Evening star., 1940-02-14

65 Million Program
For Fleet Expansion
Gets Final Approval
1wo-Yeor PIon Receives
Unanimous Support
Of House Committee

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Unanimous Support
Of House Committee
~ the Associated Press.
The House Naval Committee gave
final, unanimous approval to a twc-
year $655, 900 900 fleet expansion pro-
gram today less than "a hours after
another House committee slashed
Sill 800 500 from President Roose-
velt's budget for the Navy.
The expansion program, spe-
ciflcally approved by the President,
would permit the Navy to construct
n additional combat ships and "a
auxiliary vessels in the next two
years.
Before taking final action on the
program, the committee received q
letter from Secretary Edison assert
ing the Navy would have preferred
the original three-year 81 1,300, ,000, 900
expansion 1t recommended because
1t would permit better planning and
because Of the deterrent effect Of
such program presented to the
world at this time"
Chairman Vinson said, however,
the committee was satisfied its plan
would allow all the building the
Navy could handle in the ensuing
two years without additional
facilities. If the need arose, he
added, Congress could increase the
authorization later.
Separate Bill Provides Money.
cThe expansion bilf is merely
an authorization for the Navy to
build new vessels. The money to
pay for construction can be pro-
vided only in separate legisla-
ton. Such legislation was the
1886, ,772,8 1878 Navy supply bill for
the fiscal year beginning July l,
which was reported to the House
by its Appropriations Committee
yesterday
Meanwhile, the Senate Appropria-
tions Committee today reported out
the Treasury-Post once appropria-
ton bill for the next fiscal year, with
$629 SOB added to the House figures,
making the total for both depart
ments $1.032, ,784,ll5. This leaves the
bill $11 1,250,000 under the budget
estimates.
The principal increase was an item
OF $4,000 additional for trans-At-
lantic airmail service, which was
recommended by the President after
the bill passed the House.
The remaining $230.OO0 is made
up of miscellaneous increases,
mostly in the Post Once Depart
ment. The bill will be taken up for
debate in the Senate tomorrow.
As finally approved. the naval
expansion bill would authorize
construction of three addi-
tional aircraft carriers-bigger
than any ships the Navy has
ever built for that purpose-and an
unspecified number of cruisers and
submarines. The exact number in
the latter two categories was with
held in an effort to keep secret the
size OF the individual ships.
There were strong indications.
however, that the new cruisers in
volved would be substantially larger
than the 10,000-ton type, which are
now the Navy's biggest.
The bill also would authorize in
creasing the Nays air force from
q minimum Of 5000 to q minimum
OF $500 planes, but because the
Nays plane purchases already have
progressed faster than was expected,
Mr.. Vinson explained, it will be
necessary actually to build only
about l,l00 new planes in order to
reach the new minimum.
A last-minute change in the bill
resulted from President Roosevelt's
OBJECTION to a provision which would
have permitted private shipbuilders
to include in their bids the cost of
any additional building facilities the
expansion program necessitated at
their yards. The provision was
eliminated, but Mr.. Vinson told the
committee the Navy and Treasury
Departments would have to come to
some understanding on the matter,
without the aid of legislation, 80
that shipbuilders could be reim-
bursed.
Otherwise, he said, they would
not be willing to bid on the program.
Mr.. Vinson said he hoped to bring
the bill before the House during the
frst week in March.
On the recommendation of q
subcommittee, the committee re-
quested Secretary Edison to order
a complete restudy of the Naval Re-
serve training program with a view
to assigning specific ships to that
work.
Despite presidential opposition to
battleship cuts already made in the
1866, ,772,878 Navy appropriation bill,
there was talk today that the House
might trim the huge defense meas
ure even further.
Members from farm States. re-
senting drastic economies made in
the Agriculture appropriation bill
two weeks ago, were reported ready
to vote for additional slashes in the
Navy bill. Farm bloc leaders in
sisted, however, that there was no
concerted movement in that direc-
ton by their group.
The Sill 500 500 Topped from the
Navy bill by the House Appropri-
ations Committee yesterday, includ-
ing $23, 3,105,0 900 for four new 45,0OO-
ton battleships and four cruisers,
brought statement from President
Roosevelt that he hoped funds to
build two of the battleships would
be restored. Initial funds for the
other two were provided last year.
Wants Superior Ships.
In holding up all but $2,950, 900
of the money, the committee said
IL had 1aorraI that }hn v.,1;.nS>J