Evening star., 1928-05-18
Pass the Navy Bill!

The bill providing for building pro-
gram for the Navy to give il additional
ships with which to bring 1t closer to
the s-5-S ratio laid down by the Con-
ference on Limitation of Armaments
has been before the Senate since May
5. and efforts to get 1t up for conSidera-
ton have been met with successful re-
sistance OH the part of certain Senators
TO block it.
There can be no doubt that the
American people are wholeheartedly for
Navy that viii protect the interests
of the United States and its nationals
in all parts of the world. The great ma
jority want to see the ratio between
Great Britain and the United States
kept up, although at this time the
United States feet is far behind that
Of other nations which have been build
ing rapidly even since the arms con-
ference. During the six years since the
conclusion of that conference the
United States has laid down nineteen
warShips. whereas the other signatories
have begun construction of. or voted
appropriations for, a. larger number of
vessels Great Britain has provided for
55; Japan, 1877; France. 40, and
Italy, IL.
The conditions prevailing on the seas
as to fighting craft have been laid
plainly before Congress and the Ameri-
can people by those charged with the
duty OF maintaining this branch of the
national defense at the height Of effi-
cheney. Naturally. they would like to
see their country give them the ships
with which TO maintain American pres
tige on the high seas and in the for
eign ports of the world. They even go
so far as to say that the American peo-
pie, the great majority OF them, at
least, want the feet kept at top notch
in latest naval developments.
Trained as they are to abide by the
decisions of those placed over them,
they stand ready also to accept the de-
cision OF the representatives OF the
American people in Congress. IL the
matter is put TO fair fight. The bill
should be allowed TO come up in the
Senate for open and fair discussion and
q vote.
The session is nearing q close, and
the legislative jam is becoming tighter
each day as bills crowd up In the two
houses. The Navy building bill should
not be allowed to be snagged In this
jam. but should be brought into the
open. at least for the purpose OF draw
ing the lines between friends and foes.
1t has been kept from vote so far by
objections to its consideration, and
these objections do not indicate any
majority opposition to the measure. but
it is one Of the methods Of procedure
which permits one. or two or three
men 10 prevent the consideration Of
legislation which they do not want TO
pass.
Unless the Congress Is desirous Of
saddling the country with very heavy
expense IN later years, the house must
be put In order now by the building Of
cruisers. Beginning in 1881, capital
ship replacements fall due under the
schedules set out in the existing treaty.
During the years 1881 TO 1884 all OF the
great feet of United States destroyers
viii pass the twelve-year age limit. and
they must be replaced. Submarines viii
be in the same group.
Thus 1t means that II the present
building program is delayed 1t win be
merged in the battleship. destroyer and
submarine requirements. all at one time.
and viii create very large drag on
the Treasury There Is another matter
which must be taken into consideration.
and that Is the maintenance OF force
OF shipbuilding employees. There has
been little Shipbuilding since the war.
and the forces of the yards have been
scattered 10 other jobs, and the situa-
ton Is becoming more serious. Further
delay in the Nays building program
may mean the wiping out OF these pri-
yate yards, which must have work II
they are to keep their big organizations
together. and conversely, II the program
Is delayed, and the yards close, 1t win
increase the cost of again getting to-
gether the forces and building up the
organization.
BY all means the bin should be al
lowed 10 reach the voting stage. and
those interested In seeing IL pass VIII
be SatisfiedA II 1t is allowed 10 get 10
that point.