Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1888-07-25
THE NATION'S.CAPITOL
Senate Committee Report an In
pOrtant Amendment to the
Naval Bill.
Relative Merits Of Large Ar
mored Ships and Swift
Steel Cruisers DIS
CuSSed.
A Movement Towards Inquiry Into Com
meFcia Relations Between the Unit.
ed States and Canada.
Pension Matters are Considered at
Length in the House
Pension Matters are Considered a,
Length in the House.
WASHINGTON, July "a.
Senate.

Resolutions to print 900 additional copies
of the report of the Senate committee on
pensions, on the subject of the vetoed pen
siOns was taken up. The question was on
fCeckrelPs amendment to print 10 900 copies
of the presidential vetoes in the last and
present Congress
After discussion the matter was allowed to
pass over.
Mr.. Sherman from the committee on
| finance, reported an amendment to the sun
dry civil bill to incorporate in it provision
to refund the direct tax. Referred to the
committee on appropriations.
The Senate then proceeded to the consid-
Grafton of the naval appropriation bill.
The Senate spent the afternoon in discuss
ing the naval appropriation bill. The most
important amendment reported by the COM
mittee was to add to the item for the con-
struction of three steel cruisers two of them
about three thousand tons at a cost not ex-
Ceeding 81 JOG, 900 each, exclusive of arma-
nent, and one of about 4 300 tons at a cost of
not more than 81 100000 Also three gun
boats OF cruisers, neither of which shall ex-
ceed 1900 tons in displacement, nor $500, 900
in cost, including any premium that may be
paid for increased speed, and excluding the
cost of armament, said vessels to be built
either wholly of steel or with steel frames,
and to strike out of the item the words and
one armored cruiser of about 800 tons dis
placement, to cost not more than SO, 500 900, "
also to strike out the provision that at least
one of the vessels shall be built in United
States navy yard and that the others be built
at navy yards if the secretary cannot make
reasonable contracts for their construction.
Gray moved an amendment by striking out
. h., 10 al md tLn
words "2,O TONS" and increasing the cost
from $500, 900 to 800 900 each.
Hale, who is in charge of the bill, favored
Gray's amendment.
Morgan approved the committees amend
ment except as to striking out the provision
for 800 ton armored cruisers. He regarded
these large vessels more efficient than forts
in the protection of harbors.
Hale defended the action of the committee
and said he didn't think the building or not
building of great heavy unweldy ships rails
ed the question of whether or not the Senate
was willing to build up the navy. The ma
w was being built up and reconstructed.
In these large ships Maine and Texas are
being built at a cost of S. 100000 each. AL
though the estimate was only two and half
millions he didn't think they would be complet-
ed during the term of any senator. Didn't
want to see another one until it was known
how that experiment turned out He want
ed to go on and add to the navy year by year
fast, large cruisers which would be valua-
Bile in war, valuable as determents, to pre-
vent other powers from making war against
the L. S.
HawIey and Teller agreed with Morgan in
favoring the construction of large armored
ships in addition to the swift cruisers. But
Ter said that the cruisers would not be etfec-
tive in naval fight with a foreign power.
He would supplement the fast cruisers with
dozen of the best fighting ships.
Hale remarked that in such naval con-
flict, ships of even 800 tons would be
nothing against the great iron clads of the
Italian, Russian, English or French navies.
\ fleet of that kind would cost at least, l00,-
900 900.
Morgan spoke of the moral power a strong
fighting navy would give the United States.
Stewart moved an amendment to the House
clause so as to provide for two vessels of
war of about 10 900 tons each at the cost of
500 .OoO, 900. He spoke in favor of building
up fighting navy.
Other speeches favoring the building of
large warships and strong navy were made
by Butler Reagan and Gibson.
9, nays IL, the affirmative votes being Butler,
Cameron, Evarts, Gibson, Hampton, Mitch
ell, Platt, Stewart and .Stockbridge. The
House provision went over.
Hoar offered resolution which was re-
ferred to the committee on contingent ex-
penses, for the appointment of committee
of seven senators to inquire into and report
upon the relations of business and COM
merce between the United States and Can
ada, the effect on the commerce aud carrying
trade of the United States of the Canadian
sy stem of railways and canals, the prospect
of the displacement of any American indus
tries by Canadian industries, the number and
amount of claims against Great Britain by
reason of the violation of the treaty obliga-
tons, etc, with power to take testimony IN
any part of the United States.
Allison gave notice that he would ask the
Senate to take up the army appropriation
bill tomorrow after the naval appropriation
bill was disposed of.
Adjourned