The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-07-18
THE NAVY BILL.
The Provisions Mnde for the International
Review and for Two Fine New ships.

acvIcw anu rOr Two Ftuc ENc" Shtpss
WASHINGTON. July 17.-There is feeling Of
relief and congratulation over the reversal by
the House OF It's unwiso decision against the
naval review appropriation and the new battle
ship, together with much praise for the public
spirited course OF Mr.. Herbert and the elo-
ouence OF Mr.. Fellows.
The fact Is that the great naval rendezvous
md review which Congress has ordered for
next year cannot BIO held without costing
some money. Tho expense will not be great
in proportion to the magniilcence OF tho affair
but there must BIO some OUTLAWS. and partic-
ularly for the enlistment Of extra men to serve
on the new ships that will be made ready for
tho occasion. These include tho big armored
cruiser New York. exceeding by $500 tons
anything now In commission: tho unarmored
No. IL. OF 1850 tons displacement; the cruisers
Cincinnati and Raleigh each as large as tho
Atlanta or the Boston: the cruisers Detroit.
Montgomery. and Marblehend; tho gunboats
Machias and Castine; the harbor defence ram.
Perhaps there may be other new vessels ready.
but these can be counted upon; and tho num-
Der OF enlisted men at present authorized by
law is barely sufficient to supply tho needs Of
the existing navy. especially with the Monte-
rey soon to go into commission.
Congress had already informcdthe country
OF its purpose to hold this nautical pageant as
specially appropriate ceremony In honor OF
the great voyage. OF Columbus. A law now on
PRESIDENT to invite other nations to send their
vessels as our guests. to a, common rendez,,
TO, make that announcement to the. worl,i!
did the other day. are re- childish. No .ons
nn sta sHsa nautical ana tns snH M to
| great historic voyage as u miscellaneous fair.
| held thousand miles distant from salt water:
have been folly to cut down our country's part
In the, naval display by falling to enlist crows
ton whether couple Of little carayels Should
| be built to Join the Santa Maria. which Spain
| Is to send over. ia of minor importance US
mast NOT Be- nferred that tSe Sars Of
appropriation at this time would have wrock cd
Ridiculous; An appropriation next winter
| mig hit be- in season for it: yet 1t was folly to
fSh rf1 HH Sa SaSs ae
ment anxious about how TO meet expendi-
lures. Hence the agreement at last on this
fleet. The House had voted to contribute one i
Of = Efforts s that had BEEN Wns put iorth
Tor ten years with constantly increasing viEor
Mes to 81 nt y @ h9
House we lind that body at It's long session
| u single one Of which was an armored cruiser
| Of the tyre and size which the present House
had proposed to duplicate as Its sole contri-
but ion this year to our naval defence.
The Senate made large additions to this
measure. but knowing that the pension. the
river and harbor. and other appropriations
were 80 enormous this year. proposed that not
dollar should actually be laid out on the ad-
| ditonal vessels. Secretary Tracy had clearly
pointed out that 1t was not money that was ut
present needed. but only the prompt authori-
cation Of certain vessels. SO that whole year e
work need not be lost on preliminares OF
planning. calling for bids. and making awards
! OF contracts. which themselves required no ap-
| accepted the m ost important OF the Senate
| additions. a battleshtp rejecting all the rest;
and yet. although no money was called for.
| the House refused even this compromise. But
the influence OF Mr. Herbert and the appeal OF
MIR. Fellows were effective. and the House al
| last excepted the battleship.
1t would have proved unfortunate for the
Fifty.second Congress to have been the first
| for ten years that had fnied to respond fully
to the popular desire for liberal appropriations
to the navy, The House Naval Committee has
estimated that nine such vessels ought to be
added to the navy and has even suggested
| during the next four years. SO that to provide
now for beginning one is Q moderate share oil
the undertak Ing at The present session.
On the whole. credtable conclusion in the
| long contest has been reached. and without
| much additional outlay. The Senate conforrees
| in the last conference yielded over $500 900 OF
| their proposed additions. while the House was
| only asked to add less than Sb7 900. OF which
much the larger part was for the naval review