harding in a per-
sonal message to the house.
Behind his message to congress,
which is credited with the over
turn of the committees recon-
mendations and the oVerruling of
republican leadership of the house
in this matter. was pressure which
was brought to bear on the presi-
dent by members of the senate.
The action taken today by the
house was and still is viewed from
many angles. BY some 1t Is called
a severe and unwarranted further
attack on the pocketbook of the
American taxpayer. 1t has been
called victory for militarism. B !
others still it is said that even &c.
900 men is not the full number
needed to man the ships properly
of the restricted navy allotted the
United States under the treaty
agreed upon at the recent confer
ence for the limitation OF arma-
ments.
The members Of the house all
have to go before their constitu-
ents this fall for reelection. III
was generally felt that the coun-
try at large wants government out
laws of money cut to the very bone,
Any war of the future is felt to be
MANY wears away. IL not entirely
improbable, even impossible. The
countries of the world, carrying
enormously heavy war debts ana
consequent large loads of taxes
are not as a matter of fact. eager
to resume fighting with each other
on any considerable scale.
But while the treaty to limit the
naval ornaments of the great
powers was still before the senate
for ratification, President Harding
was told in no uncertain terms by
certain western senator's that I'M
less the larger personnel for the
navy was strongly recommended
by him to the house. the prospects
for ratification OF the naval treaty
would be slim indeed.
The Senate Situation.
In the midst OF all OF the row
about the personnel of the navy
with most members of the mouse
facing an immediate accountability
to their constituents Tor Young
10000 additional men, a strong
group of senators took the stand
that it would be ridiculous thing
10 have a certain number of fight
ing ships allowed in the American
navy. if some of them were golnG
TO be so stripped OF crew that they
would have to lie idle at thelf
moorings with only sufficient FORCE
aboard to keep the vessels from pc,
ing utterly ruined by rust ana
neglect. o4od,y
The navy department repeatedly
pointed out to congress ana ~
people that only portion OF ny
capital ships allowed the oniteu
States could be kept in commissions
with trained men to operate thei,i'
if the cut to $1,000 men was lndqe
in the personnel of the navy; III
spite of this, the leaders OF the
majority in the lower branch OF
congress. in the interests of econ
omv and in response to the pupllc
clamor against continuing heaVy
taxes if they can in any way pc
reduced. were bent on puttlls
through the smaller naval quota.
President Harding did not want
RI embarrass any members OF inc
house. particularly the leadership
of that body, by using his influence
In the fight. He having been a
member of congress he knew the
exact situation in which many OF
ito present members, with an r'''-
zion on their hands, found them
selves. However, he was moved To
urge the larger personnel because
of the fact that otherwise ratlflca-
ton OF the naval treaty in the sen.
ate would have been the suolect OIL
a real fight, with strong possibilities
Of defeat.
IT can be stated on the best au-
thority that one of the western
senators, and one who mas iohs
been associated with naval ieglsla. .
ton, told the president fatty tnat
he and several of his Colleagues
would have to fight the naval treaty
tn the last ditch unless what they
considered an adequate personnei
for the American navy was pro
yided. The defeat of the treaty
would have been far more seri--
Gus question for the country ana
the whole world than would the az :
dition or subtraction of 10000 men
from the personnel of the American
navy. 1t would have upset all OF
the international agreements
reached mere IN Washington by the
world powers. 1t would have meant
going on with the interminable
race of naval arguments, and in the
end would have meant, the admin
istration felt, very much greater
tax burdens than the $4,000 In
crease of the navy personnel could
possibly mean.
1t is generally believed here that
many of the people of the country
will disapprove of the enlarged
personnel voted for the navy. be-
cause of the fact that government
funds, raised by taxes on the .peo-
pie, are required to support them.
BY proponents Of the $4,000 navy,
this is regarded as an inevitable
but somewhat peculiar state OF
mind.
One of the senators who declar-
ed he would fight the naval limi-
tation treaty If the $4,000 person
mel was not made an issue by the
white House, points out this sit
uatlon:
Would Weaken Navy.
II, in the negotiations between
the powers of the world which
led to the treaty. the United
States had agreed to write into
the covenants an agreement that
it would scrap one more battle
ship than England, there would
have been a veritable roar OF
protest from the people OF the
Then he said.l Messrs.
Hughes. Lodge, Root, and Under
wood might as we'll have volun-
tarily retired to private life. They
would 0ave peen looked upon, he