OCR Text |
Show HOT DEBATE IN HOUSE OVER NAVY Promotions Proposed Are Opposed Op-posed and Spirited Arguments Argu-ments Are Held. WASHINGTON. June 18. Permanent Perman-ent Increase of the navy personnel from 87,000 to 131.485 men was voted today by the house during consideration considera-tion of senate amendments to the $1,600,000,000 naval appropriation bill, but the proposal to create the rank o lieutenant general for the marine corps command and of major general for the corps staff officers was disapproved disap-proved 73 to 44. Spirited debate preceded the rejection rejec-tion of the senate's marine corps amendment Representative Butler of Pennsylvania, Republican, whose son is a colonel in the corps, said propaganda propa-ganda has been conducted to cause the promotions, while Representnth e Keating of Colorado. Democrat, chare ed that Major General Barnett, the corps commandant, started a campaicm for the new law as soon as the naval bill was sent to the senate, In spite of Secretary Daniels' known opposition to the amendment. ' The amendment, in effect, is to give the rank of lieutenant general to a man who never was under fire, so far as the records show," declared Mr. Keatinp ' There has been a lobby by men directly concerned in this amendment amend-ment strong enough to warrant the president to order a court martial. "It is not the men who are going 'over the top' in France who are ask lng for this amendment. I am in favor of giving the men who are doing the fighting recognition before giving it to these rocking chair soldiers. ' General Barnett, who waa a spectator specta-tor in the house rallery during most of the debate was defended by Representative Repres-entative Flood of Virginia, Democrat, and Britten of Illinois, and Meeker of Missouri, Republicans Mr Flood denied de-nied that the general had pleaded with any member of congress for a measure that would benefit him," while Mr. Britten said the general had not sought personal promotion but Increased In-creased rank for the men under him. Secretary Daniels also came to the defense of General Barnett. In a state-ment state-ment tonight he said the general "is a very able officer; has been most efficient ef-ficient in his position as commandant of the corps and served through the 1 Boxer trouble and at other places where only brave men were to be I found." Mr. Daniels added that he had not j beard of any propaganda being con-I con-I ducted by the marine corps in support of the senate amendment. |