The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-04-19
MEssEs. TuRPrr AND CAMERON.
Mr.. Turpie Dem. Ind spoke in favor
NAV1L APPROPRIATIONS Bill.
No Provision Made for the Construction OF
New Raitleships.

WASHINGTON, j. c., April is-The
naval appropriation bin. as repo,tcl to
the House to-day. carries an dpDsopria-
ton Of S2j. .2so. .966 being $3.50, 5l3 iess than
the estimates. an Increase Of 1916. 90
over the appropriation for the cusGtnt
fiscal year.
The appropriation for the in,r sase Of
the Navy cover only armor and srma-
ment, and construction and machinery.
For armor and armament the estimates
called for sC.5OO.Oo0 This the committee
reduced 10 100000 The large ar,iDant
asked for i'm the estimates is iue ~ the
fact that nothing vas allowed fo- this
purpose in the bill FOR the curr ent finsnc ial
year, although the estimate called fer
2,O00,0O0 The appropriation was no. raaGe
last year. as unlocked for DELAYS IL The
manufacture Of arm0r made the appro
priation of the prior year su!eieat for
this purpose. The total loss of the Kerr
sarge leaves the Hartford. Admiral Farra-
CUTS nag ship, the only vessel In the Navy.
aside from the frlgate Constitution.
around which historic memories cluster.
The committee in accordance with the
wishes of the Navy Department. hs We
recommended liberal appropriations fer
her preservation. believing That pdb;,c
sentiment demands It.
Secretary Herbert recommends. and the
committee inserted IN the bill. a pro-
vision providing for lhe naturalization o.
alien sailors and marines on United
States vessels who have served five con-
secutive years and have been honorably
discharged Similar provisions for the
naturalization Of ON merchant seamen
and Of enlisted men in the army have
already H4qqFaa Ia -
think there should be no discrimination
against the navy. In reporting the pro
vision they express the opinion that some
steps should be taken towards encourag-
ing the enlistment Of American sailors
In accordance with the recommends-
tiOns of the Secretary OF the Navy, the
committee recommends that he be au-
thorized 10 use for the construction OF
one additional cruiser Of the Vesuvius
type the $4,000 appropriated by the act
Of 1889 for the construction, armament
and equipment Of three torpedo boats
By the same act $4,000 was appropriated
for building a submarine boat and con-
ducting experiments with IL. The COM
mlttee recommend that the Secretary be
authorized TO use this amount for the
construction, armament and equipment Of
a torpedo boat. They also recommend
that the Secretary be given authority 70
transform the Vesuvius into a torpedo
cruiser. II. in his judgment. the
change will add to the eff
cheney Of the vessel for naval
purposes There are now only three tor
pedo boats in our navy. Statistics show
that foreign navies have many OF these
vessels, and. I'm addition to those now
in service. nineteen are being constructed
The Secretary asked for authority TO
begin the construction or at least one
more battle-ship during the coming year
While recognizing the full force OF the
Secretary's recommendations. the COM
mttee. I'm view Of the Presidents sue-
gestion that congress should carefully
take in account the unfinished vessels
on our hands and the depleted condition
of our Treasury" have reluctantly con-
cluded not TO recommend an appropria-
ton for the construction OF a new battle
ship 40 this time.
The Senate Committee on Naval Affairs
ordered favorable reports made on sew
eral bills this morning affecting the Navy.
Among Them were bills authorizing naval
officers 10 administer oaths; authorizing
the Secretary of the Navy to accept certi- |
fled checks instead Of bonds, as surety |
when contracts are awarded; for the pay
ment to the Bath Iron Works OF the |
$500 due as speed premiums on the
gun boats Castine and Machias.
Senator Hale was also directed 10 make |
"A favorable report on the bill giving |
the relative rank Of Lieutenant on the |
active list Of the Navy, said rank bearing |
date OF December i. ls6S. TO Thomas |
r.. Proctor. who was Secretary and staff |
officer TO Acting Rear-Admiral George |
+. Pearson. of the Pacific squadron during |
the war