The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-05-03

WASHINGTON, May 2.-After a week s
debate, which has taken wide range, the
senate today passed the naval appropria-
ton bill. The entire day was given up TO
the subject.
a large part of the time set apart for
general debate was devoted 10 political
questions foreign 10 the immediate sub
ject. The bill as it passed is substan-
TALLY as it was reported from the commit
tee on appropriations, except the reduc-
ton of the battleships from four to two
and of torpedo boats from fifteen to thir-
teen. An amendment was adopted pro-
Viding for the construction of three of the
torpedo boats on the Pacific coast. The
senate refused TO decrease the number of
new Seamen authorized by the house BILL
Mr.. Chadler's amendment directing tho
secretary OF the navy 10 examine into the
merits OF propelling ships by direct action
upon the water was agreed to-
The consideration of Mr.. Chambers
amendment providing for twenty torpedo
boats at a cost of $400O,O00 was then pro-
ceeded with.
Mr.. Wolcott said that he had been i'm
pressed by Mr.. Germans
PLEA FOR ECONOMY.
There was a fair prospect that the I'M
fortunate Venezuelan incident would end
peacefully, and he thought the admins
trationS wise conduct of the Cuban matter
had avoided the probability of war with
Spain. He was opposed TO the amend
ment.
Mr.. Hawley said it was ludicrous to talk
of war of aggression by this country,
but that the navy was snamefully deli
Gent in essential particulars.
Mr.. Lodge complained that the navy had
been selected for the exercise of economy,
when other appropriation bills had been
allowed to go through without objection
He said the danger of trouble on account
of Cuba was not past, and by preparing
ourselves for the preservation of peace
we might dictate the policy of the two
American continents.
Mr.. German, in reply, contended that the
naval bill furnished the first instance Of
APPROPRIATING NOT NECESSARY
for the support of the government. He
declared that he had taken the same posi-
ton on this bill that he would have taken
under q Republican administration He
said that a year ago the secretary or HIS
assistant had gone into the newspapers
and denounced him Oiorman) personally.
This might have been on account of the
interest the administration was taking Az
that time in the Maryland elections.
Mr.. Sherman said the country was in no
condition to undertake amy unnecessary
expenses, and the house had made sufii-
c1ent provision for torpedo boats. He
thought there was no occasion for any in
crease as there was no prospect for war
with any power.
nays on the Chandler amendment. The
vote resulted: Ayes, %: nays, 80. The
committee amendment for
THIRTEEN TORPEDO BOATS
was then agreed to- Three are to have a
maximum speed of 30 knots, to cost not
exceeding SS0O,000 and ten boats to cost
not exceeding $500,0GO These are in place
OF the fifteen torpedo boats provided in
the house bill, five OF which were to have
a speed of rs knots and to cost $500 and
ten boats to cost $500 COO.
Mr.. Squire offered an amendment pro-
viding for the construction of three of the
torpedo boats on or near the Pacific coast,
which was agreed to-
The committee amendment authorizing
the secretary OF the navy TO contract for
boats of the Holland type at not exceed
ing $4,000 was agreed to. After considers
able discussion
THE SENATE REFUSED
to agree to the committee amendment
striking out the house provision for an
increase of 500 men in the marine corps.
Mr. Bacon Dem, Ga) offered an
amendment which was agreed to, provid-
ing that bids for arTnor for vessels shall
not be received if they exceed $3.50 a ton.
an amendment was offered by Mir. Allen
providing that one of the torpedo beats
shall be built on the Missouri river.
Agreed to.
Mr.. German offered an amendment re-
ducing from loo to 500 the number of adj
dlt1onal enlisted men Tor the navy. Lost.
Yeas, %; nays, q.
GORMAN ON CUTS.
Mr.. German said ne did not wonder that
the senator from New Hampshire was IA
vorable TO increased appropriation, as a
portion Of the increase would Oe required
to keep the Republican party in power i'm
Maryland in the near future.
An amendment offered by Mr.. Hale was
agreed to, providing for an investigation
of the claims of contractors who con-.
structed battleshipS and vino suffered
losses through no fault of their own,
In speaking of this amendment. Mr..
Allen took occasion to declare that thu
whole bill was ''reeking with favoritfsrn
and jobbery from top to bottom, in the
center and from the cuticle"
The bill was then passed.
Mr. Frye gave notice that he would ask
to have the river and harbor bill taken up
Monday.
The senate then went into executive
session and at $50 adjourned.