St. Paul daily globe., 1896-03-27
THE NAVAL BILL THE OCCASION
FOR SEVERAL PATRIOTIC
SPEECHES.
FORENSIC SONG AND DANCE
so THE PATRIOTISM WAS CHAR
ACTERIZED BY MIR. ROBINSON,
OF PENNSYLVANIA.
THE BILL ADoPTED LAS REPORTED
Political Lines We're Not Drawn
During the Debate on the
HanIey Amendment.

WASHINGTON, March 26.-The naval
appropriation bill was passed today by
the house without substantial amend
ment An effort was made by the ad-
vocates of a larger increase of the
navy than was authorized by the BILL
to increase the number Of battleships
from four to six. This increase was
supported on the floor by Messrs. Han
ley Rep, Ind), Cummings Oem., N
W and Johnson (Rep., Cal), and op-
posed by Messrs. Boutelle, chairman
Of the committee; Hulick Rep., o. and
Robinson Rep. Pa.). The house, by
large majority, stood by the recon-
mendation of the committee, the propo-
sition for six battle ships mastering
but 80 votes against 1S4. Various
amendments were offered, but failed.
The bill as passed carries 31,311,O34,
and authorizes the construction of four
battle ships and fifteen torpedo boats.
The sundry civil appropriation bill,
which was reported today, will be talk
en- up tomorrow.
1t was decided to allow three hours
for general debate on the paragraph in
the naval bill relating to the increase
Of the navy. Mr.. Hanley, a member
Of the naval committee, argued in IA
vor of the amendment, which he gave
notice he would offer, to increase the
number of battle ships from four to
six Although his people lived thou
sand miles from tide water, they were
patriots enough and proud enough to
desire to see their country with navy
beftting her position as the greatest
country on the globe.
ar toll "a
Hanley had said, but he argued that,
in view of the condition of the treas
ury it was unWise to authorize more
than four battle ships. Mr.. Johnson
favored the Hanley amendment. He
ridiculed the bravado with which con-
gress had, during the past few months,
announced willingness to declare war
on the f1rst-class powers Of the world.
with out navy" he added, 'our pre-
tentions were preposterous. God fought,
as Napoleon said, on the side Of the
heaviest battalions. If we are to con-
tinue to parade ourselves among the
nations Of the earth with chip on our
shoulders, we must be prepared to fight
If the chip Is knocked off. No mat
ter how just our cause might be, the
| devils in hell would laugh at our dis
| comf1ture, and say we deserved oul
defeats because we were not pre-
pared"
Mr.. Robinson (Rep., Pa argued ir
support of the Judgment Of the com.
mittee He had listened, he said, tc
| the forensic song and dance" of the
| gentlemen from Indiana and Califor-
mia, but it did not appeal to him. Mr
| Cummings, also a member of the COM
mittee, followed with strong and
eloquent speech in favor .of n larger
| increase Of the navy. Mr. Boutelle
closed the debate in favor Of abiding
by the judgment Of the naval commit
tee. This bill would be the largest
| authorization for ships in the history
of the country, and would tax oul
capacities to the utmost. In conclu
sion, Mr.. Boutelle expressed the hop:
| that the Hanley amendment TO III
crease the number of battle ships froIi
four to six would be voted down. The
vote was then taken on the amend
ment and, on a rising vote, it was de
feated-32 to 1874.
Mr.. Fisher (Rep., N. W offered al
amendment authorizing the presiden
to order one or more of the vessel!
| authorized in the bill to be built il
| government yards. Mr.. Tate <Dem.
Ga.) offered an amendment to provid
that craftsmen and designers be citi
zens of the United States. Mr.. Merce
(Rep., Neb.) moved to name a battl
ship Nebraska. Mr.. Mahon Rep, Pa.
caused some amusement by moving t.
name the ships Quay, Reed, McKinle.
and Allison. Mr. Robinson moved t
name one Pennsylvania. All tn
amendments We're voted down, and tn
bill was then passed.
Mr.. Cannon, chairman Of the apprc
priations committee, reported the sun
dry civil bill, and gave notice that h
would call it up tomorrow. Then tn
house adjourned.