New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-03-18
INCREASE OF THE NAVY.
FOUR MORE BATTLE-SHIPS AND FIF-
TEEN TORPEDO-BOATS RECON-
MENDED.
THE DECISION REACHED By THE HOUSE NAVAL
AFFAIRS COMMITTEE - ENLISTMENT OF
1000 SAILORS AND 500 MARINES
ALSO AUTHORIZED.

[BY TELEGRAPH THE TRIBUNE.]
Washington. March 1.-THE House Committee
on Naval Affairs to-day reached a formal agree
ment on the features Of the Appropriation bill for
the next fiscal year. and for the second time In
recent years, through the Republican ma jority a
substantial increase OF the fleet has been pro-
yided for. When the Republicans were last In
control Of the House. three battle-ships were
authorized In the intervening six years only
that number Of fighting ships have been provided
for. In his last annual report Secretary Herbert
recommended the construction OF two battle
ships. The House Committee voted to-day for
four. and added fifteen torpedo-boats, five Of the
first class and ten Of the second class
The total amount carried by the bill agreed
to is $32 $50 900, about &c. 100000 more than that
authorized by Congress last year. But included
In this big sum are S. 300 OOo for construction and
machinery and $780, 900 for armor and armament
Of vessels heretofore authorized. Not including
the cost Of the vessels in this years meas
ure 1t only carries about s2s.ooO.oOO The cost OF
each new battle-shp is limited to s3750.ooo, and
only $500,000 is to be expended on each Of them
during the next fiscal year only 81, 900 in all
The contract price of the five frst-class torpedo
boats is not to exceed sl75O0o. and the sum which
can be spent on all Of them between now and
July /. 1897. by the Navy Department Is limited
to 1856, 900. The cost Of the ten second-cass tor
pedo-boats is fixed at $4,000 each and for the
whole number only 100000 can be drawn upon In
the next fiscal year. The majority Of the COM
mittee. mindful of the condition Of the Treasury
and the discouragng outlook. voted, therefore. TO
keep down the expenditures for new ships to
50. 900 for the coming year.
In the way Of new legislation the bill will pro-
vide for 1000 additional sailors and 500 more ma
rines The construction of drydocks at Alglers.
La; Mare Island, Cal, and Portsmouth. Nh.
is authorized at a cost of 900 for the former
and $575 900 for each of the two latter places
Only Sl00 900 for each dock is TO be avan bic next
year. however. Toward the armament OF mod
ern guns for auxiliary cruisers, s250o0O Is appro-
priated and for improvements at the Washing
ton Gun Foundry. $4,000 The torpedo station
gets $50 O0O and $50 900 can be drawn upon to arm
and equip the Naval Militia. Sevcoty-hve thou
sand dollars are allowed for public works at the
New York Navy Yard. Twenty-Five thousand
dollars are given to tie Brooklyn Hospital for
improvements.
For repairs on the Miantonomoh, Remington.
Baltimore Petrol. Nohican. Ranger Atlanta ana
Vesuvius $3.50 900 is ma de available The bill says
that hereafter no wooden ships are to be repaired
original cost. For new boiler tubes for the Co
lumbia New-York and Minneapolis. the commit
tee assigned OO0o New boilers for the Atlanta
and Dolphin we're authorized and sl5o,oOO was
provided to continue work on the machinery OF
the Chicago. To begin work on new machinery
OF the old Hartford $4,000 was set apart. but no
money was voted for modern guns for her.