The Portland daily press., 1892-04-19
DEMOCRATIC EcoNNooMY.
Coasts Must Remain Unprotected Because
Ships Cost Money.

WASHINGTON, April 1S.-The House
went into committee of the whole on
the naval appropriation bill. Mr.. Elliott
of South Carolina favored the clause for
the increase of the navy in the precise
language it was couch in the pending
measure. He was opposed to the
amendment of the gentleman from
Maine Mr.. Boutelle] for the construc-
ton of the two additional battle ships.
Mr.. White of Iowa opposed large ap-
preparation for the navy.
Mr.. Martin of Indiana opposed as rails
ing one more monument to barbarous
warfare, the building of new war ship.
M +. Covert of New York, said the bill
re ported by the committee on naval af-
fairs and the amendment offered by the
gentleman from Maine Mr.. Boutelle1
were in the directionof the maintenance
of the general government. Congress had
the assurance of the Secretary of the
Navy that the recommendations covered
by the bill and by the amendment were
essentially necessary at this juncture. 1t
had assurances that the appropriation
sought to be made by the amendment
could be proftably expended The clause
reported by the committee was too con-
servative to meet the demands of the
times. The amendment was demanded
by the progressive people of the country
and should become at this time the law
of the land.
Mr.. Boutelle of Maine, in advocating
his amendment, urged the importance of
Immediately proceeding with the con-
struction OF two new battle ships. This
was simple question whether Congress
would perform the duty of the hour now,
or whether it would put off that perform
ance for twelve months.
Mr.. Miller of Wisconsin favored the
Boutelle amendment, and Mr.. Herbert
took the ground that if the Democratic
party struck out the clause for the con-
struction of an additional cruiser, it
would commit a political blunder. Had
it not been that during the past few years
the navy of the United States had been
rebuilt, this country would today be in
volved in destructive war with Chill.
Mr.. Boutelle's amendment was then re-
jected, 65 to 102, ten Democrats voting in
the affirmative and no Republicans in the
negat We.
Mr.. Cummings of New York offered an
amendment providing for the construc-
ton of one battle ship and five torpedo
boats. This was lost, 73 to 80.
Mr. Boutelle offered an amendment
providing for the construction of two
steel gunboats at cost of $500, 900 each,
and 10 torpedo boats at $120,000 each.
This was also lost, IS to 104.
Mr. Cummings then offered an amend
ment providing for the construction of
four torpedo cruisers at $500,000 each,
two light draught gunboats at $3.50, 900,
and two first class torpedo boats at $780,
600 each. This was rejected.
The motion recurred on Mr.. Holman's
motion to strike out the provision for
the construction of one new cruiser. and
it was defeated, 80 to 120. Mr.. Holman
promptly moved to strike out the new
cruiser and substitute therefor four tor
pedo boats.
This motion was greeted ny remark
by Mr. Boutelle that it would save time
to make four row boats, while Mr. O'Neil
of Missouri thought that RATS would be
preferable.
The motion was lost, 43 to 105.
The committee then rose and Mr. Bou-
telle moved to recommit the bill with in
structions to the committee on naval af-
fairs to report it back with the clause in
corporated in his original amendment for
the construction of two battle ships at
81, 100000 each and ten torpedo boats at
$120,0 each. The motion was rejected
yeas, 81; nays, 1874. The bill was passed
and the House adjourned.