The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-04-10
NAVY YARDS AND SHIPS
Net More Than Two BaltIeshlps to Be Built
In One Yard or By One Party.
THIRTY KNOTS FOR TORPEDO BOATS,
Two Ronts of The Holland Tyne 40
he Constructed AT u Cost Not Ex.
cecding SIT0, 900 Ench--The Pacific
Coast Not to Exceed Five Per Cen,
70 the Lowest Bid.

Washington, april 9.-The Naval An.
preparation bill for the coming fiscal year
was reported to the Senate from com.
mittee to-dy.
The changes from the bill as II came
from the House aggregate n reduction
or Sa32.s67 and an Increase of sG5. 200 MAX
ing net reduction of s367157. The es-
Inmates for 1897 were s29. .3l9. l66 and the
House appropriated s3l 647 .239. which was
reduced by the Senate to s3i.27g4S2
Tho four seaSoing battle ships author
lied In the House bill are left untouched.
amendments have been mndc, however
In the provision for torpedo boats In
stead of FIVE capable of attaining a speed
OF 70 knots as provided by the House
the Senate has substituted three tornedo
boats which will In reality be torpedo
boat catchers, with maximum speed of
not less than 80 knots an hour In place
OF ten or more torpedo boats to cost not
exceeding $500 900 and to have the high.
est practicable speed for vessels of their
class the Senate has substituted n pro-
vision for mot TO exceed ten torredo
boats to cost in all not exceeding $500,
600 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 buttle-
ships and not more than three of said
torpedo boats shall be built in one ward
or by one contracting party and in eoch
tuoc tuc CONTRACT snail De awarded Dy
the Secretary of the Navy to the loves,
responsible bidder
The House proviso requiring one of the
batleships to be built on the Pacific
coast Is restricted by n provision that in
order TO do so the additional cost must
not exceed per cent. of the lowest bid
for the other three batteships author.
ized.
The time within which the contracts
Tor these vessels shall be made Is ex-
tended from 90 to l20 days from the pas
sage of the net.
The Secretary of the Navy Is also a,i-
thorized to contract for building two sub
marine torpedo boats of the llollanltypr,
ut Il cost not exceeding sl75,O00 each: the
bonts TO be constructed and delivered
within four months from date of con-
tract.
Provided: That the Holland boat now
being built for the department shall he
accepted as fulfilling all the requirements
OF The contract: but no action shall he
taken until the Holland boat now being
built shall have been fully tested TO the
satisfaction of the Secretary and ac-
cepted.
Authority is given In another amend
ment Tor the Secretary OF the Navy to
cause one af the six light draft composite
gunboats authorized by the naval bill
foe' the current gear. to be built and
furnished for n 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
explosives from guns on board ships
with the ordinary vclocities, $780, 600
10 The appropriation of S250.OOO for re-
serve guns for auxiliary cruisers Is ad-
ded proviso that the Secretary of the
Navy may. in his discretion. purchase
by contract all or any part of such guns.
For purchase of land adjoining the Port
Royal Naval Station. 5000.
number OF the provisions In the
House relative TO the Marine Corps have
beel eliminated: amcng them being the
following.
Pay Of 10 sergeants. 40 corporals, l2
drummers, 10 fifers nd 42G privates to be
enlisted In accordance with existing law
ana the appropriation for their provis-
ions and clothing. sTl, 100.