The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1890-01-30

The Senate Committee on Naval
Affairs Will Report q Bill to Build
Two Hundred and Twenty War
Ships.
WASHINGTON. Specialize senate COM
mittee on naval affairs held an important
meeting to-day, at which, after considerable
discussion, the committee decided upon the
policy which will govern it during this COLI
gress in the work of building up the navy.
This Is, in BRIEF that a great line-of battle
ships, like the English Ben Bow, should be
constructed at once Senators Chandler and
Mcpherson, however, are not in accord with
the decision reached, and majority and nil
nority reports will be presented to the SEN
ate. Senator Stanford is also not wholly
committed to the decision reached. The
naval policy board, which Secretary Tracy
appointed, made the following recon-
mendations: -
Ten first-class battle ships great ordnance
10000 tons each, cost $50 400 900; Three
so toms sSoh Esht % rs
class battle ships, limited ordnance, 5000 900
tons each, $50 $50 900; twelve second-class bat.
$50 200. .0OO five third-class battle ships, lin,
tied ordnance, 5000 tons each, $1S:-
600 GOO 900; harber oeo defense mon nsah
sa6 ,ooo, ,ooo one cruising ~ monitor, $500 tons
81 300, ,00O eleven rams, one of 1000 and ten
of $500 tons each, SIS, 500, 900; nine thin
first-class protected cruisers, 1900 tons each,
$15, $780, ,000 ten first-class protected cruisers,
5,4OO tons each, $2S ,0O0,O00;- twelve sec
tons each, $22 500, 900; six third-class pro-
tected cruisers, LOO to 3,190 tons each, S5,-
500 900; ten gun vessels and dispatch boats
pedo cruisers, including Vesuvius, about 900
tons each, $500, 900; three torpedo depot arti-
ficer ships, 5000 tons each, Sc, 500 900; 1O1
torpedo boats, 65 tons each, cost So 1868, 900;
making a total OF 227 ships OF $40, ,O35 tons at
q cost of SS49, 3 15 900.
The above total includes $67, ,965, 900 al
ready expended, and authorizes an ex-
penditure of $2S1, $50 900.
AN ISSUE RAISED.
When the committee proceeded to the
consideration of these recommendations
the issue was raised as to whether or not it
would be advisable at this time to begin
with the construction of the immense line
of battle ships, as proposed by the policy
board. Including the harbor defense
monitors, there are forty-four of these YES
sells, and they would cost 1902, 400 600, while
the other 1888 vessels including 1O1 torpedo
boats at an aggregate cost of Sc, 565, coo,
would cost only $147, OPS, 900. Senators
of the policy boards recommendations por-
posing that these vessels should first
be constructed, They said that in
their opinion the United States should con-
tinue its present policy of building fast
cruisers like the Baltimore, Boston, Charles
ton and San Francisco, and gunboats and
torpedo vessels. The cost of these vessels
was comparatively D., IL and they could
form an unequaled f feet OF comm.s 20 de-
stroyers. The buildinS OF the huge hne-ot-
battle ships should be defSrred until we had
larger number of cruisers, or there was
some exigency calling for their construc-
ton. On this issue the committee divided,
the majority, as previoufly ly stated agreeing
with the policy board. IN accordance with
this decision Senator HANe was instructed
to report fayorablv the pill introduced by
him some days ago embPdyine the recon-.
7se tnei ed iGA secretary Aracy
r. The
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