The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-04-10
NEW VESSELS FOR THE NAVY.
THE SENATE IN FAVOR OF FOUR
SEA-GOING BATTLEsHIPS.

Three Torpedo Boat Catchers With
IA Maximum Speed of Thirty Knots
and Ten Torpedo Boats of High
Speed Also Provided FOr-ImpOr-
tant Restrictions as to the Award
ing of Contracts.
Washington, April 9.-The naval appro-
priation bill for the coming fiscal year
was reported to the Senate from commit
tee to-day. The changes from the bill as
it came from the House aggregate re-
ductiOn of S4S2, ,957. and an increase of S65,-
200, making a net reduction of 1867, 757. The
estimates for 1897 We're $29.S13.l66, and the
House appropriated $31 S47. .239, which was
reduced by the Senate to $31, ,279, ,4S2.
The four sea-going battleships author
lied in the House bill are left untouched.
Amendments have been made however
in the provisions for torpedo boats In
stead of five capable of attaining a speed
of 26 knots, as provided by the House, the
Senate has substituted three torpedo
boats, which will in reality be torpedo
boat catchers. with a maximum speed of
not less than 80 knots an hour. In place of
ten or more torpedo boats to cost not ex-
ceeding $500, 900, and to have the highest
practicable speed for vessels of their class,
the Senate has substituted provision for
mot to exceed ten torpedo boats, to cost
in all not exceeding $4,000 and to have
the highest practicable speed for vessels
of their class"
A proviso is also inserted, as follows
"And not more than two of said battle
ships and not more than three of said tor
pedo boats shall be built in one yard, or
by one contracting party, and in each
case the contract shall be awarded by
the Secretary of the Navy to the lowest re-
sponsible bidder"
The House proviso requiring one Of the
battleships to be built on the Pacific coast
is restricted by provision that in order
to do so the additional cost must not ex-
ceed per cent. of the lowest bid for the
other three battieships authorized. The
time within which the contracts for these
vessels shall be made is extended from
ninety to l2O days from the passage of the
act
The Secretary of the Navy is also au-
thorized to contract for the building of
two submarine torpedo boats of the Hol-
land type, at a cost not exceeding $175,0O0
each; these boats to be constructed and
delivered within four months from the
date of the contract; provided, that the
Holland boat now being built for the de-
partment shall be accepted as fulfilling all
The requirements of the contract; but no
action shall be taken until the Holland
boat now being built shall have been fully
tested TO the satisfaction of the Secretary
of the Navy, and accepted.
Authority is given for another amend
ment for the Secretary of the Navy to
cause one of the light draft composite gun
boats authorized by the naval bill for the
current fiscal year, to be built and furn-
shed for training ship for the use Of the
Annapolis academy.
Among the more important additions to
the bill are the following:
For testing methods of throwing high ex-
plosives from guns on board ships with the
ordinary VelOcities, $4,000.
To the appropriation of $250O00 for re-
serve guns for auxiliary cruisers is added
proviso that the Secretary of the Navy
may, in his discretion, purchase by con-
tract all or any part of such guns.
For the purchase of land adjoining the
Port Royal naval station, $1,000
A number of the provisions in the House
bill relative to the marine corps have been
eliminated from the bill, as reported to the
Senate, among the more important being
the following: Pay of 10 sergeants, 40 cor
porals, y drummers, u hfers and 426 pri-
Yates to be enlisted in accordance with the
existing law and the appropriation for
their provisions and clothes, %4, ,650