Evening star., 1934-03-05
ARMY FUNDS CUT
IN SHARP REPORT
ON BILL TO HOUSE
$279,541,000 Is Provided
for $4,000 Officers and
1880 Enlisted Men.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
In language almost as hard boiled
as that used by grizzled drill SER
geant, a $279,54l 900 War Depart
ment appropriation bill today was re-
ported to the House.
1t would provide for maintenance
of an Army Of 10000 officers and
ll8,750 enlisted men during the fiscal
year 1885.
over Army airplane buying, it pro-
vided $4,000 to fill the vacant post
of Assistant Secretary for Air.
The report. accompanying the BILL
drafted by an appropriation subcom-
mittee headed by Representative Col
lins. Democrat, Of Mississippi, direct
ly questioned whether the S93 600, 900
allotted for military purposes by the
P. w. A. and the $4,000, 900 from the
c. w. A. were expended on projects
most needful from a national de-
fenSe standpoint"
Buying Of Planes Hit.
In formally approving the measure
the full committee struck out a sec
ton which would have prevented
Army officers from handling c. w. A.
and P w. A. funds
1t also eliminated restrictions on
sl50000 fund set up for the Governor
of Panama to pay alien former en-
ployes who have become charges on
the Government
Tho cfo
raped at the Army's procurement OF
airplanes.
Collins wrote that the committee
has not been unmindful of the re-
Gently alleged irregularities respecting
airplane procurements actually made
and projected, as well as other classes
of procurement"
Referring to statements by Brig.
Gen. Benjamin D. Foulois, chief OF
the Air Corps, during hearings on the
bill. that Harry Woodring. Assistant
Secretary Of War ordered changes in
specifications for airplanes to be pur-
chased. Collins wrote:
These matters are under investi-
cation by the appropriate agencies Of
the Government-legislative. execu-
tive and judicial.
THE committees first impulse was
to withhold the presentation of the
accompanying bill until the investiga-
ton OF Army procurement matters by
the local grand jury had been con-
cluded. However. in view of the ac-
tive and aggressive inquiry that has
been launched by the (House) Mill
tary Affair Committee, such a course
would not now appear to be justified. 1"
Responsibility Shifted.
To provide an avenue whereby the
Assistant Secretary of War would not
be responsible for the procurement of
airplanes and policies of the Air
Corps. the committee provided the
funds for an Assistant Secretary for
Air. This post has been vacant since
the Hoover administration, but the
report pointed out that it was still
authorized by law.
The bill carries s22, ,591 900 for the
air service in the coming fiscal year.
In addition to the P. w. A. allotment
of s7,5OO,0OO for flew aircraft.
Attacking the allotments of the p.
W A. and c. w. A. for the Army, the
report said that because of the emer-
gency legislation making them pos
sible, much of the normal appropri-
atlve functions of Congress was trans
ferred to the executive branch of the
Government" The bill. it added. was
intended to return these powers to
Congress"
AS reported, the measure is S.
O9O. 1000 less than the budget estimates
of s282. .632 900.
OF the total, however, S3l ,565, 900 is
for non-military activities, About
$i21 ATE, 900 is included for Army pay.
Big Cut Under Last Year.
The s279,541, 900 total is 500 sSl 900
below the appropriations for the cur
rent year, which amounted to $349,-
$4,000.
In explaining the reduction. the re-
port said ALLEGATIONS for non-military
activities alone by the p. w. A.
amounted to an increase of 800 per
4s