The morning call., 1892-03-07
Senator Hale'S Plea for the ConstrHe-
tiOn Of Mere Warships.
THE IEFLUEECE OF A POWERFUL NAVY.
Dissatisfaction at the Small Appropriation Retem-
mended for the Building Of New
Armered Vessels.
Special 10 THE MORNING Gait.


interior districts are not as a rule over
friendly to the navy, and the shortage In
in the Treasury furnishes them an ad-
ditional excuse at the present time to re-
duce expenditures In this direction to a
minimum. The naval appropriation bill
provides for the building of but one new
ship. This is 10 be an armored cruiser of
the same type as the New York. which was
launched in Philadelphia in November last.
This is good as far as it goes, but in the
opinion of Laval officers it does not go far
enough. If the appropriation were for
three instead Of one vessel Of this type
naval officers and other friends of the navy
would be reasonably well satisfied. The
New York. in Secretary Traey's opinion,
VIII be the most magnificent vessel OF her
class. She has displacement of $50 tons.
and will he able 10 steam twenty knots an
hour, speed eoualled by but few of the
great transatlantic liners. She will carry
IN her main battery six 9-inch guns, and
she will possess defensive qualities that
Will place her on fairly even terms, so far as
her fighting qualities are concerned, with
most OF the Second-rate battle-ships.
More Ships Needed.
The new vessel provided by the commit
tee is expected to he, so far as possible. an
Improvement on the New ork, but neither
Secretary Tracy nor the people of the coun-
try generally, who appreciate the fact that
formidable navy Is one OF the strongest
guarantees OF peace, are likely 10 be con-
tented with but che addition TO the navy
this session, no matter how superior that
single addition may be. BOutelle of Maine,
Lodge Of Massachusetts. ard Cummings of
New 1 ork, all of whom have an Intelligent
appreciation Of what the committee ought
10 recommend in the pending bill, make no
secret of their disappointment at the conf
mittee's action. 1t is Boutelle's purpose,
when the bill comes before the House, to
amend it if possible by tile addition of
another armoTed cruiser two battie-Ships
Of the type now building, aud possibly a
few toTpedo-boats. Boutelle is certain tha.
Amos Cummings of New York and possibly
one other Of the Democratic members of the
committee will support his amendment and
he Is hopeful that the House may adopt il.
at all events he thinks it is worth trying,
and those who know him best say that he
will put forth his best efforts to succeed.
Proposed Amendment.
Whatever action the House may take the
item for new ships will certainly be largely
increased when the bill reaches the Senate.
The Senate is pToyerblally more liberal
than the House, and, fortunately for tie
navy, the Senate at the present time con-
tains majority of gentlemen u no beaeye
that the splendid work OF building up the
navy ought not to be allowed TO flag for
severai years at least. Senator Hale of
Maine, who is both an intelligent anu zeal
Gus advocate Of new ships, proposes amend
ing the bill when il reaches the Senate in q
fashion so liberal that il will probably give
Mr.. Holman's economic ideas the worst
shock they have received for many day.
About month ago Mr.. Hale introduced a
bill to further increase the naval estab-
liShment." which was referred TO the Conn.,
mittee on Naval Affairs. CT which lie is
member. This iDnocen looking measure
provides feE-the- construction -ef-tares
battle-stips Of from 75G0 to 10000 tons
displacement each, two armured coast
defense vessels, five gunboats of from 5000
70 1900 tons displace eight first
class torpedo-boats. Mr. Hale said, regard
ing this bill: 81 cannot candidly say that /
believe this bill of mine will be adopted as
substitute for the provision which the
House will make for new ships. l shall,
however. and so. too. will majority of the
Senate, insist that at least some of these
vessels shall be provided for at this session.
/ believe that the people of the country. not
only upon the sea-coast, but to some extent
In the interior. feel a pardonable pride in
the splendid new ships which We now have
In the service. Our cruisers are the finest
of their class in the world. They have de-
veloped extraordinary sea-gong qualities,
and every American is justly proud of them.
a strong navy is always a sure guaranty of
peace. a country that is without navy
and that is without adequate coast defenses
Is always at the mercy Of any nation which
may choose to attack her,"
A Case in Point.
"Where would we have BEEN" continued
Mr.. Hale. growing enthusiastic upon the
subject, lin our recent contention with
Chilli had we not possessed a navy superior
10 that of the little South American Tepub-
lie? Had We been in the same defenseless
position we were in three years ago she
could have bullied US and insulted us with
impunity and We would not have dared lift
steam into our harbors and lay our great
commercial cities in ashes. and they could
have done so with ease. As it was we
were enabled not only to maintain our dig
nifty, but to secure that reparation from
Chill which she might otherwise have
denied US. We ought to have at all times
number OF good fighting ships on the
Pacific Ocean. We ought to dominate those
waters absolutely. aud we can dominate
them when we are able to make q proper
naval showing. The Hawaiian Islands,
Samoan Islands, and all other islands in
those latitudes ought never to be allowed
to pass under control Of foreign power
II may not be our policy to annex them or
10 assume protectorate over them. but we
certainly don't want, and ought not to per-
NIT, any other country to take control of
them. And no nation, however strong, will
dare attempt this when We are In a position
successfully TO preserve them. But to do
this we must have ships that are capable
OF holding their own with those of Great
Britain and the Continental powers, and we
cannot reach this stage Of naval perfection
unless we continue the work of increasing
the number Of our cruising and fighting
ships.
Postmasters Appointed.
F. Ramdolis has been appointed Post
master at Pittsburg, Lander County, New,
vice IL. b. Rule. resigned; L. Cav at Sunset,
Whitman County. Wash, vice III. A. Morse,
resigned.
PoStoffices were established yesterday as
follows: At Howard Summit, Los Angeles
William w. Howard Postmaster; at Po-
kegma. SiskiyoR County. CAL. Edith Brown
Postnistress.
The POstafices at Albna, Multnomah
County, Oregon, and East Portland, Multi
nomah County, Oregon. have been discon-
tinued, TO take effect Immediately. Mail to
Portland).
From March 16 change will be made In
the service from Susanville to Alturas, Cal,
so as to begin at Amedee, omitting Susan
VILE and increasing the distance ten miles.
From the same date there will be an in.
crease of service to six times a week, the
service to be performed on a schedule not to
exceed twenty-five hours running time each
way. making close connections at Amedee
with the mail trains.
The Pension Office Criticized.
Secretary Noble yesterday sent letter to
Pension Commits Raum, criticizing
the latter for giving precedence to pensions
called up by members Of Congress. The
Secretary says such action obviously works
great injustice to the earlier claims
whicifare thus passed over and deferred,
and was the very danger feared al the time
the completed files system was adopted,
and against which his order of December
%, 1890, was aimed. The evil arises not
from allowing an examination OF the stains
Of cases, but in permitting an examiner to
approve cases out OF their order when thus
called up.c A case brought out for examln-
alton must hereafter, even II completed.
be returned to its former position.
Capital Notes.