New-York tribune., 1884-03-01
THE NEW STEEL CRUISERS.
rnE BILL TO AUTHORIZE THEIR CONSTRUCTION
PASSED BY THE SENATE.

THE BILL TO AUTHORIZE THEIR CONSTRUCTION
PASSED BY THE SENATE.
WASHINGTON. Feb. 20-The bill to provide
cor the building OF the cruisers was taken up by he
senate yesterday. An amendment by Mr.. Morgan
embolyiag in the bill the substance of the Acts OF iss@
and 1883 together with provso that bids may De ho
cented not only from builders who may be ready 70
bud the vessels others who may be able to satisfy
the Secretary of the Navy that they can IN thee ohhs
after the making the contract bo ready to do So was
agreed to- The bill then passed ny vote OF - yeas
10 1 DAYS The BILL as passed. authorizes the President
10 direct the construction of seven steel vessels lOr e
Navy; consisting Of one cruiser OF 1900 tons hspiaco
neu one cruiser OF 5000 tOns dispatch Yessei OF
800 tons two heavily armed gunhoats OF l,Ooo ions
each one light cunboat Of 750 tons, ana one gihpoat
not to SOC II further authorizes the cou
structon Of one steel ram, cruising torpedo boat
aud two haTbor torpedo boats. II provides that Tile
Naval Advisory Board shall examine all the plans,
pecdeatiou and contracts and materials for the vessels
and shall give the Secretary or the Navy adNlco anu
assistance thereon; but that the Board shai nave no
authority contracts; that no contract shA
be entered into until full and complete plrns and
spece tOns shall have been prepared ana appfoVea Ia
writing by tho Board majority OF its men4Dersi and
that the contracts shall have provision blndlhG the
contractors to accept the decisions OF the Advisory
Board as any changes OF pan decided on ID the pro
gres4 Of the work. and change involving greater
expense than $500 shall any be made without the
written approval of the Board American shipouiidefs
who shall able satisfy the Secretary OF the Navy
that in three months from the making Of me contract
they Will be prepared enter upon the work o consru'
ton shall be permitted TO bid and contract
In the course OF the debate preceding the passage ol
the bill Nh Voorhees, opposing it, passage stated a'
if seven vessels neeled, hundred were' 'ul ne
saw no present need for seven that number wond be
utterly insufficient. Reviewing the Other nav "s Oh nc
world and showing their strength, ne inquired "uetneI
"a were prenafing struggle with the arioicu -hll-
OF the Great Powers, or as sene1 10 d nm oS ~
om the provisions the bi, with Tie C0t d@t 9 Ic
Sandwich Islands lie had been member @ JIe ioi7e
OF Representatives when SPAIN hut tuifiy gun
boats in Ncw-YOrk City, In violation OF the t"7 "l
neutrality and lie rad n from the then american
at Madrid that it seriously discussed Ia ohcla
qnarers in spain send their navy up 10 New usn a
cut these guboas Of the harbor under inc 'iE ni
tie United states such WAS iAe contempt ui one Hp1his
autl0rit fOr the naval power ol America Lht"hlo'
lac said confines citizens in Ter las Whche' cr ho
plelseS them without much respect TOT tue
authority of this Government, or holds them ~ long a.
SIZE picases and ibergcs them only Wlen sue cLo7es
lie had tAOu- 30 would nc dicul 10 hlcH o.
I cOerce this Government inlo q war "ilI Ll dH'.
Certainly suchi desirable, bnf u gentlemen
were egl.ating with a view TO duicuity with Engiahu
u was absurd 10 talk Of seven ships " War were
ilpniiueut he would 90 build one hundred ship ~
carry 10 least a thousand guu- 3D.,
MI Riddlebcrgcr thoaght the fact that England could
iucarltc our citizens when she pleased, ana bod Ulei
A. lonr as she pleased good argument why tLe
buiIng uf ships should he voted or though ne "nna
rather tine number hundert nnd seven ihtuet
. Hs.aH M on