The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-04-10
THE xAyAL REVIEW OF 1898.
The nHesAeA Or sspply1ae the Approprss.
taens fer the Greas FageaAa

THE NAVAL RkvIsW OF 1898.
TIE MssAss or ssppiys.e sas App-oprs..
taeas fsr ths Great Pageant
WASHINGTON. April 9--The omission OF the
current Navy Appropriation bill to provide
for tho rendezvous and review Of next April
has naturally attracted attention. but the In
ference that the proposed ceremony is thereby
imperilled is unwarrahted.
Tho absence Of the item Is accounted for By
tho fact that It was not included In Secretary
Tracy's estimates. on which tho bill is based:
while the Secretary presumably omitted II
because legislation demanding extraordinary
appropriations Of this kind. originating out
side Of the department, Is not hahitually pre-.
eented in tho annual estimates. The project
OF tho review sprane perhaps from the public
sense OF the appropriateness Of celebrating
the discovery Of America by some sort OF mar
thine display. The strange selection Of an in
land city thousand miles from salt water as
the place for holding fair In honor OF the
greatest ocean voyage In the worlds history.
was accordingly supplemented by provision
for an international naval parade and review
at HAMPTON Roads and New York. And to
insure the success OF this feature the act OF
Congress in aid Of the Chicago Fair was in
cluded In its eighth section this provision:
The President IL hereby empowered and directed to
hold naval review In New York harbor in April 1919
aud to extend to foreign nations invitation send
ships Of to join the United States navy In rendez
vous at Hampton Roads and proceed thence to said re.
view.
But while those facts will sufficiently &C count
for the course taken BY Secretary Tracy.
whose interest in the great pageant has been
manifest from the first, and also for that Of tho
House Naval Committee. which naturally con-
siders that tho matter belongs to tho Worlds
Fair legislation yet IL has become a question
whether the safest plan is not to provide for
the cost OF the affair in the current Navy Ap-
preparation bill.
To begin with. 1t is evident that the Worlds
Fair project il heavily loaded with its own
affairs In fact 1t Is overloaded: and rather
than make shipwreck it might be tempted TO
sacrifice anything that 1t regards as u mere
appendage. year ago its directors passed
resolution respectfully urging Congress to
make adequate provisions for said naval re.
view and the reception OF the distinguished
guests Of the nation" But since the enter
prise has been in great straits for money. It
might BIO ready to throw over such side show
as nautical celebration OF the great ocean
exploit Of 1902.
Again. although the naval review was orisi-
nally an item ofthe Columb bus celebration prof.
cot, this last has been discredited by begging
q Congress bent on retrenc IN emit for S. OOU. 900
above what It agreed to be satisfied with.
Hence an additional $3.50. OOO-should that be
the sum required for the extra cost OF assem-
bling our war ships from oil quarters and coal
ing. manning. and otherwise preparing them
for the naval display and Of entertaining the
foreign ships-might stand less chances OF
success II made a mere rider to Worlds Fair
appropriation than II put by itself as an item
OF the routine naval supply BILL
1t has been suggested that under tho rules
OF the House an appropriation for the naval
review could not be inserted in the pending
bill inasmuch as It would come under the
head OF new legislation But the fact that Con-
gress has already directed the President to
hold such review. and to invite 70, eign ships
OF war to attend 1t. would seem to answer this
objection. Still. should there BE- technical
obstacle OF any kind to its consideration by
the House. the Senate could provide the an.
preparation and let the question be settled in
conference. In that case. the rendezvous and
review could take the place OF the customary
coast cruising and summer manuuvres OF the
North Atlantic squadron.
1t would be possible no doubt. to put of
until the next session the appropriation for
carrying out the act OF Congress which directs
the holding OF a review. 1t has already been
suggested that instead Of April. later date
would make tho ceremony more enjoyable:
and since the session Of Congress will end OH
March 4. the size ofthe appropriation will prob
ably have been known before that date. But,
in view Of the invitations which Congress has
directed the President to send to foreign
nations. and which imply certain amount OF
expense for the reception Of guests. It is better
that Congress should make the proper pro-
vision at the present session. That the naval
pageant will form one OF the most fitting.
picturesque. and effective tributes to the
voyage Of 1892 there can be- little doubt.