Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-10-02
BIC NAVY PROGRAM
WILL Be PRESSED
DESPITE ECONOMY
Hale and Britten to Ask Con-
gress for S750,o00,o00
Construction Fund.
CHAIRMEN IGNORE
ATTITUDE OF BORAH
Legion Resolution Supported, Fa-
voring Treaty Terms in Five
Years Building.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
Authorization by Congress of a $780,
GOO naval construction program Is
to be sought in December by the Re-
publican chairmen of the last Senate
and House Naval Committees.
This disclosure came today on the
heels of Senator Borahs approval of
President Hoover's move to reduce Fed
eral expenditures by slashing destroy
ers off replacement program of H.
The plans were discussed between
Senator Hale of Maine, and Repre-
sentative Britten of Illinois at closed
conference yesterday in the Senate
Naval Committee rooms.
1t was decided that since Congress
is charged by the Constitution with
providing adequate national defense,
the high naval authorities should be
summoned for questioning as to the
needs of the Navy, particularly with
reference to building up to the London
treaty limits.
Legion Resolution Support.
Despite the action of the President
in seeking to keep down construction
expenditures. the chairman of the two
naval committees agreed to support the
resolution Of the American Legion
favoring construction under the treaty
which expires in 1886. In the verbal
agreement it was planned that the con-
struction program should terminate at
the expiration of the treaty.
One stipulation was, however. that
the Naval General Board and the rank
ing admirals in the Navy Department
must approve the program before any
definite drive would be made to secure
passage of the measures at the coming
SESSION.
tentative outline of the proposed
legislation calls for the construction,
under the treaty, of the remaining ton
mage in aircraft carriers, $4,000 tons in
small gun cruisers with or without fly
ing decks and complete replacement
Of the destroyer force of 10000 tons,
or about 100 destroyers. within the next
five years.
Under the disarmament treaty the
United States is allowed $4,000 tons
in aircraft carriers. The Navy has one
of 1890 tons under construction and
plans to dispose of the 11,500-ton ex-
perimental carrier langley. With the
Saratoga and Lexington. each of $4,000
tons four of about $4,000 tons can be
constructed at a cost of S25,000,00o
each.
$4,000 Tons to Be Built.
Under the London treaty the United
States is allowed 143 500 tons in light
cruisers carrying 6-inch guns. 1t has
10 such craft totaling 70.500 tons, leav-
ing $4,000 tons to be constructed. The
proposed measure is to provide that If
The new warships are to have flying
decks. seven of 10000 tons each may
be built. Otherwise 10 of 1000 tons
each man be constructed. The cost of
these vessels, depending upon the type.
was estimated between $4,000, 900 and
$20.o00.o 900 each.
While the allotment in destroyer ton
mage is 5000. all but 1000 becomes
over the age limit next year, the year
after all but 1900 tons, and in three
years all will be obSolescent.
1t was estimated that 100 destroyers
Of 1900 tons each would be required
to replace this tonnage. 1t costs about
$4,500,000 to construct a ship Of this
type
Both Senator Hale and Representa-
tive Britten have voiced opposition to
the Chief Executives move to curtail
construction. The former is expected
to amplify soon his statement made in
Portland Me-. that Mr.. Hoover 'disre-
garded the mandate of Congress"
On the other hand Chairman Borah
Of the Senate Foreign Relations Com
Continued on Page 2, Column 3D.