The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-03-30
THE SENATE AND THE suIps.
The Chances or Coneurrsnes IN The Various
Itesna Of the monaa Navy HlI.

ANe"h ot the Ahouse NAVY Dill.
wAsHINoToN. March 29.-It Is now the turn
Of the Senate to legislste for the current needs
and for tho increase Of the navy, and there lie
every reason TO suppose that this body will do
its part. A year ago, when the House sent to
the Senate a bill for three battle ships and
twelve torpedo boats. the latter reduced ths bat
tie ships TO two and the torpedo boats to six.
while providing for six small composite gun
boats, which the Secretary had not asked for. Tho
result was greatly TO reduce the total provision,
since the six gunboats were far from being the
equivalent. in total cost, of one battle ship. But
this time there Is no likelihood whatever Of q
similar change, II being clear that no more gun
boats are required. There 10 q possibility that
other armored vessels might be substituted for
q part of the battle ships In the House bill. but
probably the provisions will remain for ships OF
the line and torpedo boats only.
1t is also not unreasonable to suppose that
there will be no cutting down of the numbers OF
either class Of vessels provided by the House:
indeed, II has been thought that the Senate
might increase the number OF battle ships TO
six. and Of torpedo boats to twenty or thirty.
In former years the Senate was almost or quito
Invariably more liberal than the House In its pro-
visions for building up the navy, and last year
was a great exception to the rule. There have
been frequent indications this year that the
Senate IL fully aroused to the needs Of the coun-
try. naval and military.
There are some reasons. however, for doubt
Ing whether 1t will demand six ships Of the
line. 1t 10 understood that Capt. Sampson, the
Chief Of Ordnance, considers that there would
be- no trouble In supplying armor for six ships
In proper ratio with the progress on their bulls.
and that the guns would surpass the rate for
the armor. 1t IS known that since the first Of
the present year the two armor-making plants
have baan dnliyeriuU shin platna i'm larUa nuan.
titles, and the Ordnance Bureau believes that.
II six ships were authorized, their armor could
be furnished six or eight months before the ex-
piration Of the, three, years which would prob
ably be allowed by their contracts for compile
tlon. There would probably be no trouble also
about turning out the batteries in season.
On other hand, Chief Constructor Hichborn
expressed to the House Naval Committee his
opinion that there would be no gain In time by
beginning six ships now instead OF four, because
tho armor AND, guns for four would take up the
available facilities of manufacture, and the
other two could be rs we'll postponed to the next
session, which ends on March 1 of next year.
The actual vote on the subject In the House,
In spite OF vigorous arguments for six battle
ships, was 1874 to 80 against that change. An
effort to increase, the number Of the torpedo
boats was defeated without a division. Taking
together these facts and the doubt whether any
ships now, the chances appear to be against the
Senate's changing the provisions OF the House.
boats. since these last could be distributed
among many yards. In general. the feeling is
llhely W W against auRfnentlDK This sessions
record OF total expenditures. unless something
IL to be gained. A year ago the Senate. besides
altering the provisions of the House as to
new ships, struck out also items of $500, 900 for
batteries for additional cruisers. Of $242, 500 for
additional torpedOes. and of $3.50, 900 for re-
serve projectiles. and reduced from about $780,
900 to 500, 600 the item for reserve guns. The
recalling Of this fact, and also of the general re-
duction of about 81, 255, 900 by the Senate last
year in the House bill, has brought into consid-
Grafton the probabilities as to the fate of certain
items in this years bill; for it provides $780,
600 each for reserve guns for the navy and the
auxiliary cruisers, 5000. 600 for q reserve supply
OF proiectiles. and Sl42. 900 for additional tor
pedoes. But although these are the very sub
jects which caused the reflections and reductions
just specified, the reflections being SUSTAIN
ed in conference. 1t is thought that the SEN
ate, in view Of recent and current events,
will take a different ground now. 1t GER
tainly seems desirable To have batteries ready
for the Paris. the New York. the st. Louis, and
the St. Paul, since they are now actually receiv.
Ing subsidies as auxiliary cruisers, and yet could
not perform that service without guns. A re-
serve supply of prOjeCtiles is also as plainly de-
sirable as that of additional torpedoes. 1t hardly
seems likely that the Senate would burden the
gun factories with providing batteries for six
ships and also all these extra guns. but the
case would be different with four ships.
Much interest will be felt also AS to the Sem
ate's action on the House provision for 500 adj
Secretary did not ask for In his annual report,
yet no doubt he Is glad to have them. and tho
commandant of the corps had strongly urged
the provision. There appears to be- no doubt
whatever as to the Sennte's sanctioning the al
dition OF 200 enlisted men to the navy.