The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1890-03-07
A NAVY THAT is A NAVY.
Great Line-Of- Battle ships wanted
at Once -senntc Committee would
ENpend Three Hundred Millions.

the committee decided upon the
policy which will govern it during
this Congress in the work of build
ing up the navy.
This is, in brief, that great line
of-battlc 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
minority reports will be submitted
TO the Senate.
The naval policy board, which
Secretary Tracy appointed, made
the following recommendations:
Ten ilrst-class baltlcships, great
ordnance, 10000 tons each, cost
SOC, 1000
Three third-class batttlcships,
great ordnance, G300 to 1900 tons
each, cost Sl1 100000.
Eight iirst-class battlcships, limit
ed ordnance, 5000 tons each, cost
$50, 100000
Twelve second-class battlcships,
limited ordnance, ZOO tons each,
cost Sj2 100000.
Five third-class battleships, limit
ed ordnance, COCO tons each, cost
SlS,000,000.
Six harbor defense monitors, 1915
to COCO tons each, cost S2j, 900, 900.
One cruising monitor, $500 tons,
cost 81, 100000
Eleven rams, one of 200O and 10
of 5000 tons each, cost, $40, j0O,-
900.
Nine thin armored cruisers, $3.50
tons, cost S2S, 100000.
-Four first class protected cruisers,
1900 tons each, cost Sl5, 100000.
Ten iirst-class protected cruisers,
5iO0 tons each, cost S2S, 100000.
Twelve second-class protected
cruisers, 5000 to $500 tons each
COS, S22, 100000.
Six third-class protected cruisers,
100 to $3.50 tons each cost ST.
800, 900.
Ten gun vessels and despatch
boats, $50 TO 1900 tons each; cost,
$500, 900.
Sixteen torpedo cruisers, includ-
ing Vesuvius, about 900 tons each T;
cost, S7,5O0,000.
Three torpedo depot artticer ships,
5000 tons each; cost, Sc, 300, 900.
One hundred and one torpedo
boats, G5 tons each; cost, Sc, $780,
600.
A total of 227 ships, Of GlO,03j
tons, at n cost Of S249, jl5, 900.
The above total includes SG7,-
100000 already expended and
authorizes an expenditure of $751;
$4,000 When the committee pro-
ceeded 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
Al of these vessels and they would
cost S202, 400, 900, while the other
1873 vessels, including lOl torpedo
boats. at an aggregate cost Of &c.
Sos, 900, would cost only Sl47,-
025, 900.
The maintenance Of these heavy
vessels would also be considerable.
1t was purposed to construct them
in order that we might have an Of
fensivc fighting fleet capable of con-
tending with the greatest fleet OF
any foreign power.
Senators Chandler and McPhcr
son opposed that part of the policy
boards recommendations proposing
that these vessels should first be
constructed. They said that, il
their opinion, the United States
should continue its present policy
of building fast cruisers like tho
Baltimore, Boston, Charleston ant
San Francisco, and gunboats ant
torpedo vessels. The cost of these
vessels was comparatively small
and they would form an uneQualled
fleet of commerce destroyers. The
building Of huge line-of. battle ships
should be deferred until we had q
larger number Of cruisers, or there
was some exigency calling for their
construction. They hoped the com
mittec would begin with the lattel
and not the first half of the vessel,
recommended to be constructed.
On this issue the committee divid
ed, the majority. as prcviousl,
stated, agreeing with the polio,
board. In accordance with this de
cision, Senator Hale was instructe,
to report favorably the hill! intro
duced by him some days ago, EN-
bodYing the recommendations con
tanned in Secretary Tracy's annua
report.
The hill for the transfer Of tn
revenue marine service from th,
Treasury to the Navy Department
was referred to a subcommittee
consisting of Senators Chandler
Stanford and Gray. 1t is under