Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-04-19
The NAVY BILL.
,,,ro,ri,tion. Recommended 20 the
House of Representatives.

House of Representatives.
wASIuNGTON, April 1S.-The naval
onrronriation bii, as reported to the
IIouse to-day. carries an Appropriation OF
g. 2So e.s. being S2.67O3l5 less than the csti-
mates. and an increase Of S,17C.90j over
the appropriation for the current fiscal
year.
Tbe appropriations for the increase OF
the navy cover only armor and arma-
,n.rt and construction AMI machinery.
For arrnor and armament the estimates
calIe1 for $4,000. This the committee
reduced 70 Hcco.JO. Tho large amount
asked for in the estimates is due 10 the
fact that nothing was allowed for this
rur,os. i'm the bil for the current
Guancial year. although the estimates
called for $..cD0o. The APPROPRIATION was
not made last year, as uuloOkcd-fOr de-
laws in the manufacture of arinor made
I'M. appropriation of the prior year suiii-
ciont for this purpose.
Tho total loss Of the kearsarge leaves
IN. Hartford. Admiral Farraguts flag
shin The only vessel IN the navy, aside
from tho frigate Constitution. around
which historic memories cluster. The
committ.o. in acCOrls nee with the wishes
of the Navy Department. have recon-
mondoI liberal appropriations for her pre-
servation. believing that public sentiment
demands il.
Secretary Herbert recommends. and the
commtt,e inserted IN the bill. pro-
vision urov.diu. for the naturalization OF
alien sailors and marines on United
States vessels who have served five con
secutivc years and have been honorably
dischargcI Similar provisions for the ma
q nd
of enlisted men in N army have al
ready becoua laws. and -he committee
think that there should b. no discrimina-
tion AGAINST the navy. I'm reporting the
rr,,-isiou they express the opinion that
som. stems should be- tak0n towards en-
couragiug the enlistment Of American
sailors.
I'm accordance with the recommenda-
tf.r- ,f IN. Secretary Of the Navy the
committee recommends that n" he au-
thoriz.d 10 u-. for the construction OF
one additional cruiser Of the NesuFlu'
TYNE IN. $4,000 appropriated 10y th- act o.
i>,g for the construction. armament dIu
eotiiuucnt of three torue'lo-boats. By the
Same. act Ss.ptOi was appropriated ioi
bt,ilIin.s a submarine boat ami conduct
ir.e avra,incuts with 10. The commit
recommend that the Secretary be au
thnrizeI ID Use this amount for the con
structi9n. armament. and eluipm nt ot
torra.lo-holt They also recommend tina
M Secretary boz given authority 10 trans
form the Ne-uVius into tprpcdo-Crulser
II in his Judgment tho change VIII ai'
to the efficiency Of th. vessel Tor haFt
puruo-.- There are now oily uiiee lo'
r.t,-l0ats iu the navy. statistics snow
hat foreign ulFios have many Oh ines
vessels AMI in addition to those now u
service. nineteen are being constructor.
Tho Secretary asked for authority Z
b.rfn tha construction OF at least or
r,.r. L4ftf.-rir lUIing tho coming year
Ihil. r.c.eu.Zing the fun force or m
c.crat,r,'- recommendations the commit
| tee. in view of th- Presidents suss $
tiDn that Congress should careiUliN YAK
into account the unfinished vessels ol
our hands ana the depleted CONDITION o
our Treasury" have reluctantly concli III
"a not o. recommend ln appropriitlo
for the construction OF a NJ" battl'shi
at this tlwe.
this morning ordered favorable report
made on several bills affecting the navy
Among them We're bills authorizing naN.'
otiir,rs - administer caths; auihorE.n n
| tho Secretary of the Navy to accept Ger
uG,l checks instead OF bonds AZ sufru
when contracts are awarded: for the pay
mont f. the Faith Iron-Works Of ih
| $1,000 du. as speed premiums on the gun
| boats Castuc and Nlch.as.
| Senator HALE was also directed to max
| n Favorable report on the hin giving it
| r.lativ.. rank OF lieutenant on tho actiN
| list of the navy. said rank bearing dat
! Of December T.. i'',. 20 Thomas L.. Proc
| tor. who was secretary ami staff office
| t. Acting Rcar-Admul George r. Pear