Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-02-03
CRUISER BILL VOTE
THIS WEEK SEEN AS
DEBATE IS CURBED
Each Senator Will Be Linn
tied to 10 Minutes After
a Pm. Tomorrow.
CLEARS WAY FOR EARLY
STUDY OF AMENDMENTS
Time Clause Yet Is Considered as
Most Troublesome Item, Though
Proponents See Success.
n the Associated Press.

Days of extended debate on the naval
defense needs of the Nation and their
relation to world peace approached an
end In the Senate yesterday with the
prospect of a vote sometime this week
on the 16-warship construction bill.
At pm. tomorrow a unanimous
consent agreement to limit debate by
each Senator to 10 minutes will become
operative and this promises to pave the
way for early consideration Of batch
of pending amendments. AS the voting
stages nearS, those in charge of the
measure reiterated expressions of con-
fdence that they would muster sum-
cient strength to pilot 1t through with
out material change.
Among the most controversial
amendments to be considered Is one to
eliminate the time clause under which
the Is cruisers and one aircraft car
rier would be laid down before July l,
1881. While determined effort will be
made to strike out this provision, which
Is opposed by President Coolidge, its
sponsors are confident it will be re-
tanned.
Borah Farley Plan Also to Be Up.
Other amendments to be discussed
include one by Senator Borah of Idaho,
chairman of the foreign relations COM
mittee, proposing an international con-
ference to restate the right of neutralS
at sea during war. An amendment also
may be offered to reduce the number
of cruisers proposed. During the dis
cussion yesterday two Senators, Norris
Of Nebraska and Burton Of Ohio. both
Republicans, demanded the elimination
of the time clause, while another Re-
publican, Shortridge of California, urged
speedy construction of all the ships.
Senator Norris contended that an
other World War, more terrible than
the last, was inevitable If the nations
continued ito create new instruments
Of human destruction"
He argued that unless the time clause
vas eliminated. the United States
would be part to the vicious circle"
OF competitive armament which, he de-
ciared, was bound to bring the nations
b the brink of another world conflict.
Norris Holds Course Unwise.
10 build more cruisers now, Senator
Norris declared, would be assuming
that other nations intended to break
the Kellogg pact to renounce war and
he contended the United States would
be unwiSe to place this Interpretation
upon the treaty.
Senator Shortridge demanded I'M
mediate construction Of the cruisers as
q measure Of National defense. He said
he would rather have cruisers peace
fully plowing the seas than have the
oceans red with the blood of men. He
declared he believed in treaties of peace
as they stayed the hand of war" even
though they sometimes are broken.
He insisted, however, that it was
nations duty to protect its citizens
against an unwarranted aggression and
said that I'm time of peace let us pre-
pare to insure for peace"
It was the contention of Senator
Burton that the time clause should be
eliminated for reasons of economy as
well as the impetus which, he argued,
It would give to further disarmament.
The incoming administration, he said,
would face a Treasury deficit If all the
ships were required to be laid down at
once Senators of either party should
be anxious to avoid this, he said.
Senator Fess of Ohio, one of President
Coolidges staunchest supporters, called
for the adoption of the bill with re-
NHntion Of Its time limit clause.
Fess Disagrees With Burton.
The demand of Senator FesS for i'm
mediate construction of the warshipS
placed him in disagreement with Sen
ator Burton.
Senator FesS declared that the imne-
date construction Of the warships was
necessary as an essential part of this
countryS protection of its rapidly in
creaSing trade. American business by
sea, he said, would soon exceed that Of
Great Britain. Still, he asserted, the
United States is far behind in protec-
tion of that trade.
He declared that he had been in favor
Of holding up the American naval pro-
gram prior to the Geneva Conference,
but since that had demonstrated an in
ability to agree, the time was now at
hand when the United States must
build or lose the world commercial
prestige which lies at her door.
Senator Robinson of Arkansas, the
Democratic leader, declared that there
was little evidence in the world Of a
desire for further disarmament.
while the executives of the various
governments are calling for confer
ences," he said, nothing is being done
to enable an agreement, and meanwhile
fha Tinted States Is standing still -