The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-03-25

ProvIsions for the Battle Ships and Tor
pedo Honts as Keported TO the House.

WAsnINGToN, March The Naval Appro-
priat!on bill for the coming fiscal year. as re-
ported 10 the House to-day, carries an appropri-
alton of S3l.T10,l33 OF which Sl2,61l,03i is
for the increase of the navy. The items coming
under this head are as follows:
Increase of the navy-That for the purpose
OF further increasing the naval establishment
of the United states, the President is hereby
authorized to have constructed BY contract four
~seagoing coast line battle ships, designed to
carry the heaviest armor and most powerful
ordnance upon IA displacement of about IL 900
tons. TO have the highest practicable speed for
yesFels of their class. and to cost. exclusive of
armament. not exceeding So. 80. 900 each: and
five torpedo boats. to have Il maximum speed of
not less than twenty-six knots. TO cost in all not
exceeding SS75 900: and ten or more torpedo
boats, to cost in all not exceeding $500. 900 and
to have tho highest practicable speed for vcs-
sells OF their class, and in the construction of all
said vessels all Of the provisions OF the act Of
Aug. 3. 1886, entitled An act to increase the
naval establishment as to materials for said
vessels. their engines, boilers, and machinery.
the contracts under which they are built. ex-
Cept as to premiums. which are not to be offered,
the notice of any proposals for the same. the
plans. drawings. and specifications there for. and
the method Of executing said contracts, shall be
observed and followed, and said vessels shall be
built In compliance with the terms of saiu act.
save that in all their parts said vessels shall be
OF domestic manufacture: and. subject to the
provisions hereinafter made. one seagoing bat
tic ship and one of said torpedo boats shall he
built on or near the coast nf the Pacific Ocean or
in the waters connected Herewith. and one
torpedo boat on the Mississippi River, and one
torpedo boat on the coast of the Gulf of Mexico;
provided. that If it shall appear to the s~atisfac-
lion Of the President of the United States from
the biddings for such contracts, when the same
are opened and examined by him. that said
vessels cannot be constructed Mt a fair cost on
or near the cuust OF the Pacific Ocean or ON the
Mississippi R3ver or the Gulf OF Mexico. he shall
authorize the construction OF said vessels. or
either of them. >cwhere in the United states.
subject to the limitations as to cost hercinbefore
provided: provided further. that the contracts
for the construction of the vessels herein pro-
vided for shall he made within ninety days from
the passage OF this act.
Reconstruction and machlnery-On account of
the hulls and outfits OF vessels and steam ma
chincry of vessels heretofore authorized. and OF
the vessels authorized under this act, 81, B70.679.
"Armor and armament Toward the arma-
ment and nrmOr of domestic manufacture for
the vessels authorized by the act of Aug. 3,
1886: of those authorized by the act OF June 30.
1870; OF those authorized by the act of July 10.
1892. and of the vessels authorized by the act
Of March 3, 1893; of the three torpedo boats.
act of July 20. 1891: of the vessels authorized
under the act of March ., 1895. and of the ves-
sells authorized under this act, 81, S1l, ADJ.
" Equipment Toward the completion of the
equipment Uuttit of the new vessels heretofore
authorized by Congress, sea-, 900"