The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1895-03-07
Battle Ships and Torpedo Boats to
be Built.
MARINAs GUARD PEKIN LEG ALTON
British Cruiser Suddenly Ordered From
HOngkOng to FOrmOsa-LAte Telo-
graphic DIsPAtoheS From An Parts
OF the World, per steamer Kahului.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 19.-When tho
bids for the construction Of torpedo
boats were opened at the Navy De-
partment today, it was found that the
Cramps had offered to do the work at
figures lower than those Of any OF the
other bidders.
While the bid of the Union Iron
Works was not among the very low
est of those opened, Irving M. Scott
will in all probability secure one of the
new torpedo boats for his yard. There
is no torpedo boat on the Pacific Coast,
and there is need of one in that part
of the country. Besides this, the ships
turned out by the Union Iron Works
have been most satisfactory in every
instance, and Scott as a shipbuilder
stands exceedingly well with the Navy
Department officials, this in part ex-
planning why he will probably secure
one of the boats for his yard. 1t is
possible he may have battle ship or
two to build also.
The House today in considering the
naval appropriation bill, fAvorably
passed upon every feature of the b,n
over which any fight was made by
Holman and others opposed to build
ing uD q navy. From this it is argued
that the proposition to build three new
battle ships will be passed. There is
now but one of this class on the Pacific
Coast, the Oregon, and there are three
on the Atlantic Coast. Probably one,
and it may be two of the newly pro-
F2naed ships VIII be reconstructed at the
Union Iron Works. There are but
two places in the country which have
facilities for the construction of one of
these monsters of the deep-Cramps at
Philadelphia, and the Union Iron
Works at San Francisco. This fact
makes it quite certain that Scott will
be likely to secure something when
the contracts are awarded.
The House spent today in the fur
ther consideration of the naval apprO-
priatfon bill. The points of order
made by Sayers against the items for
the increased enlisted force Of the
navy were overruled and his amend
ments looking to their elimination
were defeated.
The Committee on Naval Affairs
were victorious on every test of
strength taken today. The para
graphs providing for the increase OF
the navy, the battle ships and torpedo
DOaCSJ VIII O0 TSdCn0U IOnOIIOHy enu
the committee is sanguine that the in
crease recommended will be author
ized, despite the determined opposi-
tion of Chairman Sayers, of the Ap-
preparation Committee, who an
nounced today that he would fight
the authorization of the new ships
until the close of the session.
Among the items of the navy ap-
preparation bill which were passed by
the House today was the one to in
crease the number of enlisted men in
the navy from 5000 to 1000. This
will be welcome news on the Pacific
Coast, where so many of our vessels
are short handed and one or two
wholly without crews, and therefore
forced to go out Of commission. The
paragraph relating to the extra allow
ance for q steam tug at the Mare ISL
and navy yard was adopted, as well
as the appropriations for number OF
improvements about the place. The
appropriation of 100000 for new
boilers and engines for the Hartford
was likewise adopted.