The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-12-09
BUDGET PUTS
'QU|ETUS' ON
CUT FOR NAVY
Hoover Is Not Disposed to
SCuttle Fleet at All,
Figures Show.
DECREASES NOT REAL
More Money to Be Spent
Next Year Than in Any
of Last Decade.
BY WILLIAM PHILIP SIMMS
ScriDps-Howard Foreign Editor


WASHINGTON, Dec. 9.-Presi-
dent Hoover is not going to sink
the navy, the recent hullabaloo to
the contrary notwithstanding.
Instead, according to the 1898
budget, transmitted to congress to-
day, more money will be expended
building new warships during the
next fiscal year than in any of the
last decade.
The money available for the COM
ing year, according to the Presi-
dents budget message, will provide
for normal progress in construction
of every vessel now authorized by
law and permitted under treaty
restrictions, except six destroyers,
the laying down of which has been
postponed"
In addition" he announced, "one
more eight-inch gun cruiser is to
be laid down in January, 1888, which
is the earliest date permitted under
the terms of the London treaty"
Truth Is in Between
No fighting vessel will be decom-
missioned, no navy yards or train
ing schools will be closed, and no
enlisted men are to be laid Off
save perhaps in the marine corps
where 15,343 men are provided for
in 1888 as against 1880 as at
present.
The big navy crowds charges that
the fleet was to be scuttled, and the
administrations claims of vast
economies in the naval establish
ment in 1888, therefore, both are
beside the mark. The truth, as
usual, comes betwixt and between.
The navy department budget for
the next fiscal year calls for $342,-
100000. This years budget calls for
1859, $4,000. This looks like a de-
crease for next year of $l7088,0O0.
Decreases Are Apparent"
Furthermore next years naval
budget calls for only $31 100000 for
the construction of new vessels, as
against $38,550,000 for this year
another apparent reduction OF
$7150,000.
These decreases, however, are ap-
parent rather than real. When the
cash balances to be carried forward
from prior years, and the amount to
be made available from the naval
supply account fund, are taken into
consideration" the President points
out. "the total that will be avail
able for ship construction in 1888 is
estimated at $57000,000."
Expenditures in 1923, in round
figures. we're SAC, 100000; 1924, SAL
TOO 900; 1925. 100000; 1926, $25,-
OO0,0 900; 1927, $27 500, 900; 1928, $751;
100000; 1929, SAC, 900; 1890, $780,
100000, and 1881, $38,OOO,OOO. For
1932-ending next July lit is esti-
mated the expenditures will amount
to $4,000 900.
Will Balance Exactly
The outlay for new ships this
year and next, therefore, exceeds
that of any year in the last ten.
Similarly, the total budget for the
navy for next year, when corrected
to include the funds to be made
available by transfer, instead Of
showing a decrease, will balance al
most exactly the present corrected
budget.
Some $6,000 900 will be forthcom-
ing from the present naval supply
account; $1,750000 from the cloth
ing and small stores fund; $25,000,-
coo from continuing and uneXpend-
ed appropriations and about So
100000 of the 1882 appropriation,
which will not be used, for a total
of $38,75O,oOo
The Broadsides Continue
These carry-overs added to the
$342, 100000 foot up to more than
$380,000,000 available for expendi-
ture next year against an almost
identical sum for this year.
Meantime, as congress assemblies,
William Howard Gardiner, presi-
dent of the Navy League, continues
his broadsides against Mr.. Hoover.
Instead of apologizing for saying
Mr.. Hoover shows "abysmal ignor-
ance" in things naval. he virtually
repeats the charge.
Accusing the President of show
ig virtually a total lack of appre-
citation of at least some of the rea-
sons why navieS are maintained"
Gardiner urges that congress de-
termine whether the general bud
getary policy of Mr.. Hoover toward
the United States navy is based or