The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-12-01
REPORT,
The Secretary Makes Few Recon-
m~endations to build Ships.

WASHINGTON, Nov. 30.-The annual re-
port of Secretary of the Navy Herbert was
made public to-day. 1t contains few recon-
nsendations for the increase of the naval
establishment. The known indisposition of
the present Congress to make large appro-
priations for any purpose, except what is
absolutely required for the administration
OF the government and the prospect of lit
tie money being voted for the navy this
season, has influenced the Secretary in re-
ducing the estimates for the service far be-
low that which he believes it should have
been. His annual report contains recon-
mendations for only one ship for the serv-
ice. He asks that a battle-ship be author
lied, and that a small appropriation be
made outright TO begin the construction of
the vessel, but no lump sum is requested.
The Secretary's well-known advocacy of
this type of vessel over all others. when he
was chairman of the House naval affairs
committee. resulted in the three battle
ships provided two years ago, and the
fourth, the Iowa, authorized by the last
Congress. He believes that for the present.
at ieast, tne navy Is well provided with
vessels OF the cruiser type, which are in
tended to show our flag and perform an
necessary service in time Of peace. Battle
Sp me secretary believes. are the back
better and stronger the navy will be. He
has. therefore. decided to ask for one ship
from this Congress and six torpedo boats.
The battle-ship, he believes, should be. of
the same general design as the Indiana.
Massachusetts and Oregon, and not so
large as the Iowa, which by her great
draft Will not be able TO enter some of our
Seaports.
The Secretary approves the recommended
ordinance bureau. that the si5O. 600 approe
pr1ated for a prototype of the Vesuvius
be used for the construction OF four tor
pedo boats of the Ericsson type. and he
asks Congress to authorize him to make
this use of the money. The appropriation
was made conditionally that II the We
much doubt as to the value of the dyna-
mite cruiser, the Secretary believes that
the money had better be used fer other
purposes. He also recommends that the
100000 appropriated by the last Congress
for a submarine boat and experiments be
devoted to constructing torpedo boats.
This was recommended by the chief of
ordinance. and receives the Secretary's ap-
proval. The idea to construct the sub
marine boats has been virtually abaa-
doned for the present on account of the
uncertainty surrounding the efficiency and
success of this type of craft. With con-
gressional authority TO devote these two
appropriations for torpedo boats, six could
be built without any additional appropria-
ton. All that would be necessary is .
clause in the naval appropriation bill d.
this way. "
The estimates or all the bureau chiefs In
the Secreta yy's report are lower THAI those
submitted for years. The Bureau of Com
struction. which usually gets over Sl000-
600 for repairs for vessels. this year sub
mits estimates for only 5000. 600. and this
amount will undoubtedly be cons,derabIy
decreased before IL gets through Congress.
The sum is considered entirely inadeduate.
considering the great number of new ships
added TO the service In the last two years
and the repairs that will be necessary in
the next year. The largest sum that the
Secretary asks for one bureau is s., SOC, 600
TO pay for armor already contracted for.
This armor IS for vessels under construc-
ton, and includes nc new purchases. The
Bureaus OF Construction and Engineering
require S~6,5oO,000 TO pay for ships and their
engines now building.
The Secretary asks for an Appropriation
TO commence the building OF a new dry
dock at New Orleans. The ground has
been selected, the land purchased, but there
il not enough money available 10 do more
than draw up the plans. These contemplate