The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-03-27
Provides for Four Battleships
and Carries $3l,6OO,OOO.
THE suNoRY CIVIL BILL READY
opposition in the Senate to Big Sala-
ries Of Court Ofijcials.
Inc Houae Coufcrees on the Cuban
Question Accept the senate Reso-
intions, Hence There VIII Probably
he No Further Debate in tho senate
Tho Statehood Bills,

washington City. March a-The naval
appropriation bill was passed today by
'.ie mouse without substantial amendment
m eHort was made by the advocates Of
q Larger increase OF the naval strength
man was authorized by the bin 10 in
c'e~se the number OF hattleships from four
- SIX This Increase was supported on
the noor by Hanley. Cummings and John
son. OF California. and opposed by Boutelle,
chairman OF the committee Hulick and
fsooanson- The house by large majority
stood oy the recommendation Of the COM
mittee the proposition for six battlesh,ps
mastering bur g. votes against I34 Various
oiher amendments were offered but all
iaiisa- The bill as passed carries SCI, ,sI1.-
uS4. and authorizes the construction of
Iour battieships and fifteen torpedo boats.
the total cost OF which will be In the
neiehborhood OF ss5. .6s.ooG. The sundrv
ciSil appropriation bill. which was re-
ported today. will be taken up tomorrow.
Al the opening Heatwole. Rep, MINI.
introduced the following resolution, which
was referred:
Whereas. In lieu OF our present made
9aate banking and currency system II Is
desirable thar congress shall have the aid
or such recommenda tons as a non-parti-
san commission OF experts might be able
to offer
Resolved. That the president 1t hereby
authorized to appoint nine citizens emf
rent In trade. political economy and bank
ing. TO act with the comptroller of the
currency as such commission and that
sdch commission shall report its conclu-
sions TO congress"
shortly before | o'clock the house in
committee OF the whole resumed consider
alton of the naval appropriation bill. II
was decided 10 allow three hours for gen
erai debate on the paragraph relating to
the Increase Of the navy.
Haniey. Rep. Ind. member of the
naval committee. who favored larger in
crease In the navy than the majority of
the committee, argued in favor of an
amendment which he gave notice he would
oner TO increase the number OF batfieships
from four TO six Although his people lived
thousand miles from tide water. they
were patriotic enough and proud enough
TO desire TO see their country with a navy
behtting her position as the greatest coun-
try on the globe. He thought IL was time
for the United States to enter upon A dis
tinctively national policy. He referred 10
the aggressions of Great Britain and
our foreign complications as an argument
Tor strong navy. The Republicans pur-
sued similar course No party could af-
ford to block the destiny OF the United
states. and. now that the Republicans
were clothed with power they should not
hesitate 10 carry out the promises made
when they were in the opposition
Hulick, Rep. O., said he indorsed all Mr.
Hanley had said. but ne argued that in
view Of the condition of the treasury IT
was unwise to authorize more than four
battleships in this bill. As to the building
or dry docks the secretary of the navy
thought II was better TO expend the money
10 be appropriated for ships than for dry
docks. and build the latter al some subse-
quent time.
Johnson. Rep. Cal. favored the Hanlev
amendment for six battleships instead of
four. He rdiculed the hravado with which
We had during the past few months an
nounced our willingness to declare war on
the first-class powers of the world With
our navy our pretensions were preposter-
Gus. In the event OF war with Great Brit
ain We would he powerless to prevent Brit
ish ships from coming up the Potomac as
they did in 1913 and sacking the capital of
the country. God fought. said Napoleon
on the side OF the heaviest battaiions We
needed strong navy. II we were TO con-
tinue to parade ourselves among the ma
fions of the earth with a chip on our
shoulder We must he prepared to fight II
the chip was knocked OF No matter how
just our cause might be. the devils In he'll
would laugh at our discontinue and saw
we deserved our defeat because we were
not prepared
Robinson. Rep. Pa. argued ln.,support
OF the Judgment OF the country He had
listened. he said. to the forensic songs
and dances OF the gentlemen from Indi-
ann and California, but that did not appeal
TO him. He and his people he said. were
in favor OF a liberal appropriation for a
modern navy to police our coast hut they
did not favor an enormous navy fer the
purpose of competing with England or
Continental powers In a display OF milf
tarism
Cummings. Dem. y. Y. also a member
Of the committee. followed with strong
and eloquent speech In favor OF n larger
increase OF the navy.
Houtclle closed the general debate in IA
vor Of abiding by the Judgment Of the
naval committee This bill would he the
lnrgest authorization for ships in the his
tory of the country and would tax our ca
paclties 10 the utmost. In conclusion Rom
te'le expressed she hope that the Hanley
amendment 70 increase the number Of hat
ilcshlps from four 20 six would be vo.af
down The vote was then taken on The
amendment, and on a rising vote 1; was
defeated. H2 to i34
Flshe-. Pep. y Y. offered an amend
rent authorizing the president 70 order
orc or more 81 the vessels authorized T.,
the bill 20 - huilf IN govern -7en- wards
when 80 his opinion satisfactory evidence
was furnished h.m that they could BE-
huft within the appYopria cion. II was i'm
pe--ant. he sati that the Shf7huiIainr
plants a fhe government Yards Ne kept II,
order. The amendment was defeated. as
was one offered by EIhorn. Rep. cal. TO
Increase the number of torpeio boats to
- huilt on tire Pacific coast from one to-
five
Tate pera. Ca Offered an amendment
- provide that craftsmen ard designers os
the plans - The ships should b citizens
of the United States Bcu1rfIe SAID such
a provisss would have excluded ~. de-
sigrsr Of the Monitor. The amendment
was voted Down.
Atercsv. Rep NeS. moved - name one
~ the har'l@shlps Nebraska Mahon. .Pen
Pa. caused some amusement by moving
% same the shlps quay. Re-. M-kfriey
ana Allison Robirson moves 70 name one
PenBsyivan.a- All the arrvn ndu,ert< -rers
Nct.3 31Na. an thc biil Nas then passed
Cannon. Chairman of the apprup-ist{.F,
committee, reported the sgnsry cfvsl hflI
and gave notice that ~ would rau {; up
tomorrow. Then. Al S.la. the house as-
Journed,