The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1890-06-01
VIZ SNAIL NAVE THE BATTLE SHIPS.
The Four Armored Vessels Agreed Upon
by Congress.

The Four Armored Vessels Agreed Upon
by Congress.
WASHINGTON. May 3l.-Although the two
branches OF Congress have few minor differ
ences to adjust in conference the action of the
Senate has already made it certain that the
work Of building the new fleet will go on. with
appropriations about as liberal as those OF
preceding years
Under the circumstances this is good deal
to be sure Of 1t looked for a time as though
the policy OF construction which has been pro-
ceeding steadily and successfully during eight
years was at last TO be crippled If not wholly
checked. Four large war ships were provided
for in the Naval Appropriation bill reported to
the House. but q motion was there carried to
strike of three Of them. leaving only much the
least expensive one. This action was subse-
Quently recalled. On Monday motion to the
same effect was made in the Senate. and de-
feated also there.
Three influences have impered appropra-
lions for naval construction this year. At the
outset the report OF the Mccain Board. pro-
posing an expenditure OF $269.O0U.O00 Tor the
further increase OF the naval establishment,
stirred up the hostility OF a good many Con-
Gres,men from the interior. who were quite
alive 10 the fact that their own constituents
would have no share in building and equipping
the war vessels for which this great outlay was
to be made. Even whom Secretary Tracy.
coming to the rescue. sought to dis
arm criticism by repudiating the schome
of this Board. and substituting a pro-
posed expenditure OF Sl35UOU.uU0, distrib-
utinG this also In installments through many
years the uniavoraple comment did not stop
Tho House next made II Rroat reduction in
Secretary Tfacys plan by providing for less
new vessels which he nad proposeI; yet during
the debates the changes were still rung on tho
larger project. as II that was Incorporated
in the pepuing measure. However. 1t may
have been fortunate that the bold plan OF the
Me- ann Board WAS made public since it pre-
pared Congress Tor II liberal outlay: and when
Chairman 4 outelle called Tor only four vessels,
involving an ultimate cost OF less than So
ate appropriation for them, this appeared by
comparison a very moderate demand.
A second peril which had no compensatinG
features came from the enormous eXpendi-
lures made or determined upon for pubic
buildings rivers and hHr Dor tensions. and
ton against the naval bill, bnsed on the pros
poets OF international disarmament. aud Of
the pleasures Of peace, seems TO have been IN
Splred by schemes Tor making disposition
OF the public funds much less worthy than
That o! proyiing tor The public defence.
tiilty to the bill stirred up at the outset by
friends OF the monitor system OF construction.
who thought that an unwise preference had
been given in the scheme Of the Navy Depart
ment 10 battle ships OF the European type. In
some respects this wa. the most threatening OF
Senator'S who have the interests of the navy
and of national defence at heart. yet woul Id have
they RETAINED during the final debate from In
sisting on such Limitation. Earier In the sos
sion they had manifested purpose TO make
this issue but il had become clear that tho
pending measure had enough other difficulties
TO contend with. Mr.. DoIph did move that the
three armored battle ships provided for in the
bill should 10 three noating batteries. but
without prolonged discussion this motion WAS
voted down. The friends OF the bill evidently
at
authority had been obtained in the House.
adding only the Two torpedo vessels:
some OF the arguments brought forward in
the Senate to support the motion Tor strikin
out the battle ships were very weak. Mr.. Blair
ton that good time Is coming when NATIONS
will learn war no more. But the same Mr..
Blair had Just before moved e tn, that the SENATE
OF $4,000 Tor the. Portsmouth Navy Yard
should be rejected. and had succeeded in
the the millennium evidently did not trouble
him when It came TO - question q
own 10 e 5ePF
OF Oregon wa, another OF the economists who
voted Tor striking out the entire provision for
regularly brought in a bin calling for the az
ihani ieouces including forts and the guns to
be put in them. 1t is undoubtedly true that
Congress ought to make larger annual appro-
Readiness Of Mr.. Dolph TO vote against the, lat
ter unless they take the form OF floating bat
propriatlons SO, great for, coast defence.
Senator Cockrell objected both to the
on The ground that they might ''lerrorize
other nations" But II his constituents. instead
OF being securely ensconced In the State OF
Missouri. had their homes and their property
on the Atlantic seaboard, he might find Them
someWhat more concerned about their own
safety than about intimidating foreign ma
tions senator Voorhees, had so profound
faith in the ability OF the American people to
rise 10 any emergency that he would not vote
for these battle ship. But as 1t would take ut
least three years TO construct any one OF them,
mis- emergency might come and go. leaving this
country In bad pIight II met by faith alone.
Senate has concurred in tho provisions made
by tho House for constructing three great
armored battle ships at a possible cost Of
sI9ooOOo each: and q =. twenty zen knot 4, arIn2rsd
differences OF action Will create no serious
trouble. and the work OF building the new
Chandler, and prosecuted by Mr.. Whitney can
be vigorously carried on by Secretary Tracy.