Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-02-27
THE NAVY.
The Bill Under Consideration by the
House Committee on Naval Affairs.
WAsHINGToN. Feb. %.

bert after consultation with the secretery of
the navy and the chiefs of the construction
and other bureaus of the navy department.
1t is believed that the measure will be- conn
pleted at tomorrow's meeting of the com.
mlttee so far as agreed upon. The bill reads
substantially as follows:
A BtH to Increase the Naral Establishment.
Section 1.-Two seagoing srmored vessels
OF about 5000 tons displacement, designed for
a sea speed OF 10 knots an hour, with engines
OF at least 5000 indicated horse power and all
necessary appliances for working under
forced draft and costing. including engines
and machinery and exclusive of armament.
not more than s2.50O,0O0 each Toward the
construction Of these vessels Sl,25O. 900 is
appropriated, aud these vessels shall have
each complete torpedo outfit, prepared in
the most effective manner. Second-Three
protected double -bottcmed cruisers of not
less than $500 nor less than 5000 tons dis
placement. with triple expansion engines
furnished with necessary appliances for work
ing under forced draft, to have the highest
practicable speed. No one of the vessels
shall cost including engines and machinery,
and exclusive of armament exceeding ST.
5OO,OOo, and the cost of the three vessels in
cludlng engines and machinery, shall not
exceed 81 200, ,000 Two of these cruisers
shall be provided with spars and rigging
to spread at least two-thirds full sail power
Provided. that the spars shall be easily
removable in case of need. Towards the
construction of the cruisers the sum of
Sl,ilc,000 is appropriated and they shall be
armed in the most effective manner. Third
Four first class torpedo boats. costing in the
aggregate not more than S400. 900, which sum
is appropriated. Fourtt-One torpedo
cruiser of about 800 tons displacement, with
full torpedo ontft, high power, rifle and Sec
ondary battery armament, with steel defec-
tive deck, and sea speed of at least 90 knots
This vessel shall carry spars and masts for
full fore-and-aft sail power, and shall cost
complete, but exclusive of armament, not to
exceed, 100000, which sum is appropriated.
Section 2,-The vessels hereinbefore au-
thorized shall be built of steel of domestic
manufacture having tensible strength of
not less than so 900 pounds to the square inch
and an elongation of not less than 90 per cent
Section 3.-The President is authorized to
direct the eoNpleton as herinafter provided
of the double turreted monitors Puritan, Am
phitrite, Monadnock and Terror, and the sum
of 50 900 600 is appropriated.
Section 4.-The armor used in construct
ing the armored vessels and for completing
the monitors shall be of the best Obtainable
quality and of domestic manufacture, pro-
vided that contracts for furnishing the same
within a reasonable time and price and of the
required quality can be made with RESPONSE
BILE parties otherwise the secretary of the
navy is authorized to purchase and import it.
Section 5.-The secretary of the navy
shall cause at least one more of the new yes
sells provided for to be constructed and one
of the said monitors to be completed in one
or more of the navy yards of the United
States; and if he shall be unable to contract
ith responsible parties to construct or COM
plete at reasonable prices all or anv of the
vessels be shall cause them to be construct
ed or completed in the navy yards best
adapted thereto.
Section 6.-rhe engines, machinery and
boilers of all the new vessels shall be of do
mestic manufacture and procured by con-
tract, unless it shall become appareat to the
secretary of the navy that he carnot obtain
the same at fair prices, in which case he may
construct the same. or any portion thereof,
in the navy Yards provided that the secre-
tary of the navy may buy abroad or import
such shaftipg or other material or machinery
as he may be unable to procure in the United
States.
Section The secretary of the navy
shall not contract for the construction or
completion of any of said vessels or their
engines, machinery or boilers, until full and
complete detailed drawings and specifications
of the same shall have been provided or
adopted by him !; and after the drawings and
specifications shall have been provided,
adopted and approved, and work commenced
on any contract made therefor, the plans and
specifications shall not be changed in any
respect when the cost of the change exceeds
$500. except on the written order of the sec
retary as acting secretary of the navy, and if
changes are thus made the actual cost thereof
and the damage caused thereby shall be as
certained and estimated BY board of naval
officers, to be provided for in the contract.
ANY contract made pursuant to this act shall
provide that the contractors shall be bound
by the determination of such board to the
amount of increased of decreased compensa-
ton the contractors shall be entitled to re-
ceive, if any, in consequence of the change.
In every contract there shall be prescribed
a time or times within which the work, or
specified portions thereof, shall he completed,
and the comple tion of the work within the
times, or times prescribed shall be insured
by penal provisions. For the construction
and completion of the vessels herein provided
pose to have constructed or completed by
contract, as well as also for the engines,
boilers and machinery, he shall invite pro-
posals from every American shipbuilder and
other person who shall show to the salts
faction of the secretary that within three
months from the date of the contract he will
be possessed OF the necessary plant for the
performance of the work in the United States
which he shall offer TO undertake. and the
contract shall be let to the lowest
responsible bidder or bidders, after at
least sixty davs' advertisement. The work
shall be subject to all such rules, regulations,
superintendence by naval officers during con-
struction, and provision as to bonds and Sc
curitv for the quality and due completion of
the works as the secretary of the navy shall
prescribe; and no vessel, boiler, engine, ma
chinery or portion thereof shall be accepted
unless completed in strict conformity with
the contract, and the authority given hereby
shall take effect at once. The secretary Of
the navy may,in addition to the appropriation
made in this bill, apply to the purposes there
of any balances of the appropriation made
for the bureaus of construction and repair
and steam engineering for the current fiscal
wear which may remain available for that
purpose.
by appropriated toward the armament Of the
vessels authorized by the act of March 3,
1885. of the vessels authorized by section one
of this act and of the unfinished monitors and
of the Miantonomoh. The secretary of the
navy is hereby authorized to direct the appli-
cation of such portions of this sum as may be
necessary to the manufacture and purchase
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