The San Francisco call., 1896-03-11
NAVAL APPROPRIATIONS.
Some of the Provisions in the
Bill That Will Be Reported
to the House.
It Is Certain That New Battle-Ships
and Torpedo. Boats Are to Be
Authorized.

WASHINGTON, D. c., March 10-The
House Committee on Naval Affairs still has
under consideration the naval appropria
ton bill. While the measure has not been
completed enough of its provisions are
known to give an abstract of it approx
mating the shape in which it will be pre-
sented to the House.
The important question of increasing
the navy has not yet been agreed upon
but 1T is quite certain that a mum Der OF
battle-ships and torpedo boats will be
authorized. Members of the committee
differ as to what this increase shall be-
Some favor six battle-ships and fifteen
torpedo boats, while others want four
battle-ships and from twenty to thirty
torpedo-boats.
The bill will carry an appropriation out
side of any authorized increase in the navy
of about $2S, 500, 600. AS the bill now stands
its principal provisions are as follows:
For prizes for excellence in gunnery ex.
ercises, $4,000; for ocean and lake SURVEYS,
$4,000; bounties of naval apprentices,
$33, ,750; expenses of recruiting, $45, coo;
ordnance and ordnance stores, $780, 900; re-
serve supply guns for ships OF the navy,
$4,000; reserve supply of projecties for
ships of the navy, $500, 900; reserve guns
for auxiliary cruisers, $3.50, 900; for i'm
proving the gun plant OF the Washington
Navy-yard, 1000; for new brick maga-
zine at Fort Miffiin, Pa, $50, GOO; for water
supply naval magazine, Dover, n. j., $15,-
600; arming and equipping naval militia,
$50, 900; contingent expenses Bureau of Ord
nance, SIS, 324; equipment ofvessels, 81, 132, :
l47; contingent expenses Bureau of Equip
ment, $1,000; maintenance of yards and
docks, $3.50, 900; repair and preservation of
yards and stations, 100000; naval home
at Philadelphia, $50, 700; maintenance of
naval hospitals, $4,000; provisions and
CO mmuted rations for seamen and ma
rines, 81, ,205, 600; preservation and com
pletion ofvessels on stocks and in ordinary
condition, Sl,492,OO0; additional supply
of torpedoes, $142 600; completion, re-
pair and preservation of machinery
of vessels, $425,000; for replacing
machinery and repair of engines
of the cruiser Chicago, $150,OOO; re-
placing boilers of the cruiser Atlanta
and repair OF her machinery, 100000; re-
placing boilers OF the Dolphin, $50 coo; re-
placing machinery of the Hartford, $75, 600;
repairs and Improvements at the Naval
Academy, $4,000; repair and improve
ment of marine barracks at the various
posts, $4,000, and for the erection of Off
GERS quarters at Sitka, Alaska, $500. On
account of hulIs and outfits of vessels here
tofore authorized and steam machinery for
them S.. 1896, ,679 is allowed.
Toward the armament of these vessels
So, ,204 is allowed and toward complet-
ing their equipment an appropriation of
1921, 900 is made.
The bill contemplates placing the old
frigate Hartford in condition for active
service and under the appropriation for
preservation and completion a provision
is added that nothing in that section shall
be- construed to deprive the Secretary OF
the Navy OF authority to make the neces-
sary repairs on this vessel. The repairs
outside of machinery, for which $75, ,oOO
is allowed, are estimated st about $100, 900.