Evening star., 1938-01-17
HOUSE GROUP CUTS
$11,139,@7 FROM
NEW NAVY BUDGET
Total of $553,266,4 ,494 Is
Urged, $26,723,186 More
Than at Present.
START OF ~ NEW SHIPS
WOULD BE PROVIDED FOR
Building Program Is Expected to
Provide Work for Slightly
Less Than $4,000 Men.
BY the Associated Press.

The House Appropriations Commit
tee today recommended a S553,266,494
appropriation to finance the Navy in
the coming fiscal year-an increase
Of s26.723.186 over the current year.
Although the total was $l1,139e67
less than the budget requested, it
would permit start of construction Of
% new ships-2 battleships to cost
s70,850, 800 each, cruisers, de-
stroyers, submarines and 4 auxiliary
vessels.
In addition, the committee recon-
mended funds to continue construc-
tion of more than 10 ships already
begun. The total for both continuing
and new construction was sl38.063.-
l57, reduction of s9,636,850 from
budget estimates.
The committee, in reporting the bill
to the House, made no reference to
the international situation, but some
of the items as approved. in addition
to new-ship construction, appeared
significant.
Work for 1900 Men.
The warship building program is
expected to provide work in the next
fiscal year for slightly less than 1900
men.
The 1900 estimate was made by
Navy officials on the basis of recon-
mendations in President Roosevelts
1889 budget message, but does not
take into consideration the reduction
in the Navy budget made by the House
committee. Requests for supple
mentary construction are expected in
his national defense message.
Speaker Bankhead said after
White House conference the message
would not go to Congress until the
latter part of the week. thus giving
the House time to dispose of the pend
ing Navy Department appropriation
bill
The 1899 budget asked for an ex-
penditure of s134,000,000 for new
construction. OF this sum s122 SOC, 900
is fer new warships. but the whole
s134 ,000,0 900 may be considered in
estimating the employment 70 be
provided
Add an estimated 20 to IS per cent
for the supplementary estimates and
the total comes to about $l63, 900 900.
Naval officials say IS per cent Of
the cost of warship goes for labor.
This means labor will receive about
sl38,55O,oo0
23.os1 900 Working Days.
Officials figure the average labor
cost at s6 day for each man. This
means that 23,09l 900 working DAYS
will be paid for.
All those days will be squeezed
into IL months beginning next july
l. The program, however, goes on
for some years.
Mentioned in the 1899 bulget are
two 35.o00-ton battleships which will
cost $50, 1000, 900 each. 1t takes four
years to build a battleship. which
means sl5.000,0o0 a year will be spent
on each one. This in turn means
that 1000 men will be given work
throughout four years for each dread
naught.
The IS per cent estimated labor cost
refers not only to men actually en-
ployed in building the ships, but also
to those employed in producing the
raw materials or special equipment
used on the fighting craft, as we'll Is
those engaged in transporting it.
Message May Be Delayed.
Some members of Congress ex-
fho koli iaf h4
naval message might be postponed
until the House passed the regular
naval appropriation bill. The measure
comes up tomorrow for debate.
Chairman Vinson, Democrat, of
Georgia of the House Naval Commit
tee said he expected the message to
consist Of two parts-"one foreign and
one domestic" Many members fore
cast the Chief Executive would warn
the rest of the world that the United
States intended to be ready for any
emergency.
Meanwhile. chairman Walsh, DEM
ocrat, of Massachusetts, of the Senate
Naval Committee said IN a debate
last night with Senator Nye, Repub-
lican. North Dakota that the admin
istrations program involved no
thought Of entering any international
ornaments race
Senator Nye. however, termed the
Navy expansion program part Of an
adventurous gamble on a foreign
war"
1T Is part If campaign Of getting
the United States ready for q slaueh-
ter of its men on foreign fields, to
fulfill its hopes and ideas in foreign
capitals" he declared.