The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-07-25
SHIPS TO RULE THE SEA.
THE NAVAL APPROPRIATION BILL
UP IN TIE SENATE.


Provision Made for the Construction
of Two Cruisers to Cost $1,1OOOOO
Each, One at S1,8OO,OOO and Three
Cunboats at S7OO, 900 Each--A Steel
Practice Vessel.
WASHINGTON, July 2+.-The senate to-
dav proce ded to consideration of the naval
annropration bill Among the amendments
renorted from the committee on apprOpria-
tjons and agreed to by the senate were the
following: Striking out an item of $50 900
for the expenses of a commission t7 locate
anavy yard near the coast Of the Gulf of
Mexico; inserting an item of $4,000 for
continuing the improvement of the naval
hospital park at Portsmouth, Va.
The most important amendment reported
was one to add to the item for con
structiug three steel cruisers, two of
them of about 5000 tons, at a cost
not exceeding 81, 100,0 900 each, exclusive
of armament and one Of about $500
tons at a cost of not more than 81 800, 600,
and also the following: Three gun
boats or cruisrs, neither of which
shall exceed 100 tons in displacement nor
100000 in cost, including any premium
excluding the cost of armament; said
vessels to be built either wholly of
steel or with steel frames; to strike out OF
the item the words land an armored
cruiser of about 1900 tons displacement to
cost not more than So, ,50O00O," and also to
strike out the provision that at least one of
the vessels shall be built in a United States
navv-yard, and that Others may be built at
the navv-yards if the Secretary can not
make reasonable contracts for their con-
struction
LARGER CRUISERS FAVORED.
Mr.. Gray moved to amend the amend
ment by striking out the words 81, 200
tons and inserting the words 1000 tons,
aud increasing the cost from S5OO,0O0 to
800, 900 each.
Mr.. Morgan approved the committees
amendment except as to the striking out of
the provision for a 7,500-ton armored
gardet these large vessels more efficient
than forts in the protection of harbors
Other speeches in favor Of the building of
large war ships and n strong navy were
made by Senators Hawley, Teller, Butler,
Reagan and Gibson, while Mr. Call advo-
Gated the amendment proposed by the com
mlttee on appropriations.
WANTS TO BE COCK OF THE WALK.
Mr.. Morgan, speaking of the moral
powers which a strong fighting navy would
give the United States, said that Germany
would not be sweeping the Pacific if the
United States had a good lighting navy,
not that Germany was afraid of the United
States, but she knew that the United States
was not going to arm in order to defend the
Pacific ocean. The building of a grand
fighting navy would do more for the com
merce of the country than any other meas
ure.
Mr.. Stewart moved to amend the house
clause proposed to be struck out by making
the tonnage of the one armored cruiser -,
600 tons, Gnstead of 800, and the limit Of
cost Of S10,000,000, instead of s., 100000
Mr.. Gibson suggested to Mr. Stewart TO
modify his amendment so as to Irovide for
two vessels of war of about 5000 tons each
at a cost of $20,0O0,000.
WHOLE HOG OR NONE.
Mr.. Stewart accepted the suggestion
modified his amendment accordingly, an
spoke in favor Of building up a lighting
navy.
Finally q vote was taken on Mr.. Stewart's
amendment and it was rejected by a vote
Of yeas to 4 nays. The Affirmative votes
were those of Me,srs. Butler, Cameron
Evarts, Gibson, Hampton, Mitchell, Plattt
Scarf and StOckbridge.
The question was then taken on striking
out the house provision for one 100
armored cruiser, and it was struck out by
81 yeas to II nays
The amendment offered by Mr.. Gray
limiting the tonnage of the three gun boau
or cruisers to 9, 600 tons and the cost of eact
to 100000, was agreed to- and the amend
ment was reported by the committee on
appropriations. AS thus amended it wa
agreed to.
WHAT is PROVIDED FOR.
As the matter now stands provision is
Ii l,yrg n
two steel cruisers of about 1000 tons dis
Placement, each at a cost of not more thai
Sl,lOO,O00 each; one steel cruiser OF about
$500 tons displacement, to cost not NOR
than $500, 900, and three
ganhoats or cruisers not K
exceed in displacement 1000 tons, and in
cost 800, 600 each. The first two vessels
must have a maximum speed Of at least
Nineteen knots per hour, and the thirc
vessel OF at least twenty knots per hour
with deduction from the contract price o.
$4,000 for every quarter knot less than the
guaranteed speed and with a premium tc
D. fixed by the Secretary Of the Navy for
increased speed.
Tie last amendment was the insertion oi
an item Of S270000 for the construction
and armament of one steel practice vessel
oI 500 tons for the use of the naval acld
envy at Annapolis. 1t was agreed to, anc
the bill was reported backby the committee
ol the whole to the senate.
he amendments on which no specla
votes were demanded, were agreed to.
Special vote was demanded by Mr.. Nor
gan on the amendment striking out th'
Louse Item for commission b locate nav
yard on the gulf coast, and Mr.. Morgan
spoke IN favor Of the house proposition anC
against striking 1t out.
Without disposing of it the bill went owe
uI tomorrow