New-York tribune., 1886-02-13
NEW VESSELS PROPOSED.
Mr.. WHITNEY WANTS MORE FAST CRUISERS
BE FAvoRs CONTRACTS WITH PRIVATE FItMs-
VIEWS OF ADMrRALs PORTER ANn SIMPSON.
Inr TELEGRAPH TIE TRr1UNE.l


VIEWS OF ADMiRkLs PORTER ANh SIMPSON.
InY TELEGRAPH TRI3UNE.l
WASHINGTON, Feb. 1.-The House Naval
Committee to-day listened to statements by Secretary
Whitney, AdIuras Porter and Simpson and G. H. Crimp,
the Philadelphia shipbuiider. secretary whitney said
that his Igmcnt money ought TO he Appropriated 10
CON plrte and arm the uunnsbed ironclads II" con-
fcssed his opinions this subject have undergone
decided change. the vessels. he said have been the
targets for good deal Of Misrepresentation, owing to
in which they begun ami to the inter
rupions IN the WORK upon them. Mr. whitney said that
when completed lAt monitors will be formidable yrSsrls
for harhor defence. His estimate Of the amount required
to complete and all tDem is about $l25OOUO.
Beng asked 10 give his opinion respecting how many
and what KINDS Of new ships should he authorized at
this session Mr.. Whitney sad the Government ought 10
keep building crui-era These vessels in Of
would play as important part as heavily armoied
lighting shps they in hgh lag ships OF no mean
capacity. He also advocated an appropriation 10 build
torpedo bOats lie thought the mt of cost OF each OF
the cruisers authorized by the Congress should b"
extended to 81 O.OOOaH increase OF S5uO09o-and
Slf dozen should BE- authorized
BY extending the limit the department might be able to
get much better vessel at slightly III
creased Mr.. whitney called tho aiten-
tion OF the committee To the Richmond turreIed
iTOnclsd. suitable both for and coast or hhrbor
defence. which buit for the Brazilian Government
two years lie thinks such ship would be great
acquisition for the United States Navy.
The Secretary then asked for his opinion respect
ing the relative advantages the Government OF build
ing its own sh the navy wards or having them hullt
under contract with individuals. He replied thai be
could give only his opinion based upon the information
he had obtained during few months He favored very
decidedly the system of contracts with firms indvd-
uals on he score Of economy a we'll because ne
believed that would yield better results II the coun
Try is to have real navy, however. at least
two OF the navy yards should be
equipped for building armored ships Not one
of the navy yards is prepared for such
work now ana the condition Of all of them is absurL
Unless liberal appropriations made place the yards
"A roper foOjng he wOuld recommend adherence 10
the contract system as the on.y one practicable.
Mr. McAdoo asked some ingenious leading questions.
apparently designed elicit from the Secretary some
expression In favor of the policy OF having at least
half OF the new cruisers" navy yards but he
failed Mr.. whitney again stating that the Government
Will better ships by II private ship
yards 1t Will by buid them itself THIS, he sald
has been the uniform experience OF al otuer nations
He favored the letting OF contracts for the budtnr OF
the additional cruisers he proposes Mr.. Whney
promised TO send to the committee early next week
outline Of the paus OF tne cruisers and torpedo
boats building Of which lie recommends an APP
preparation al this ssiou OF Congress.
Admiral Porter strongly tie completion Of the
ironcads which, In hs Mon, the best ships IN the
world for harbor dcfnce despite the abuse ana msrl
which they have been subjected WITH two
Ihsn he WOul undertake 10 knock To pieces the biggest
ironclad IN the British Navy any other navy. Adj
niral Porter does not believe "a avly armoted shirs
cruising purposes. l0n Ors Ar" infinitely Sup"ror
and forts pIrp O coast defence. Tue torpedo
system should ne t10piet En- LIaut ms 40 torpHo
boats. amt Is hni ~ 100 Cni- country mas only
oue-the Aarmand she l. TOO slow hesIlrs beug other
wise uusui, able rorpe 10 b'tN should nave speed q"
1 hr,l, lar SE"1oo spo tbe Uiit,d slate o9rht 70
hutd twenty within the next year 4 mira Porter
suhnl Ied tie rlslS II runhoat designed bJ bmHrL
Thr plans were rejected by eecreihy NhineS'7 At
NlsOiy Board tcCausc they were Tor "ah exp rmthth
vessel" The plans Ir'p"st Nrss' 81 900 IONS !"
a stee d'ck three inches tmck. he armament - 10
Ier-Inch aud SIX SIX inch rird guns snr
pementrd by eght or ten HOtchki~s guns. Inc speed
twenty knot, per hour "nd according to her de-
-isuer "a last hstern "s tae new h-
cagO can ahra Admiral Porter advocated the buid-
ing Of 1000 ton "ar-np. win f'i s,H po~~r'
spreading say 420n0 square feet OF cauy"s.
lie wOud have ali rrni-rr- equipped win fnI -ai
p"wer. lie favor- the building OF ships f. thr navy
y"rdN. H. woud gr' cheAper SNIP rom !rlvAlr yHiHs
but better ones from uavy yards lie di not hehrNr
private contractors get ca ouli ing ships Tor Inc
Navy. In h sOpiuOn John Roach ever na'e nNe lo-
lars out o. nis Government 60 II lutA' M p !" y
IN navy yards. Tue Government ought I" rlng l-'
h h asnf lea IT, 1nS xr.ns % S Gould Se pui in mere
Admir-. sinpson concurred with Secretary Whitney In
tnc opinion the Ork the unfinished NO drn
ship the BROOKLYN Navy Yard. should hs cond mnrd
The monitors ought lie cuuplrtcd soon possible.
Admiral SupsO favot- iii" simultaneous building OF al
the GLASSES OF sh Us prup"cd-uhhi m"ftd ctua'fN' ar
vessels for coast aud harD"t dce"c~ and
torpedo boats While torpedo boats are indisprn-al'
this country in .qual hred Of good torp"do. The
pedo bids rlval the Whitehead II Is The Invention
Captain Howell L. = y It's estimated that ten tor
prdo hoats suitable Tor cIhi'ihR P'I Posr7 eau ~ uu
FOR $3.50 900. suitable fnr harh"r defence Tor
s2jO0OO. Admiral Simp-Ou Woud have SHIPS bh' hoth
In Navy yards AMI by private cortrhciA Ihe hf-t ar
cruiser II will he necessary 10 bid In one of the
Navy yari-, iecause 10 d huitc lans and rStm r~
could be iufi guidance OF contractor Mr.
Cramp submitted .Inent IN favor OF the contract
system opposed TO the Navy yard sy stem of building
war ves,el-.
tFor otAer WashinOfon Nevs see 7lrd Page)