Evening star., 1933-01-02
STRENGTH OF NAVY
UP TO ROOSEVELT
Leaders Not to Attempt to
Build Up Fleet During
Present Session.
BY the Associated Press

BY the Associated Press
Democratic congressional leaders
have decided to put another problem
on President ELECT Roosevelt's shoulders
how much, if any, the Navy shall
be built up.
Despite continual criticism from big
Navy advocates that the American fleet
rapidly is becoming second rate" the
leaders have concluded that no author
ization for new ships shall go through
the present Congress.
1t is, they say, the fag end OF the Re-
publican administration, the end of a
naval policy that has been in effect
| since the World War They find, too,
demands for economy right now that
they feel would be fatal to any effort
to authorize new construction.
Consequently, Democratic leaders say
naval legislation this session will be
limited to the annual appropriation biiI
which viii carry something for con-
tinued modernization of battleships and
possibly comparatively small sum for
the construction of destroyers author
lied In 1916.
Many to Offer Advice.
But, after March 4, there will be
many 10 offer advice to the new Presi-
dent as he molds the naval policy.
Some of the big Navy men say they
will remind Mr.. Roosevelt that, not
since Mr.. Hoover became President has
Congress approved any new ships, while
| at the same time other nations were
| building up to treaty limits.
Among those who will have construc-
| ton programs ready for the new Presi-
dent to scrutinize will be Chairman
1 VinSon of the House Naval Committee
He believes that around 5000 1000, 600
should be spent in graduated program
| extending over several years, to build at
least treaty feet.
| Vinson has several subcommittee at
work to see whether there can be
/ consultations within the Navy or be-
| tween the War and Navy Departments
to effect economies. The findings Of
these groups will be laid before the
new President.
/ Likewise, there will be demands from
some for an entirely new kind of Navy.
Representative McClintic of Oklahoma,
| ranking Democrat on the House Naval
Committee, is in that group. He has
i sought for years to replace "slow and
unwieldy battleships with modern
naval crafI-airships and airplanes and
4 airplane carriers" and this year intro.
| duced bill to abolish battleships.
Favors Plane Carrying.
He would have each vessel in the
Navy, even the destroyers and sub
marines. so constructed that it could
carry at least one airplane.
The last construction program was
approved by Congress on February l3,
/ 1929, Just before Mr.. Hoover took Office.
/ 1t authorized the construction of an
airplane carrier and Is cruisers, which
now are being completed.
In February two years later, Congress
authorized modernization of three old
battleships-th Idaho, Mississippi and
New Mexico. Work is progressing on
the latter two. but the Idaho. torn to
pieces. now is in drydock waiting for
more money.
Those on both sides Of the naval
building question say they have rea-
sons to believe the new President viii
heed them The little Navy" group
point to Mr.. Roosevelt's demand for a
25 per cent reduction in Federal ex-
penditures while the big Navy" men
recall the President-elect's service as
| Assistant Secretary of the Navy, and
say that will influence him after
| March 4