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Show ARMS PARLEY NEARLY 'BROKE'! i 1 Bj FLURRY L ROGERS (International News Service) WAfc:HIN;T N. Jan 28. The armament arm-ament conference Is 'broke' and unless un-less It comes to an end almost Immediately, Im-mediately, President Harding will have to ask congress for another appropriation, appropri-ation, it was learned on highest authority au-thority tonight. Tho-- in charge of the conference arrangements have done everything In ther power to prove that money is elastic. Headed by Henry i'. Fletcher, under secretary of state and chief con-ference con-ference flnancior, thev have stretched the $200,000 appropriation to the limit lim-it with such success that the amount originally estimated for two months has been made to cover a session of more than two months and S h.ilr Bl OMING PAIN! i I Both In preliminary preparation and throughout the earlier part of the conference, con-ference, strlfctest economy was pr.o--ticed but during the last few days there have been additional economics which have caused pain among the delegations. Today's blizzard brought home to conference attaches keenly that the parley is officially "broke." Dapper under secretaries telephoning for a "closed car please and kindlv rush it" were met with the polite reply thut none was available, Peremptory appeals to those higher up having disclosed that tho answer was authentic. Nor hag the curtailment been confined con-fined wholly to automobiles, secretaries, secretar-ies, translators. stenographers and clerks, hired with the understanding that their connection with the payroll was to cease when their work was completed, are being dismissed as rapidly rap-idly as circumstances will permit. LITTI 1 1 : E NT MKT MNMIVf Printing bills have been practically eliminated and by turning over to the statu department all nlmeographffl work, a big Item has been cut from the red Ink side of the conference ledger. The Item of diplomatic entertainment, entertain-ment, usually large. In connection with such gatherings, from the very first has been record-breaklngly small. Now It Is reduced virtually to nil. President Harding la ex'rcmely anxious anx-ious to avoid g"lr.c to congi et,-, f,.r an additional appropriation Mr Hughes Mr. Fletcher and their associates are Mtrivlng to moot the president's wishes. They are figuring hard, and praying I that the conferenco will end soon If tho work continues, according to the I present outlook, however, more funds ! probably will be necessary. |