New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-05-02
WRECKED IN THE SENATE
TWO BArTI.E-sHIPs GO DOWN ON THE
ROCK OF ECONOMY.
MR.. GoRMAN HEADS THE OPPOSITION AND AGAIN
DEMONSTRATES HIS POwER-A FINAL
TODAY.

VOTE TO-DA1
fBY TELEGRAPH TO THE rEIDuNEI
Washington. May l.-Senator German to-day
again signally demonstrated his strength as a
leader in the deliberatve branch of Congress
by securing In the teeth of the opposition Of
two powerful committees. on Appropriations
and Naval Affairs, a reduction OF the number Of
battle ships authorized In the pending Naval
Appropriation bill from four to two. reduction
Of S75OOO0O The House OF Representatives had
voted to authorize four new battle-ships this
year, and the Appropriations Committee backed
by the Naval Committee, has been endeavoring
to induce the Senate to agree to the House .
fairly liberal response to the popular demand Tor
an increased Navy Mr.. German, however. fol-
lowing his policy Of last session. opposed this
measure OF increase as extravagant In View or
the notorious inability Of the Government 10
meet current expenses. except by the issue or
interest bea ring bonds.
The Maryland Senator's arguments and per-
sonal leadership proved effective year ago and
again to-day, for he defeated his colleagues on
the Appropriations Committee on test vote by
81 to 81. Nine Republicans aided Mr.. German In
his successful effort TO reduce by half the num-
Der OF new battle-shps TO be authorized. The
other twenty-five votes In favor of his amend
ment were cast by eighteen Democrats and four
Populists. Twenty Republicans. six Democrats
and one Populist, Mr.. Stewart. stood by the
House bill and the two committees The vote
in detail was follows:
Yeas: Repubcans-Bsker. Galngcr. Nelson. Pet;
tigrew Pritchard. Sherman. Warren. wilson and
Wolcott-s. DemOcrats-Iiae. Berry. Blanchard;
Chiffon George. German. HI Jones tArk) MttGneil
WW aitha.i and white-is fopnsis-Aen. Kyle.
Nays: Republican, Brown Cannon. Garter, Clark.
Davis Frye, Gear. Hawley. Lodge M6br.ae; nc
seweIi' shoup' squire Teller-2o: Democrats Bacon
Blackburn. Daniel. Faulkner. Gibson. lrby-o' fop-
ulist-Stewart-l Total q.
Mr. Allen pop. Neb) offered an amendment
striking out the item for the two remaining
battie-ships 1900 OoO) The vote taken
without discussion. and the amendment was dis
agreed to: Yeas. 10; nays, a.
The Senators voting aye were Allen, Berry.
Chiffon George. Jones Ark). Kyle Pasco. PEI
fer. Pettigrew. Roach. Vest. Villas and Walthall.
Mr. German voted no.
Mr. Chandler (Rep.. y. H. moved to Insert an
item approp-iatlng s. 800 900 for torpedo gun
boats and torpedo boat destroyers with a mini
mum speed OF thirty knots and for thirty tor
pedo-boats with minimum speed OF twenty-six
knots
Mr.. Hale Rep, Me) said that the appropria-
ton was not large enough for the number Of
boats mentioned. and he moved to reduce the
number Of torpedo boats to twenty.
Mr. Chandler modified his amendment by re-
ducing the number to twenty and the approprla-
ton to 100000.
Mr.. Perkins (Rep.. CALI argued that the pro-
vision already In the bill for thirteen torpedo
boats WAS amply sufficient. He suggested that
Il was not impossible that aerial navigation
might be utilized to drop dynamite on battle
ships. and do away with the necessity for tor
pedo-boats and submarine vessels.
Mr. Lodge Rep.. Mass) argued that II econ
omy was to be practised It should be on WORKS
az internal Improvement. which might walt.
rather than on the National offences.
No vote was reached on this amendment. how
ever for. without any apparent )ustliicaton. SEN
ators Tlllman Of South Carolina. and HIll Of
New-York monopolized three-fourths or to-day =
session in a violent interchange OF opinions on
Mr. Cleveland's bond policy and other dsrupting
issues now dIstracting Democratic National poll
tics The debate highly personal, ana al
most abusive In character, and was kept up win
such heat and persistence as 10 prevent any
further action on the Naval bill. An agree
1nent was reached. however. to vote on the APP
preparation bin before adjournment tomorrow.