Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1892-05-18
TALK ABOUTW SHIPS
Occupied the Time of the Senate at
Yesterdays Session.
BIG INCREASES ARE PROPOSED
By the Senate in Considering the House Naval Ap-
preparation Bill-VeSsels of All Sorts Sug-
geSted as Necessary 10 the Maintenance
Of the Dignity Of the Stars and Stripes.


naval question was taken up in the
Senate, the pending question being the
provision for an increase of the navy.
The House bill provides for one ar
mOred cruiser of about 5000 tons dis
placement TO cost exclusive OF arma-
m9nt) not less than IS, 500, 600, and the
Senate amendment provides lin addi-
tion) for one sea going coast line battle
ship OF about 5000 tons displacement TO
cost not more than S4,000,000; also for
one barbor defense double turret ship
Of the Monitor type with displacement
OF about $500 tons, TO cost not over
S3,000,000. four light draft boats and
six torpedo boats.
Mr.. Mcpherson, who had on last FRI
day offered an amendment to strike out
the House provision for an &rmored
cruiser and the Senate provision for a
battle ship, and to provide for three in
stead of one harbor defense double tur-
ret ships OF the Monitor type. modified
his amendment so as to confne it sim
ply to the striking out part of it, leav-
ing the number of Monitors at one.
Mr.. Villas referred to the present con-
dition OF the public treasury aud said
that the amount of annual appropria-
tions now imposed upon the country
might not improperly be described as
appalling. He was unable TO think
that the Senate should go further un-
der the present circumstances than the
House bill provided.
Mr.. Vest referred to Mr.. Sherman's
statements made some days ago that the
treasury was confronted with a deficit
and suggested that the warning would
have been much more appropriate and
of infinitely more utility if it had been
given to the last Congress. He would
vote with the greatest pleasure against
the proposed increase in every shape
and form.
Mr.. Allison, Chairman Of the Commit
tee on Appropriations, asked Demo
cratic Senators TO indicate what statutes
they would like to repeal so as to re-
duce the appropriations that were nec-
essary.
Mr.. Vest replied that so far as he
was concerned he would repeal the
sugar bounty law and the postal subsidy
law.
Mr.. Allison calculated the amount
that would be thus saved at about
SIS, 900, 600, and said that the country was
asked to eject a Democratic President
and Democratic Senate In order that
the sugar bounty and postal subsidy
laws might be repealed.
Mr.. Vest-That would be just a
starter.
Mr.. Allison referred to the condition
Of the public treasury, and among other
things said
1 will say to Senators who are dis
tressed about the sinking fund that at
this time the sinking fund has S34, ,O0O,-
600 to its credit; and the chances are
that before the end OF the fiscal year,
every dollar ought to be applied to it, or
within few years at least will be APP
piled To it, And will say another
thing; when this fiscal year ends we
will have instead of being in bankruptcy,
S25, 600, 900 OF surplus. That is
the latest estimate. l have no doubt
that we will keep within il, and proba.
bly, we will have surplus OF $50, ,0OO,-
900. l will venture my statement on
the SOS, 100000 l do not mean to say
that all the money appropriated will
then have been expended; we know that
that is never the case. But what l
mean to say is that very requirement OF
the Treasury will have been satisfied
and yet there will be $4,000, 900 Of a
surplus on the first of July next.
Mr. Mills said that the report OF the
Secretary Of the Treasury did not coin
else with Mr.. Allison's statement as to
the surplus.
war ships were ships that could go out
to the open sea for battle. They were
splendid chasers, and probably splen-
did runners, but what was wanted was
a few at least of the old kind of
1912 and Of 1855 to 1860, that could
walk ont to the middle of the ocean,
and say: "Here l am with the stars and
stripes"
Mr.. Hiscock expressed the belief that
IL Mr.. German or Mr.. Palmer should be
the next President, be would advocate
an enlargement of the navy. and that
the Senators from Missouri and Wis
consin, Messrs. Vest and Villas, would
sustain their administration or else sit
silent In their seats.
Finally the vote was taken on Mr..
McPherSon's amendment as modified,
and it was rejected-yeas Is; nays 30.
Mr.. Morgan offered an amendment pro-
viding that if the harbor defense ship
be built on the Pscisc coast an allow
ance OF per cent. may be made on its
cost to the contract, or in addition to
the contract price, 10 cover the cost of
the transportation of material.
The amendment was agreed to with
out division.
The question recurred on the amend
ment reported by the Committee on
Appropriations.
Without coming to a vote on the
question, the Senate adjourned.