Evening star., 1935-05-05
NAVY BILL IS DUE
FOR EARLY ACTION
Senate Subcommittee Will
Decide Whether to Re.
store House Cut.
BY ]. A. O'LEARY.

The Senate Subcommittee handling
the 1885 Naval appropriation bill will
decide early this week whether to re-
store reductions made by the House
in the budget estimates for beginning
new ship construction.
Although no action will be taken
until the executive hearings end to-
morrow or Tuesday, there were indica-
tions yesterday Of considerable Senti-
ment to put back the budget estimate
for ship construction and machinery,
which the House changed from $780,
600, 900 to $88,310.000.
+ 1t is probable the conclusion of the
Senate group will depend on the ad-
ministration's position.
House Cut $4,000, 900.
As 1t passed the House about 10
days ago. the bill carried approximate
ly $458 ,00O, 900 for all expenses Of
operating the Navy for the coming
year. which was reduction of about
$27, 900, 900 below the budget esti-
mates. The reductions made by the
House Committee affected the items
for armor and armament and avia-
tion as we'll as the curtailment In the
amount for starting new ship con-
struction.
Aside from the question Of how
much should be allowed for stai ting
the new construction, however, pro-
vision has been made for other SUBJ
stantial expenditures in 1896 for Con-
fintfinn chin ptr nj Ia,
undertaken.
The bill provides for beginning
construction OF "a ships Of various
types. These are ell OF replace
ment character and are part of the
general plan to bring this country
Navy up to treaty strength. In pre-
pairing the bill originally, however
the House Committee took the view
that, with another international con-
ference to be held during this calen-
dar year, this Government might wish
to defer commencement of new con-
struction pending that conference
The House Committees recommends
ton to cut in half the estimate OF
S29, $50 900 for starting construction
Of the "a replacement ships was put
forward with the thought that such
a course would be regarded as an ex-
preston Of faith and hope in the
principle OF limitation OF armaments
on the eve Of the proposed conference
No Hazard Seen In Wait.
The House Committee pointed out
that a new agreement might not dis
pei the need for proceeding with
most, II not all. of the new construc-
tion. the commencement of which
the committee proposed to defer. The
committee stated in its report, how
ever, that 1t saw no hazard in the
delay and added that, II the admin
iStration should elect not to defer the
construction, there would be moth
ing to hinder a start, although il
would most likely be necessary to
ask for supplemental appropriation
early in the next session Of Congress
The replacement ships to which
the discussion refers are 2 cruisers
IS destroyers, aircraft carrier and
submarines. The fund in the pend.
ing bill under the heading OF 'in-
crease Of the Navy" amounting to
$88, 10000, also covers continuation
OF construction on destroyers and
submarines started in the current
fiscal year out of an emergency ap.
preparation act. Further expendi-
| lures also are scheduled to be made
during the 1886 fiscal year out OF
funds allotted to ship construction
| under the industrial recovery legis-
lation.
Under the heading of armor. arma
ment and ammunition the House bill
| carried $32, ,485.000. a reduction OF
| S4.8l5.000 below the budget estimate
When the naval bill reaches the
Senate it Is probable that some OF
the increases over current appro-
priations will meet with opposition
from some of the progressives.