AMERICAN NAVAL BILL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19957, 28 May 1928, Page 9

AMERICAN NAVAL BILL.

SHORT SHRIFT GIVEN. REJECTION BY SENATE. MEMBERS' HURRY TO DEPART. Australian and N.Z. Press Association. (Received May 27, 5.5 p.m.) WASHINGTON. May 26. The Senate to-day rejected tie Naval Construction Bill by 44 votes to 22. There is little likelihood of the measure again coming up for consideration this session, as the Senate will on Monday consider a resolution passed by the House of Representatives asking for an adjournment of Congress on Tuesday. The rejection of the bill occurred under peculiar circumstances. Not only did it not receive lengthy consideration, but it was not discussed at all. Legislators are all anxious to leave Washington to "mend their political fences" before the party conventions are opened. The Senate dealt quickly with various measures. Much business will be jeft undone when Congress is adjourned. The programme submitted to Congress by the Secretary of the United States Navy, Mr. C. D. Wilbur, in December last, provided for 71 new vessels to cost nearly £160,000,000. He also submitted a letter stating that this programme was not in conflict with the financial programme of the President. It provided for 25 light cruisers, nine destroyer leaders, 32 submarines, and five aircraft carriers. No time limit was provided for their construction, but under the terms of the bill the construction of the light cruisers and aircraft carriers was subject to the Washington Treaty. Mr. Wilbur said the estimated cost was purely speculative, but he submitted a schedule totalling £144,000,000. Mr. W. M. Butler, chairman of the Naval Affairs Committee of tho House, said the cost would be between £140,000.000 and £160,000,000. The estimates provided for an expenditure as follows:—Light cruisers, £3.400,000 each; destroyer leaders, £1,000,000 each; submarines, £1,000,000 each; aircraft carriers, £3,800,000 each. This was the largest navy programme submitted since 1916. On February 23, the Naval Committee of the House adopted a programme authorising the construction of 15 cruisers and one aircraft-carrier, as against the Government's programme. The cost of the committee's programme was estimated at £54,800,000. The committee also provided for the definite completion of the new ships. The first was to be laid down within three years from the passage of the Act, and all were to be completed within six years. The aircraft-carrier, 13,800 tons, was to be laid down in two years. The committee adopted a provision authorising the President to suspend the proposed construction wholly or partly if an agreement for a further limitation of naval arms should be reached at a future disarmament conference. The committee rejected the proposal for submarines on the ground that the United States already has more submarine tonnage than any other nation. The bill embodying the modified programme was passed by the Lower House in March. It is this bill which the Senate has - now rejected.