New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-12-09
IMPORTANT NAVAL BILLS.
IDEAS OF THE NAVY DEPARTMENT REPRE-
SENTED BY SENATOR HALE'S MEASURES.

PROVIDING NEW BATTLE-sHIPS - INCREASING
THE ENLISTED FoRcE-UTILIzING THE
MERCHANT MARINE AS AUx1L-
IARY CRUISERS.
fBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIDuSE.T
Washington Dec s.-Among the bills introduced last
week in the Senate, none perhaps are Oh ihoio iih
porancc, likely 10 attract wider iD.sIes' .'
the five offered last Thursday by Senator Haze aed'-
ing with various questions of naval policy Ihese
measures NAV be said TO cover the chief recommends
tons contained I'm Secretary Tracys recent report ana
to represent the ideas Of the Navy Department apd
Of the Administration, so far as legislative aouon y"
naval matters IS to be asked al thls sessoh vi NVii
gress. The bills were prepared at the Navy Depart
ment upon extended consultations with Senator Has'
who IS the chairman Of the Senate Committee on
Naval Affairs, and cover much wider heid thah any any
other naval measures that have yet been before Coh-
gess.
The first BILL To further increase the naVai es.ao
lshmentS provides for the construction OF elghV pat
te-ships, ranging from 1900 to 10000 tons m us
placement; two armOred coast defence vessels thIoo
Cunboats of 800 to 200 tons displacement ana hVe
rst-class torpedo boats All these vessels are to be
built by contract where such course Is pracVcao''
under the provisions of the law relating 10 ProPosaS
and bids fixed by the act Of August 81 looo' ino
ships are TO be of American material IN hull engines
boilers and machinery The limitation oil the COST VI
each vessel Is left TO the discretion Of the Navy De-
partment. this course having become necessary by
reason of the failure to obtain bids for war Vessels
heretofore authorized, within the limits fixed as TO
cost. The Secretary is to have power to ada pre-
mlums for extra speed made by the vessels al'ef
complete trial. If the vessels cannot all be Dult W
contract portion may be constructed IN the "oNcIn
mont Navy Yards. The construction OF the Datue-
ships is intended to furnish the Government with hlst
c1ae ll.tp .fuo
may be made available for defence at home, or IL
necessary for work abroad. 1t is the hope OF sen
ator Hale that this bill may pass Congress at an carry
date in order that the work may be at once entered
upon as the large ships cannot lie constructed under
three four years time
The bill To promote the efficiency OF the ehlls'eo
force Of the Navy provides for the increase OF naval
amenities and bows from $50 to 1900 and thereby
increases the active enlisted force Of the Navy TO
1000 men. The term Of enlistment oil men anu Do9'
IS increased from three years to four III Oer tV nave
margin of the usual cruising course OF three
wears and premium OF one dollar mGnth IS auuSu
for each period of enlistment in order to encourage
permanent service in the Navy. The provisions OIL
law which apply to pensioners in military asylums
are hereafter to be applied TO pensioners In navaI
asyums and I'm any case where sailor has served
in the United States Navy for thirty years, either
as an enlisted petty officer, he may be placeu
upon the retired list, with an allowance OF 20 per
centum Of his pay, In the same manner 'nd' ooii-
missloned officers i'm the service retired 1t Is
believed that the provisions Of this bill will secure
more permanent force the Navy; that it will operate
against desertion and will In all respects add 10 the
efficiency of the service.
Senate bill No $40 changes the obsolete rating of
United States war vessels and substitutes modern
and practical classification. Under the old classica-
ton first rates. in the Navy consisted of vessels car
rying over forty guns like the old Niagara and Frank
lin and the lower ratings were made to depend upon
lie number of guns carried. In the present bill the
sias sifcaon is arranged according to tonnage, the
first rates. being those of 5000 tons and over the
second rates" those between 5000 and 1000 TONS
and the thrd rates. those between 5000 and 1000
tons and those of less than 900 tons fourth
rates.
| The naming of the United States war ships in the
| future is covered by the following provisions:
Battle shps shall he named the States Of the Union
cruisers after the cities unarmoref coast defence vessels
after Ayers aud armored coast defence vessels aitr IN
rtant events or names connected with the history Of the
United States Vessels Of special classes shall be named
aupropraely to the service which they designed
senate bill No. 542 To provide for reserve from
the steam vessels of the merchant marine Of the
United states for service as auxiliary cruisers for
the Navy covers simple and plain policy for the
auxiliary navy. it not only PROVIDES thaO
merchant steamships may hereafter Dc bul't OS
private parties, under such plans As NAV
/
with capabilities for naval service in emergency put
that in case OF such emergency, the secretary of IN"
Navy NAV take any vessels already built which are
suitable for naval service No merchant steamship
shall be- 10 taken or built unless 1t shall be capdOle Oh
mounting at least rifle guns OF modern co!'tiu'-
ton and shall be able to make speS al lOdl ufll' or
continuous six hours run OF mol less Idh HluCn n,f
upon the seas and twelve knots upon The Uiet
iahos. A. compensation for the service OF s,'h w. NS-
scis IN emergency the secretary Is authorH'u 10 pay
Ia the owner "A sum not exceeding eight per cehlun
annually uuon the cost of such ships; put Such
maximum rayment can only be- allowed 10 NeS'ciS
capable Of making nineteen knots speed IL Is
believed that under this encOulagemenL merchahV
steamships can be constructed In such manner a 10
be available a. swift cruisers IN cas- oi war dl ~,
little no abatement Of their carryIhs CaPaet1 ,,h
time of peace All ships 80 built under conu,ic WIN
the Secretary. taken by him aiter DenH puli'' % %'
be enrolled I'm a list which Is TO De leIncu i"0
Auxiliary Naval List" , ,Itoy a. In
These bills cover the general naval pOlCy as as j" ~
dicated I'm the able report of secretary Tracy anu "
Is the intention OF senator Hale 10 urge thrr PtSSdSo
by the senate a. soon possible. HeaIinEs MIt pU
held by the senate NaVa! Committee, ana ,no ,
AM Npert officers Of the Depal lIhcut VIII p0 '
before the Committee 2t an carry ddN. ,u,t,r,e tho
Senator Hale also introduced Dill 10 a. 10, ~
survivors of the officers and crews ot the !lldi.'
Trenton and Vandalia wrecked I'm the gra' tThp',
in Nav last a. the samoan Islands IN pll al
provides for the survivors OF the NlP>" ,,,ria,c,
stranded M the same time. and further appIoprla'
money for the representatives OF all those WIN WIZ
lost In the tempest.
ROSA RAND TO TAKE ROSE EYIINGhS rAAoN'
Baltimore, Dec. 2 (spcciah.-Rose Eyuhge' inc
actress leaves the Captain Swift company hcN'