The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-05-03
SENATOR'S VOTE FoR SHIPS.
The Naval Appropriation Bill vi
nHlIy Passed.


Washington, May 2.-The naval appro-
priation bill. which has been under con-
siderauon in the Senate during the entire
week, was passed to-day, and now 1t VIII
be for a conference committee to reconcl-
late the disagreement between the two
houses. The chief of these is the rcduc-
ton of the number OF battleships provided
for. The House fixed the number at four,
the Senate at two. The ships are each
to cost $3,7J0000 exclusive of armament
The discussion to-day was over an
amendment offered by Mr.. Chandler sp-
propriating 100000 for twenty additional
torpedo boats. Speeches were made in
support Of the amendment by Senators
Hawley and Lodge, and against ii by SEN
ators Wolcott and German.
Mr.. Daniels and Mr.. Blanchard stated
that they had intended to offer amend
ments for dry docks a Portsmouth, Va,
and Algiers, La. respectively, but they
had decided not TO press them In view of
the attitude OF the committee on appro-
At ? o'clock the consideration of the b.u
under the hVe-minute rule was begun.
Short speeches were made by Senator'S
Chandler. Cali, FefLer and Sherman. Mr..
Sherman advocated the limitation Of the
appropriations TO an amount not In excess
of the current revenues The ships pro-
v.ded for were not made mandatory and
the PRESIDENT would act wisely If he were
TO not authorize them TO be constructed
until ne signs OF t1e times Indicated
more revenue.
Mr. sherman did not fear war, but he
did believe In the moderate strengthen
ing of the navy as a means CT defense.
There was, however, no need OF doing
this work when the revenues were In their
present condition The deficit for the cur
rent fiscal year would be %j0GO8C0). and
whichever party prevailed in the coming
campaign more revenue must be devised.
This was the motive that actuated him
in casting his vote.
The discussion was continued by Mr.
Hale and Mr. Villas, the latter protesting
against an extension Of the navy 10 such
an extent that it would want to "go a
Jingoing and become a national swash-
buckler."
The amendment of Mr. Chandler sought
to change the three torpedo boats at not
less than 30 knots and not to exceed ten
torpedo boats to have the highest practi-
cable speed, as reported by the committee
to the Senate. so as to provide for torpedo
gunboats and torpedo boat destroyers.
with a minimum speed Of 30 knots, and tor
pedo boats with a minimum speed of Is
knots, 20 in number to cost in all ex-
elusive of armament, not exceeding 5000
CSC. When the vote was taken the amend
ment was defeated by a vote of 80 TO %
The vote was as follows:
Yeas-Messrs. Bacon, Brown, Call. Cam
non, Carter. Chandler, Davis, Dubois
Frye, Gallinger Gibson, Gordon Hale
HaWley Lodge Mcmillan, Mantle, Mitch
ell of Oregon, Morrill, Perkins, Platt,
Proctor and Squire-23.
Nays-Afessrs. Allen, Allison, Baker,
Bate, Berry, Blackburn, Blanchard, But
Ter Gallery. Clark, Coclyren Daniel, Gear,
German, Hansbrough, Harris, Hill Kyle
Martin, Mitchell Of Wisconsin, Nelson
Palmer, Pasco, PETER Pettigrew, Prtch-
ard, Pugh, Roach. sherman, Shoup, Stew
art, Teller, Turpie, Vest, Villas Walthall
Warren, White and Wolcott-39
The further amendments made by the
committee to the provisions for the In
crease of the navy were agreed to.
The House provision for i've torpedo
boats with maximum speed Of not less
torpedo boats at a maximum speed Of
not less than thirty knots and the total
cost reduced from $4,000 70 100000.
torpedo boats to cost Ia all not exceed