The evening times., 1896-02-26
SIX new WAR MONSTERS
House Naval Committee Favors
More Batt|eships.
FIFTEEN TORPEDO BOATS
Fully S4O,OOO,OOO Will Be Added to
the Appropriations If This Action
Is Approved-Reed's Friends Say II
DIsguis,,s an Effort to Injure His
Presidential Chances.

Tomorrow the House Naval Committee
will iiold its regular meeting and Will
then agree to report to the House bill
providing for six new battleships and fif
teen torpedo boats. The subcommittee. TO
which the question was referred, have
agreed to such j report and the full com
imttce is expected TO sustain the action
Of the subcommittee.
Several sessions of the subcommittee have
been held. Exactly what took place in the
committee room is not known. The meet
ines We're in secret and Chairman Bouteiie
has taken extra pains to prevent any iu-
formation leaking out until the report is
made to the House.
One OF the committee said that ne saw
no reason why the main facts, already
agreed upon. should not be made public.
Secretary Herbert was before the commit
tee for some time, but he said that his visit
was purely accidental. as he did not come
to the Capitol for that purpose. hut ohanced
to go into the committee room TO make
call and found the committee in session.
HERBERT WAS SILENT.
The Secretary would not express any
opinion in regard TO the action of the COM
mlttee, and would not say that he knew
anything about what it had decided on.
1t is learned that Chairman Boutclle was
outvoted in his committee on the question
of the humber of battlcships to be author
lied. Mr.. Boutelle was in favor OF four,
and members of the Senate Committee on
Appropriations thought that four battle
ships We're fully as many as the Seuate COM
mittee would agree to.
The Democrats in the last Congress au-
thoriZed the instruction OF two new bat
tlcships, but they did not appropriate any
money with which to construct them, and
the contracts We're not let for their con-
struction by Secretary Herbert until after
the present Congress assembled. Hence,
those two ships must necessarily be cred
tied to the present Congress, which has to
make the appropriations with which to
construct them.
To authorize six more bautlesbips, thus
really making the number eight, and fif-
teen torpedo boats, will bring the aggre-
gate of the appropriation at this session
for the increase of the navy, each one OF
the new battleships to cost $5,O00.O0O, TO
an enormous sum, as compared with any
appropriation ever before made for such
purpose by Congress,
Mr.. Boutellc is said to have taken the
ground that as friend of the new navy
and as one who had always been foremost
In advocating its increase. he regarded the
passage OF such a bill as very unwisc, be-
cause it would react. and the enormous ag-
grcgate of the appropriation would have a
bad effectupon the country. Butarguments
OF this kind had no effect.
NO MONEY GIVEN
In the last Congress, when Mr.. Cummings
OF New York was chairman of the commit
tee, it did not report in favor of single
battleship, on the plea that the condition OF
the Treasury did not warrant such authoriza-
ton. Two battleships were authorized as
a result of the action of the Senate, but no
money was appropriated for them.
This year Mr.. Cummings and all the
other Democrats on the committee are loud
est in demanding battleships, and want at
least six authorized, and, in addition, thirty
torpedo boats. Mr.. Robinson OF Pennsyl-
rania, Mr.. Hulick of Ohio and Mr. Wilson OF
New York joined the Democrats ON the SUBJ
committee in the demand for the six bat
tleships and large number of torpedo boats.
The other Republicans on the committee
Mr.. Hilborn of California, Mr.. Bull of Rhode
Island, Mr.. Hanley of Indiana, Mr.. Foss OF
Illinois, and Mr.. Dayton of West Virginia
are said to have declared that they would
stand by whatever action the subcommit-
tee took.
This practically insures the adoption at
the meeting of the full committee on Thurs
day OF the subcommittee report In favor
OF six battleships and fifteen torpedo boats.
This will mean an increase in the appro-
priation for the Navy Department OF
$15,OOO,O0O or $2O,OOO,OOO at least as
compared with last year. even If the full
amount is not appropriated. But If the
full amount is appropriated, including the
sum necessary TO build the two ships au-
thorized last year, the increase will be
over $40,O0O,OOO.
LEADERS ARE DISTURBED.
Some OF the Republican leaders In the
House are much disturbed over this matter
and claim that the Republicans cannot
defend before the country any such an
increase in appropriations for the navy
under the present condition OF the Treasury.
Some of Mr.. Reeds friends are charg-
ing that bis politica opponents are ut work
70 run up the appropriations with a view
Of injuring him. The river and harbor
bill, ii is said, will be swelled to SEQ. .OOO,-
600, and Mr.. Squire reported in the Senate
yesterday bill to appropriate $50, ,OOO,-
900 for coast defenScs.
In view of the fact that few months
only win intervene between the end OF this
session of Congress and the beginning OF
the next, such large appropriations for pur-
poses for which only small part OF the
money can be expended during recess was
regarded by the leaders In the House as
tndcfensible in the present condition OF the
Treasury.