New-York tribune., 1890-05-27
BUILDING UP THE NAVY.
THREE BATTLE-SHIPS PROVIDED FOR BY
THE SENATE.
THE CocKREI1, AMENDMENT REJEcTED-MR.
BLAIR WANTS ENGLAND TO DIsARM HER
SHIPS AND DIsMANTLE HER FORTS IN
THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE.

SHIPS AND p1sMANTLE HER FORTS IN
THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE.
ier TELEGRAPH TO THE TDBUSE1
Wasbinrton Nav o6-The Naval Appropriation bll
rot safely through the Senate this afternoon after {
long but interesting and animated debate on Mr.
CocNres amendments striking out the provisions for
three battleshps The opponents OF battiesmps were
finally beaten by vote of 33 to 1o and the Dill then
passed without a division. Party lines were moi
drawn of course on the question of sustaining the
settled Naval policy OF the Government for the last
eight wears and as was be expected the opposition
shown to the further development OF the Navy was
sectional rather than partisan. one Eastern senator
Mr. Blair two from the Gulf States, MessTs Pugh ana
Wathau, and one from the Pacific Coast, Mr.. Dolph'
Joined with fourteen others from the interior to deiet
the moderate scheme of naval expansion embodied IN
the present bill These seven Republicans were iouhd
opposing any increase in naval force Messrs. Blair
Dolph ingalls, Moody Pettigrew, Plumb and Wilson,
of Iowa The eleven Democrats who supported MI
Cockrels amendment were chiefly from the South
west Twenty three Republicans and ten Democrats
sustained the programme Of the House and senate
Naval Committees.
Mr.. Blair. of New Hampshire, put himself in an
awkward attitude say the least, by his vote only
last Saturday he was unceasing in his mportuhi,leS
70 have the Portsmouth Navy Yard reOpened for the
repair and construction Of iron and steel ships, ana te
creation OF great feet in the unmatched ha'uuai
haven offered by the Piscataqua River. To-Day nav
ing got his appropriation restored TO the BILL ne tooR
the opportunity to figure the champion OF peace
and arbitration, and in his zeal for the approach Oh
the millennium he went to the length OF suggesting the
Iudicrous expedient Of requesting Great Britain 10 ais
mantle all her naval and military stations IN inc
Western Hemisphere. This proposal eAcl'ed some
merriment and Mr.. Blair did not succeed IN getting
any one to take it seriously.
The Naval bill will probably go to conference
committee but there serious differences between
the House and the Senate, and those which do exist
can be adjusted without much difficulty. If the
senate amendments all agreed TO the bill VIII at
thorize the construction of three batteshps OF $500
tons displacement, protected cruiser of 1900
tons displacement, torpedo cruiser of $50 tons
displacement, and one torpedo boat
Mr. Cockrells amendment came up at once. and
the discussion began with consideration of the re-
port Of the Policy Board. Mr.. CoCkre upheld it,
while Mr. Hale declared that the Secretary OF tho
Navy had never accepted it as guide for him IN
LAYING out his policy. The vast navy proposed by
the Policy Board, said Mr. Hale, is the root OF all
the mischief 1t has startled every body, and that Is
the why the efforts to build respectable Navy
have been hindered Mr.. Cockrel insisted that the
Secretary had adopted in part the report and endeav
ored to make his point by reading extracts from the
secretarys letter. He believed it was not wise or
polite construct great batteshps for the safety
of the American flag assured in all places
Mr. Reagan said that he would vote for the con
struction Of the three battle ships
Mr. Stewart argued that II the United States were
to maintain its policy in connection with the Mon
roe doctrine it must possess navy that would enable
IL TO protect the weaker nations the Western Hem
isphere
Mr. Vest said that the American people were no
more in favor of increasing the navy Of the unlt7a
States and having great standing navy than they
were in favor of large standing army lie repre-
~, Cfeuir Val
which he doubted whether five men could be found
who would approve of The Appropriation of twelve
millions at this time for three battle slips. The an
nual farce Of "a fear of up ONCE year on
the Naval bill. lie protested, in behalf Of an over
brr,iened and overtayed people against any propo-
siton looking to a mighty standing navy
Mr. Gray said that it had been the policy OF
the United states to maintain nucleus for standing
army. The proposition before the senate was in line
with that wellsettled policy. The United states
could not 60 forever living IN fools paradise,
relying on its ability TO get ready for fight
Mr. Butler opposed the amendment. lie regretted
that II not IN his power 70 vote for eight battle
ships instead OF three While lie did not look for war
between the United states and Great Bitan il should
be remembered that there were some delicate and
difficult questions pending between the two Govern
ments lie hoped that they might be settled by nego-
tstIon or arbitration. but 50 long as human nature
WAS as 1t IT unsafe TO assume that the
nited States In danger OF a collision with
foreign Power lie trusted that the amendment OF
the senator from Missouri would not prevail
Mr.. Blair moved to ameId the provision Tor tDe
three battleshps by inserting the following: " But
this provision snall not be available until the Govern
ment Of Great Britain shall have been requested Dy
the President 10 Withdraw all her naval forces from
American waters, and 10 dNmantle her naval Sti,
tons In both North America and south America and
in adjacent Islands, and shall have declined OF shhu
have neglected for one year 80 TO DO. a.. .. ..-..
10 that
would have 10 become the policy Of the country
and the United states would nave TO be prepared TO
Mr. Halc-what does the senator think would be
the reply of Great Britain If demand was made upon
her 10 withdraw her war vessels from American waters
and 10 dlsmantlc her fOrtltcauons
Mr. Blair-I should hope that II would be favor
Mr. iiaieopoes the Senator think that IT would be
Mr. Blair do not know Why ~ IT shond not be; "A a
Of arbitration and why should they not be IN favor
Mr. Hale put his question again, and Mr. Blair re-
Piled: Did the senator from Maine ever read the
Bible Has he any idea That there Is TO be NIL.
when nations VIII learn war no more ~
Mr.. liale-Would the senator himself be ready
Mr.. nlair-Will the senator answer my questions
Mr.. Hsle-I have read the Bible
Mr. Blair-Ihat is good 50 ia far; had not t BE- be-
hevos that the time is to come when nations shall
learn war no morel A. e....-,- -. ~. .i.o
Mr. Blair-Does he believe that that time viii
come unless there be an effort 10 bring 1t about
ours 20 remain dcfcnceless. 1t is only temptation
10 every great Power.
Mr. Higgins-If the Senator from New Hampshire IS
seriOus in his proposition, does he not think that the
best place for the country Ia begin It's Of peace
Is TO dismantle our navy yards
Mr. blair have not proposed that the United
States shall down In the dirt that the Navy Yard
at Portsmouth shall he dismantlcd. 0.aughter.) |
have simply proposed that shall ask Great Britain
to take her hands on 10 vacate Puget Sound 10 start
herself from Halifax: 10 leave the Bcrmudas to qut
Jamaica: 10 let the United States and North and
South America alone. and That, IL she will not do
II, we shall build navy. But She will do il.
The discussion driftod along, and finally Mr. Hale
anpcaled 10 the Senate 10 come tO a decision plead.
ne earnestly that the Senate should declare in favor
OF building up the navy. Mr. Blairs amendment was
rejected, and then the vote taken on Mr. Cock.
rers amendment 10 strike ont the provision for three
battle ships. II not agreed tO-yeas, Is NAYS
80.
Mr. Dolph offered amendment providing for
three floating batteries. Disagreed 10.
on motion Of Mr.. Butler. an item was inserted
appropriang 5000 900 for dry dock at Port RovaI
s. G., the whole cost not to exceed $500 900 The
bill was then passed.