The herald., 1896-03-26
IN THE HOUSE
Good Progress nade With the Navy Appro-
prlations Bill

Good Progress rIade win tne navy Appro.
priations Bill
WASHINGTON, March 25.-The house to.
day took up the navy appropriations bill
and made such rapid progress with it that
when the adjournment was reached all the
paragraphs had been passed save those re-
iating to the Increase of the navy. The
bill carries $3l 81 ,O34, or $2,46S,43S
more than the current law, and authorizes
four new battleships and fifteen torpedo
boats, the cost of which complete will be
almost $35 100000. Not q sIrgle amend
ment was adopted. although there was an
effort to provide for a new dry dock at the
League island yard. During the day Mr..
Boutelle and Mr.. Wheeler continued their
alteration of yesterday over the record of
the Democrats on the bill to retire General
Grant. The other incident of the day
arose in connection with an attack made
by Mr.. Cannot, chairman of the appropria-
tions committee, upon the naval officers
detailed at the naval observatory.
In reply to a question from ~ ngley. MI
Boutelle explained that about $9,OOO,OOO
was carried by the bill for the increase in
the navy already authorized and $3,256,-
900 for work on the four new battleships
and fifteen torpedo boats authorized in the
bill. The two battleships being constructed
at Newport News would cost each 1920
armor and 81 ,OOO,O 900 for armament. As
suming that that would be the cost of the
four new battleships authorized by tie
bill, they would cost about 81 l4,OOO.OOO,
and the increase in the navy authorized by
the bill would cost, for completion. about
So. 100000, of which but 50 1856 900 wac
carried by the bill was $3l 81 l ,O34-$2.-
46S,43S more than the current bill.
Mr.. Cummings democrat OF New York;,
a member of the committee, gave the bill
his hearty endorsement, stating that in his
opinion it was the most economical bill
Our naval establishment should keep pace
with the progress of the world, he said. 1t
was our duty to maintain ratio of in.
crease with the warships of England. The
best defense was the hieans of offense.
After q few remarks by Mr.. Low (Repub-
lican Of New York; in favor ct the bill,
general 6ebate was closed and the bill was
read for amendment under the five.minute
rule. '
Mr.. Bingham (Republican of Pennsylva-
MAJ offered an amendment Inappropriate
100000 toward the complexion of . dry
dock to cost net exceeding E75O.0O0 at the
League island navy yard, Philadelphia.
Mr.. Dingley made the point of order,
which was sustained, that the appropria-
ton was not authorized by existing laws.
MIR. Cannon (Republican of Illinois) an.
tagonized the provision in the bill for the
erection of residences on the grounds of
the naval observatory. These buildings.
he said, were occupied by favorite naval
officers who were nominally in charge of
astronomical observations. but who prac-
tically knew no more about astronomy
than the average member of congress.
MIR. Boutelle protested Indignantly
against Mr.. Cannon's interference with
the work of the naval committee. tie
paid high tribute to the attainments of
the naval officers. In the American navy,
he said, there has been some of the bright.
est minds in the scientific world.
Mr.. Robinson of Pennsylvania, who was
educated at Annapolis and served eleven
years as an officer of the navy. defended
the attainments of these naval officers and
poked fun at Mr.. Cannon in a good
came here from hi. prairie home in Illi-
nois for service'', said Mr.. Robinson, "he