The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-05-18
VILASANDTHEN Ne NAVY|
THE SENATOR OPPOSES MORE
HEAVY APPROPRIATIONS.

|
he Expresses the Opinion That the
Navy Is Large Enough for Present
Needs Considering the Depleted Con-
dition of the Treasury-Msy be
Presidential IssuS.
WASHINGTON, May 17.-Senator Villas
made significant speech In the Senate to-
day on the naval appropriation bill; sig
nificant not only because in opposing large
new appropriations for the navy he was ex-
pressing the view taken by the large majority
Of the democrats in congress who have been
stirred I'D by Senator Germans speech in
advocacy Of larger appropriations for the
navy, but because what Senator Villas says
is taken to represent the special views of
the friends of ex-President Cleveland. The
friends OF all the other democrats men
toned in connection with the Chicago nomi-
nation have been saying around the cloak
rooms that Senator German struck the
wrong note the other day, but none of them
except Presidential Candidate Holman him
self had given public expression to this view
until Senator Villas spoke to-day. Senator
| Villas did not say, of course. what some
democrats are saying. that Senator Cor
/ mans speech makes it less likely than IL was
| Luhi ZIG ODlCdRO Will 20 10 DIN
if by any chance it should not 90 to Mr..
| Cleveland.
| THE SENATE IN DETAIL.
| By the Associated Press.
WASHINGTON, May 17.-In the Senate to-
day Mr.. Chandler introduced bill 60 au-
! thorize the registration of certain steam
ships as vessels of the United States, and 1t
was referred to the committee on COM
merce. 1t is a bill to grant American
registry to the vessels of the proposed
American steamship company" yet to be
organized, upon conditions similar to those
under which American registry was given
to two steamers OF the Inman line. The
company is to be New York corporation,
and Austin Corbin and his associates are
named as the corporators.
THE NAVAL BILL.
The naval appropriation bill was taken
up, the pending question being the provis-
ion for an increase Of the navy The House
bill provides for one armored cruiser of
about 5000 tons Displacement, to cost, ex-
elusive OF armament, not less than SO. $780,
600; and the Senate amendment provides in
addition for one sea-going coast line battle
ship Of about 5000 tons displacement, to
cost not over "a, 900 900; also for one harbor
defense double turret ship of the monitor
type with displacement of about 500
tons, to cost not over %, 100000; four light
draft gunboats, and six torpedo boats
Mr.. Mcpherson, who had on last Friday
offered an amendment to strike out the
House provision for an armored cruiser
and the Senate provision for a battleship,
and to provide for three instead of one bar
Dor defense double turret ships Of the Mont
tor type, modified his amendment so as to
confine it simply to striking out part of it,
leaving the number Of monitors at one.
Mr.. Higgins made a speech favoring an
increase Of the navy, even il it involved an
increase of the national debt.
ARE MORE SHIPS needed
Mr.. Villas presented to the Senate prsc-
teal question. When should increase of
the navy cease, and In what manner?
Should it go on till it was suddenly checked,
or should measures be taken to discontinue
further construction Of ships OF war; He
made a recapitulation Of the present
ships Of the navy and suggested the
question whether those and the vessels
under construction did not present a suffi-
GENTLY strong naval force. In the present
condition of the public treasury, could con-
gress, Mr.. Villas asked. justify great addi-
lions to the appropriations He thought
not. He thought that the Senate should
measure the supposed necessity for an in
crease Of the navy with temperance. with
calm business Judgment, and he was unable
TO think the Senate should go further, under
present circumstances, than the House bill
provided. He should be glad to see even that
provision withdrawn unless there appeared
TO be greater necessity for it than he had
yet heard suggested.
VEST RIDICULEs GoRMAN's SPEECH.
Mr.. Vest ridiculed the suggestion made by
Mr.. German on Friday last that warships
should be built in order to keep up the ship
yards and steel works that had gone into the
business, and spoke of the ship building yard
at Newport News built up by Mr. Hunting.
don, at a cost of $1,000, 900, without any aid
from the government. That had been done,
he said, by one man, a man with whom he
differed widely In politics, but for whom he
had infinite respect on account OF his enter
prise and his daring as a developer OF coun-
tries, and not as destroyer He would
vote with the greatest pleasure against the
proposed increases in every shape and form.
The debate was continued by Messrs. Alli-
son, Cockrell, Mills, Hawley and Hiscock.
Finally a vote was taken on Mr.. Nc
Pherson's amendment as modified, and it
was rejected by vote Of Is yeas to 80
nays, as follows:
YEAs-Messrs Berry, Blodgett Carlisle Cock
rell, Coke. Faulkner, Hill, Kyle, Mcpherson,
Mills, Palmer Pasco, PETER, Pettigrew. Pugh
Turpie, Villas and Voorhees.-1S.
NAYs-Messrs. Allen. Allison, Butler, Casey,
Chandler, Davis, Dawes, Dubois FELTON,. Frye
Gallinger, Haze Hansbrough Hawley, Higgins.
Hiscock, Henderson, Mitchell Morgan, Paddock,
| Perkins, Proctor, Quay, Ransom, Sanders, Saw
! yer, Sharp, Stanford, Teller and Wilson-30
! Mr.. Morgan offered an amendment pro.
viding that if harbor defense ship be
built on the Pacific coast an allowance of 8
| per cent. may be made on its cost to the con-
J tractor in addition to the contract price,
! to cover the cost Of the transportation OF
material. This was agreed to without
division. The question required on the
amendment reported by the committee on
appropriations but without reaching a vote
| the Senate adiOurna6