The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1890-05-01
THE NEW NAVY.


The defeat of the provision in the Naval |
Appropriation bill for building three battle |
ships of $500 tons displacement each in
Committee of the Whole last Thursday, was
something of n surprise to the country
which, on the average, had settled down to
the conclusion that the rebuilding of the
Navy on a modern basis was settled pro-
gram.
In order that clear idea Of the causes of
this apparent "about-facen on the part of
the House may be had, il is necessary 10 re-
view briefly the operations of the Navy De
partment itself during the past year. One
Of the FIRST acts Of Secretary Tracy was to
create Board Of Naval Officers, Of which
Commodore Mccain was President, whose
duties were defined 10 be the formulation
of a comprehensive scheme or policy" TO
be pursued in the rebuilding of the Navy.
without going into particulars, it suiIiees
10 say that this board reported a program
involving the construction Of a large number
of ships of various classes aud rates, armored
and unarmOred, at total cost of nearly
S4000OO,0O0; this expenditure 10 be dis
tributed over period Of ii years.
1t was at once plainly and painfully evil
dent that this Policy Board, ," rs 1t is called.
for short, had entirely transcribed the
average Of public sentiment in favor of re-
building the Navy. And il is equally no.
torious that If the naval force which they
recommended could have been put aiioat at
once, as if by magic, it would be by large
! odds the most formidable offensive navy OH
| the planet and at the same time the most
costly; far beyond any probable or even
possible needs OF the Republic, offensive or
defensive, and totally outside the currently
received theories of the people as to what
the American Navy should be.
II is an unfortunate fact that our Naval
officers, though animated by the most
patriotic intentions, do as a class lose touch
of elbows" with the people, who pas the
taxes and foot the bills. This is due mainly
to the restricted sphere Of the official lives
and 10 the tendency of the Naval service
toward cxclusiyeness of thought and aristo-
cracy Of association.
OF course the program of the Policy Board
fell at once by its own weight; but, in fall
ing, il made noise enough 10 alarm the
steadygoing people Of the country, and
they have been calling halt in unmistalk-
able language. Ever since that report be.
came public, the Naval Committee of the
/ House has been deluged with petitions, pro,
tests and remonstrances from Farmers ALI
ances, Grand Army Posts, Boards of Trade
taxpayers who while agreeing that we mus
: have new Navy, and expressing their will
g Of reasonable proportions, are not willing t,
G commit the Government toa program inyolv
ing An ultimate expenditure amounting t,
e considerably more than the entire cost Of tn,
Navy in the late civil war!
r We write in no unkind spirit. But on
!, constituency is so largely made up of til,
q humble toilers and taxpayers Of the UnioI
i that we feel called upon TO echo their pro
r tests However, we also feel called on Il
explain that the provision for increase of tn
Q Navy reported by Capt. Boutelle, Chairman
: Of the Committee, was not only not in pur
o suance of the absurdly -extravagant schem
recommended by the Policy Board, but actn
: ! ally rebuke to it, aud, if fairly viewed, wa