Evening star., 1932-01-31
SkirmiShing Begins as Storm
Gathers; War Secretary
Visits Garner.
COMMITTEE HEADS IRED
BY HURLEYS ACTION
Byrns and Collins Express Irrita-
ton; Secretary Adams of Navy
Pans Proposed slashes.
BY WILL P. KENNEDY.

House over national defense legislation.
The storm is expected to break
Thursday when the War Department
appropriation bill carrying slashes Of
more than S2OOOO,OOO in the budget
recommended for the military an non
military activities of the War Depart
ment is reported, but there was con-
siderable Skirmishing yesterday.
The plan of the subcommittee headed
by Representative Ross Collins of
Mississippi to provide for the retire
ment Of 1000 Army officers, to close
up civilian training camps and to cut
down hard on many activities of the
department brought Secretary Pat
Hurley to the Capitol for a lengthy
with Speaker Garner.
Secretary Hurley also discussed with
the Speaker the bill sponsored by
Chairman Byrns of the House Ap-
propriations Committee, on which
hearings have been held before the
House Committee on expenditures in the
N@ACNOI4EC NC pal GLl4CL4Io, 4OI GOI4SO4ltd-
tion of the War and Navy Departments.
Irritated by Visit.
Both Chairman Byrns Of the full
committee and Chairman Collins of the
subcommittee were prompt to show
irritation when they learned of this
visit by Secretary Hurley. Secretary
Hurley was the third cabinet officer
to complain against reductions in the
appropriation bills thus far Of his
visit, Chairman Byrns said: No cabi-
net officer is going to dictate to Con-
gresS what appropriations are to be
made"
Chairman Collins of the subcommit-
tee. while declining to be interviewed,
let it be known that he believes that
national defense will be improved rath-
er than injured by the bill drafted by
his subcommittee. He is of the opinion
that when the appropriations are anal
yZed it will appear that the savings,
amounting to more than $4,000 900, are
of the type that prudent business men
would today practice in the adminiS-
tration of their private affairs. He in
sisted that no worth while activity OF
the War Department will be injured or
crippled.
Neither Secretary Hurley nor Speaker
Garner were willing to disclose what
discussion they had in the conference.
The Speaker admitted, however, that it
touched upon both the reductions OF
appropriations and the bill for cOnsoh-
dation of the two departments. Sec
retary Hurley said he had previously
expressed his views regarding depart
ment economies.
Adams Scores Changes.
Shortly before the Secretary of War
went into his heated discussion in the
Speakers office, Secretary Adams of the
Navy Department told the Committee
on Expenditures, of which Representa-
tive Cochran Of Missouri is chairman,
that the proposed consolidation would
neither increase efficiency nor effect say
ingS.
After conferences with Chairman
ByrnS and other members of the Ap-
prOpriatiOnS Committee, Representative
William G. Wright of Georgia, ranking
Democrat on the subcommittee drafting
the Army appropriation bill, expressed
his feelings thus:
President Hoover admOniSheS us to
cut down on appropriations and when
our Appropriations Committee applies
economy efforts, then we are besieged
with howls by cabinet officers"
1t was learned positively late yester-
day that when the Army appropriation
bill is reported it probably will not
carry any cuts that would decrease the
military enlisted personnel This ap-
pears to be a quite definite assurance
that the reported proposal for cut OF
8,75O in the enlisted personnel will not
10, ,sl1 ~
citizens training camps will be closed,
there will be no curtailment in Reserve
officers training camps.
Expense Saving Seen.
One of the biggest sources of saving
on the Army bill. it was pointed out,
will result from the lower cost of COM
mOdities, such as food and clothing for
the Army. 1t is said that the commit
tee has had testimony to show that the
soldier can be given better food today
for So cents than two years ago for 81
cents. This has built up a reserve fund
said already to have reached $4,000 900
more than the War Department off.
cialS estimated was necessary Similar
studies with regard to clothing will dis
close opportunities for substantial saw
1ngS, 1t was stated.
There also will be temporary suS-
pension Of 'unimportant activities" a
member said.
1t was said there will be no slashing
Of the appropriations for the Air Corps,
Coast Artillery, Chemical Warfare, Ord
nance, experimentation and assurance
was given that the National Guard and
Militia Bureau will have no cause for
Service Officers Alarmed.
Meanwhile officers of the Army, Navy,
Marine Corps and Coast Guard yester-
day expressed concern over the pro-
vision voted in the agriculture bill pro-
hibiting all increases of salaries. They
interpreted the language of the bill, II
applied to the Army, Navy and Treas
ury appropriation measures, as bring
ing to halt, from the salary view-
point, all promotions in these services
for the next two years. Increases IN
longevity pay also would be endangered,
it was pointed out.
Illustrative of the way the salary
limitation would work out, this example
is given. A naval captain was selected
some weeks ago for promotion to the
rank of rear admiral by a Selection
Board composed of senior officers who
passed upon his professional qualiflca-
tionS. There is at present no vacancy
and he must now wait until one OF the
rear admirals retires at the statutory
age of 81 years next October, before he
is promoted actually. Should the legis-
lation looming be enacted into law this
rear admiral-elect would receive the
empty honor of the higher rank, but
without its pay and allowances. This
would prevail all along the line, in
Army, Navy. Marine Corps and Coast