Evening star., 1924-12-30
NAWPROBE VOTED
AT STORMY HOUSE
COMMITTEE SITTING
Action Taken Despite Hint of
New Arms Conference At
tributed to Coolidge.

Investigation into the needs of the
Navy was decided upon today by the
House naval committee at a stormy
session.
A motion was adopted to call Sec
retary Wilbur to appear before the
committee January 8, to make such
recommendations as he might deem
expedient.
Butler announced during
the discussion he had been informed
unofhcially that President Coolidge
expected a conference to be held
within a year looking to further naval
disarmament
Butler Approves Motion.
However, 1t was at the suggestion
of Mr.. Butler that the motion, as ap-
proved, was made. The chairman said
he offered the motion because he had
been charged with attempting to
override the will of the committee.
AS adopted the motion represented
a compromise between those desiring
to take up a bill proposing a naval
building program and members who
sought to have the committee direct
its attention to a measure designed
to adjust certain irregularities in the
naval establishment.
The appearance of Secretary Wilbur
before the committee Is expected to
open up a wide field of inquiry as to
the administration attitude toward
naval strength in general and toward
further attempts at armament limita-
tion.
Has Appeared Before.
The Secretary previously has ap-
peared before House appropriations
SUBCOMMITTEE and has given his views
tot t@,e
contained in the annual supply meas
ure, and today he was questioned along
similar lines by the Senate naval COM
mittee The subjects discussed, how
ever related principally to routine dis
bursements.
In discussing with his colleagues
the feasibility of questioning the Sec
retary on broader phases of the naval
question, Chairman Butler of the House
committee said he wanted the COM
mittee to do nothing that might incite
any other nation, and did not care at
this time to take up an examination
of the war conditions" of other coun-
tries.
I'VE are in a feverish condition.
the chairman added.
Representative Britten of Illinois,
the ranking Republican on the COM
mittee. declared there seems to be a
some members to keep the Secretary
from appearing Possibly, he as
serted, this was because the ques-
tions might go too deep"
"If we are afraid to have the
Secretary come before u.s." he added.
Let us go on record to that effect"
Pending Bill Favored.
Representative Vinsop of Georgia,
the ranking Democrat, favored con-
sideratfon of a pending bill to smooth
out certain irregularities in the serv-
ice, and several Republican members
supported his view.
Asked by Mr.. Britten IL he opposed
calling the Secretary, Mr. Vinson re-
piled he would welcome a sweeping
inquiry.
When the Democrats turned over
the Government the Nation had the
greatest fleet on EARTH he said, "and
1 would like to know what has be-
come of it,
Among the Democrats supporting
the move to call Mr.. Wilbur was
Representative McClintic of Oklaho-
ma. He opposed taking up the equal
ization bill and favored finding out
what recommendations the Secretary
might make.
Britten Plea Blocked.
The meeting today, several MEM
bers insisted, had been called to hear
Mr. Wilbur, but Mr.. Butler said he
had not invited him to appear, as
he thought the Secretary already had
answered all necessary questions be-
fore the appropriations subcommittee.
Mr. Britten sought unsuccessfully.
to get consideration of a resolution
calling upon the Secretary of State
to furnish information as to pro-
tests from abroad against the pro-
posed gun elevation on several United
States battleships.