Evening star., 1935-02-19
Committee Report on Army
Asks S48, 600, 900 More
Than in 1885.
OTHER FUNDS PLEDGED
IF STRENGTH is RAISED
Navy Measure Yet to Come-More
Than 100000 Provided
for Air Program.
BY the Associated Press.

The largest military spending pro-
gram in IS years was started through
Congress today.
The House Appropriations Commit
tee wrote its approval on expenditure
of s3l8,131 ,482 by the Army during
the fiscal year ending June 80. 1886.
1t told the War Department it might
pledge an additional S7,686,753 for
airplanes. The total recommended was
s4s,815,5 ,548 more than the 1885 appro-
priations.
The committee said it stood ready
to provide additional funds if Presi-
dent Roosevelt takes advantage of the
authority the bill gives him to In
crease the Army's strength from
118,75O to 10000 men.
SIC0,OOO,O 900 Increase.
Taking the Navy into account. the
committees report said, the 1886
budget for national defense is ap-
proximate1y slOo,0OOO0O in excess Of
the largest regular annual appropria-
tions made for national defense since
the enactment Of the budget law in
1921. Tbs committees action on the
Navy SUPPLY bill has not yet been re-
ported, h4t the budget approved by
PresidenI Roosevelt called for S792.-
100000 flr the two military branches.
The coklmittee boosted the War De-
partmenAS military allowance s672,.
205 oveH budget recommendations.
Memberi Of Congress pointed out
that, on1 a money bill has weathered
the Appropriations Committee. its
battle -sfmuch more than half won.
In addition to the contemplated
outright appropriations for the Army
and Navy, they are slated TO receive
$4,000 900 each from public works
funds to be brought in under a separ-
| ate pending estimate. The Armys slice
of this money vii lbe for construction
at military posts. erecting an hirdroms
in Hawaii and for seacoast defenses.
Other Funds Likely.
"Unquestionably, additional amounts
will be forthcoming from recovery
funds for Army housing and river and
harbor and food control projects"
the committee said.
Rivers and harbors and related
non-military activities of the War
Department were allowed $50, SGT ,966,
Sl34878 cut under the previous
year. The committee explained,
though, that the public works pro-
gram will continue into the 1886
fiscal year and that therefore ali Of
the War Department appropriation is
for maintenance except S740,000 to-
ward completion of a dredging con-
tract for the Livingstone Channel,
Detroit River In addition, it ex-
planned, there will be S2,209 095 avail
able from prior appropriations.
The committee authorized the Army
to contract for SAT additional planes
at an estimated cost of $7,686,753.
1t was explained 450 planes for the
Regular Army and 19 for the Organ
! lied Reserves would be for replace
ments during 1885, at the end Of
which 1867 will be on hand. The new
machines would raise the total to
LAS.
Air Corps Funds Jump.
The Air Corps as a whole drew
S45, soc. .444, compared with S26 ,376, ,4eO
this year. The committee explained
the increase was "for expansion in
various directions. but very largely
for new airplanes." Provision was
made to increase pilots flying hours
from 225 to 300 a year as recon-
mended by the Aviation Investigating
Board headed by Newton D. Baker.
The committee said frankly it was
proposing TO pinch of little sooner
than otherwise would happen the
| lighter -than-air activities in the
Army, apart from free balloons" Maj.
Gen. Benjamin D. Foulois, as chief
of the Air Corps, told the committee
I'VE have practically abandoned them
| in the Army" and the committee OBJ
served "the enlisted personnel and
| the funds, in the committees judg-
ment, would be better employed in the
heavier-than-air branch" No men,
ton was made Of the recent crash Of
the Macon, giant Navy dirigible.
Permit Increase in Guard.
In addition to authorizing the
! President from time to time to in
crease the Army strength to 10000
If he sees fit, the measure would per-
NIT him to provide 5000 increase in
the National Guard from the present
total of approximately $4,000.
Among the steps taken in the bill
to strengthen weak spots" described
by Gen. Macarthur, chief of staff,
were:
An increase of 1857 1862 to $500. .e14
for field exercises, including another
command post exercise in the 4th
Army on the Pacific Coast. and for
the first maneuver of large forces
the To-day concentration of between
$4,000 and go 900 men, including Ma
tional Guard troops, of the 1st Army
from New England, New York, Penn
sylvania, Delaware, Maryland and
Virginia around Pine Camp, N. Y,
east of Watertown.
Would Raise Food Allowance.
An increase in the daily food al
lowance of soldiers.
Allowance Of $1,0o0,000 for motor
| ization, mostly for trucks.
An increase of $685. 800 for the
Signal Corps. chiefly for radio equip
! ment for airplanes.
Provision of $35o,000 to permit re-
sumption of the National Rife
Matches discontinued after 1892.
An increase of $163,996 for the
Military Academy with the suggestion
that the Army's request to raise from
two to three the number of cadets