Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-02-10
In Discussing the Naval Appropria-
tion Bill in the Senate.
A TILT WITH THE SPEAKER.
Mr.. EnIoe Criticizes the geological
Park Management.
MORE APPROPRIATION BILLS


House bill to establish the customs district of
Tennessee, with substitute constituting Nash
vile, Tenn, port of delivery, was taken up
and passed.
A conference was asked, and Messrs. Dolph,
washburn and Kenna were appointed conferees
on the part of the Senate.
Senate bill to authorize the Minnesota Boom
Company to construct and operate booms and
other structures in certain sloughs of the Mis-
sissippi river, and to drive and steer into such
booms logs, timber and lumber found in said
river, was also taken from the calendar and
passed.
THE PRINTERS WAGES.
The House bill to revise the wages Of certain
employees of the government printing Office
was taken up and passed with q substitute
Offered by Mr.. Gorman) providing that all
night employees be paid 20 per cent in addition
to the amount paid for day labor. A con-
ference was asked and Messrs. Henderson,
Hawley and German were appointed conferees
on the part Of the Senate.
Messrs. Dawes, Plumb and German were ap-
pointed conferees on the part Of the Senate ON
the Notifications bill.
TIRE NAVAL APPROPRIATION BILL
The naval appropriation bill was then taken
up and Mr.. Hale made statement as to its
provisions. He said that the appropriations
the Navy Department, aside from the con-
struction of new ships. were between 5000. 900
and 500, 900 less than the appropriations for
last year. 1t was one of the good results Of
the building of new ships that expenses which
were formerly made on the old wooden ships
had ceased and the expenses of the bureaus in
regard to that kind of work had decreased.
The bill as reported appropriated S3l. 564 900.
The large items were for the carrying out of
the contracts on vessels heretofore authorized
by Congress. As compared with the estimates
the bill appropriated 81, 77O. 900 less. The only
feature of the bill extending the work Of build
ing up the navy was a provision for one fast
sailing protected cruiser.
The committee on naval affairs had consid-
cred whether it would not be desirable to re-
new ships, but on deliberation it was thought
not advisable to seek to add to the House propo-
sition. In view of the fact that the
Navy Department was filled with work
on, on the ships already authorized
and in course OF construction, and
employed, the Secretary Of the Navy himself
had thought that wisdom dictated that he
should not press for any more new ships, and
30 the bill Qn that respect) had been taken as
it came from the House. The two main items
of increase reported from the committee on
appropriations were for two dry docks-one in
South Carolina and one on the Pacific coast.
Mr.. Plumb inquired as to the maximum ap-
preparation that would be required for the
navy in the course Of the next four or five
years by reason Of the ships already author
lied.
Mr.. Hale said that he looked into the matter
somewhat. His belief was that the appropria-
tions in the pending bill for that work were
considerably larger than would be necessary in
future years-subject Of course. to what Con-
gress might do in the way of ordering new
ships.
HOW MANY NEW SHIPS?
Mr.. Plumb also inquired as to how many
new ships would be added to the navy if the
plan on which Congress was now proceeding
were carried out by new legislation.
Mr.. Hale did not think that there was any
plan formed as to the number of ships in what
might be called the new navy. There were
various views about it. He, for one did not
believe that the United States needed a great
extravagant navy. He thought that the United
States should have respectable navy, and it
would have that by its getting the very best
ships in the world with the very best guns and
equipped in the best way.
If the United States had q feet, not of six
or eight hundred vessels, like Great Britain,
nor of two or three hundred ships, as some of
the other powers, but perhaps Of one-third as
many as the latter, he should feel
that the country was fully equipped for
any possible emergency. He would not
wish to fix the number of ships that
Congress ought to stop at. He supposed
that the work Of starting new ships would
probably end in the course Of the next half
dozen years.
Mr.. Mcpherson remarked that there was no
provision whatever in the bill for floating har-
bor defenses.
Mr.. Hale said that on that point it had been
deemed better to leave the bill as the House
had left it.
Mr.. Mcpherson argued that the true policy
OF the government was not to build great war
ships to meet the enemy on the ocean, but to
have floating batteries in the narbors of the
monitor type. That was the American plan,
which should not have been abandoned in
favor of the British plan.
Mr.. Dolph argued that the proper harbor de-
fenses were not loating batteries, but land for
tifications.
After the discussion about the relative merits
Of land batteries and floating batteries had
continued for half an hour MIR. Hale suggested
that the reading of the bill should be pro-
ceeded with and that the two Senators Oiessrs.
MCPHERSON and Dolph) could compose their
differences over subject that was not in the
bill at all
The reading of the bill was then proceeded
with.
THE AMENDMENTS coNsDER.Ep
The first amendment reported from the COM
mittee on appropriations was the following:
To enable the President to cause careful
soundings to be made between San Francisco.
Canton and Honolulu. in the kingdom of the
Hawaiian Islands, for the purpose Of determin-
ing the prscticability Of the laying of q
telegraphic cable between these points.
$4,000 or 30 much thereof as may
be necessary, and the President &
hereby authorized to direct the use of any YES
sci or vessels belonging to the United States in
making such survey.
1t was agreed to, after remarks BY Mr.. Cor
man TO the effect thar it was not to be regarded
as committing the government in any Wuy To
the proposition that the government was to lay
the cable.
Other committee amendments that we're
agreed to were as follows:
For dredging on the channel to Craney
Island magazine, Norfolk harbor and for re-
pairs to wharves and buildings, ESQ, 200.
For floating or tug crew for the New York
navy yard, $4,000.
The item Of S25 900 for equipment and s<ms
for naval militia and various states w<s chal-
lenged by Mr.. Carlisle and was eS<Siained by
Mr. Hale a. applying to certain states that had
organizations for drilling and training for
naval service, just Like the land militia for land
service.
Mr.. Carlisle said that the matter vss anita
new to him, and he asked In What sfstes
there was . naval militia
Mr.. Hale said that there were half dosen
states that had naval militia He named
New York, Massachusetts,, Rhode Island, Con-
necticut and (he thoughD New Jersey. They
we're simple training schools for emergsucieaL
Mr.. Oarliale thought that Congress ought
not 10 enter on such new po1kDy without In
formation and every careful consideraticn-
Ar. Hale remarked that Il was practically .