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

The Senate Committee on Naval
Affairs Will Report a Bill to Build
Two Hundred and Twenty War
Ships.
WASHINGTON. Special.-The 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 con-
gress in the work of building up the navy.
This is, in brief that Il great ine-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 mi
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,
thlrd-cass battle ships, great ordnance, $500
to 1900 tons each, 81 900 900; Eight first
class battle ships limited ordnance. 5000, 900
tons each, $50 $50 900; twelve SeCOnd-caSS bat.
tie ships, limited ordnance 7, 100 tons each,
S52 200, 900; five third- class battle ships, linn
tied ordnance, 5000 tors each, SIS
ssl SIX to 5nrOSr oso ee 5@es m ea@h
$26 900, 900; one cruising monitor, $500 tons,
81 900, 600; eleven rams. one of 1000 and ten
of $500 tons each. $40, 900. 900: nine thin
armOred cruisers, $3.50 tons, S2S 500 900; four
first ClaSs protected cruisers, 800 tons each,
$40, 100000 ten first class protected cruisers,
5,4OO tons each, $2S,OOO. 600; twelve sec
Ond-class protected cruisers, 5000 to $500
tons each S22 500 900; six third-class pro-
tected cruisers, 700 to 3,l0U tons each, So,
500, 900: ten gun vessels and dispatch boats
$50 to l 800 tons each 81 800 900 sixteen tor
pedO cruisers, including NeSuvius, about 900
tons each. 81 500, 900; three torpedo depot arti
fcer ships, 5000 tons each. $4,000 600; lO1
torpedo boats, 65 tons each, cost S6.5G5, 600;
making total OF OPT ships OF go O35 tons at
a cost OF S349, 3 900
The above total includes $67 965OUO al
ready expended, and authorizes an ex-
pendlture of $2Sl, So, OUO.
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 $2O2. 400, 600, while
the other 1873 vessels, including lO1 torpedo
boats at an aggregate cost of S. $50, coo
would cost only $147 OPS, 600. Senators
Chandler and Mcpherson opposed that part
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 >. II. and they could
form an unequaled feet OF comme, - DC
stroyers. The buildin& OF the huge lIne-ot-
battle ships should be deferred until we hao
larger number of crui sers, or there was
some exigency calling for their conStruc-
ton. On this issue the committee divided,
the majority. as previously stated agreeing
with the policy hoard in accordance with
this decision Senator HANe was instructed
to report favorab,v1le pill introduced by
him some DAYS ago c,,bood wing the recon-
% - ,G irA Secretary Tracy s