Evening star., 1924-12-20
EXPECT NAVY BILL
HEARINGS TO CLEAR
553RAT|OS STATUS
Advocates of Investigation
Depend on Britten Measure
to Establish Facts.
S1O1, 400, 900 Is ASKED
FOR NEW CONSTRUCTION
Would Authorize New Scout
Cruisers and Elevation of
Turret Guns.

Members of Congress favoring a
congressional investigation of the
relative condition of the American
Navy were centering their hopes to-
day on the Britten bill to appropriate
Sl01 400, 900 for new construction as a
vehicle for hearings before the House
naval committee which would satisfy
their aim in the investigation.
The bill was introduced by Repre-
sentative Britten, ranking Republican
on the naval committee, coincident
with the passage by the House late
yesterday of the naval supply bill,
carrying nearly 100000. 900 for
activities already authorized. Auto
natically referred to the naval COM
mittee. Representative Britten said
the hearings which would be held on
the measure would serve to develop
Information showing just where the
American Navy now stands with re-
gard to the 5-5-3 ratio provision OF
the arms treaty.
Elevation of T'urrets.
In addition to the building of four
scout cruisers costing $11,100.000 each
among other items. the bill would
authorize the elevation of the turret
guns on thirteen battleships at an
aggregate cost of $500 900.
The gun elevation issue was again
given the formal status of a pending
legislative proposal coincident with
announcement at the White House
that the British government had con-
Neyed a formal expression of It's
views as to treaty provisions affect
ing the proposal in a note now be-
fore the State Department. Informa-
tion as to the precise contents of the
note was withheld, nor was any in
dication given as to the probable next
step in the diplomatic phase of the
controversy.
Increase for Fuel.
In passing the naval appropriation
bill the House included an increase
for fuel and transportation of 1850, 900
over last years allowance. Funds
necessary for the proposed Australian
cruise of the fleet would come from
this appropriation, although the plan
was not mentioned directly in the bill.
Such a cruise would be purely a mat
ter for the administrative officers of
the Government to decide upon, Con-
gress merely appropriating lump sums
for fuel for use as the Navy deems
advisable.
Expenses for the maneuvers in
Hawaiian waters, which would pre-
Cede the cruise, are to be taken from
funds already in tho hands of the
Navy. provided by last years appro-
pristion bill.
SheIve King ResoIu4 lon.
On the Senate side of the Capitol
the naval committee shelyed the reso-
luton of Senator King. Democrat,
Utah, proposing a searching inquiry
into the status of the Navy, but
agreed to seek from the Navy De-
Dartment data which Will show
whether the United States is keeping
Up it's end of the arms conference
5-5-3 ratio.
As sent to the Senate, the Navy ap-
preparation bill provides for mainte-
nance of the Navy during the COM
ing fiscal year at its present strength
of $4,000 enlisted men and for r.
slight increase in the officer person
mel, but would decrease the Marine
Corps from 1880 to $4,000 men.
A total of S14,S00,000 was carried
for naval aviation and funds are pro-
Nided to finish all naval vessels un-
der construction, except the aircraft
carriers, Lexington and Saratoga, and
three fleet submarines.
Commenting on his bill and it's pur-
poses, Mr.. Britten said 1t was in
troduced "in accordance with a
statement made by the Secretary of
the Navy to the committee on appro-
prations of the House, indicating
that additional ships and authorize
tions were necessary to bring our
Navy up to the $50 ratio promoted
by the Washington arms conference"
Intent of Treaty.
Unless another conference is
called for the Limitation of all naval
craft" continued Mr.. Britten, 1T will
he necessary for US to meet the de-
sres and the intention of the former
conference and to maintain our Navy
at Its very highest efficiency for the
number of ships in the service, and
the quicker we do this the better.
IF England and Japan supersede
us in fast cruisers, submarines, air
craft carriers and naval aviation,
Congress should Immediately take
such steps as are necessary to make our
Navy equal to any other on earth.
not only in cold steel, but in having
superior officers and men and make
tine nation safe in time of an emer-
gency
Il personally cannot see threat
ening speck on our peaceful horizon
but that is no reason. why we should
go unprepared or unprotected agains,
any future emergency"
In rushing the naval appropriation
bill to a vote, the House sent it to
the Senate a day ahead of the sche-
dule of leaders calling for passage
OF three of the annual supply meas.
ures before the Christmas recess
which begins tomorrow. AS approved
the bill carried only one amendment
by Chairman Butler of the nava
committee-to appropriate $4,000 fol
the construction of fuel oil storage
Mt the Pensacola, Fla, naval air sta
tion.