The herald., 1896-03-27
IN THE HOUSE
The Naval Appropriation Bill Passed With.
out Amendment

The naval appropriation bill was passed
today by the house without substantial
amendment. An effort was made by the
advocates of larger increase of the naval
strength than was authorized by the bill, to
increase the number of battleships from
four to six. This increase was supported
on the floor by Messra. Hanley, Cummings
and johnson of California, and opposed by
Messrs. Boutelle, chairman of the COM
mittee, Hulick and Robinson. The house
by large majority stood by the recon-
mendation of the committee, the proposi
ton for six battleships mastering but 32
votes against 134. Various other amend
ments were offered. but all failed. The
bill as passed carries S31 ,6lI ,O34 and
authorizes the construction of four battle
ships and fifteen torpedo boats. the total
cost of which will be in the neiRhborhood
of $35,O0O,OOO. The sundry civil appro-
priation bill. which was reported today,
will be taken up tomorrow.
"a At the opening of the house Heatwole,
Republican of Minnesota, introduced the
following resolution which was referred:
Whereas, In lieu of our present inade-
quate banking and currency system, it is
desirable that congress have the aid of
such recommendations as a non-partisan
commission of experts might be able to
offer,
Resolved, The president is hereby au-
thorized to appoi int nine citizens, eminent
in trade, political economy and banking,
to act with the comptroller of the currency
as such commission. and such commission
shall report its conclusions to congress.
Then the naval appropriation bill was
taken up.
1t was decided to allow three hours for
general debate on the paragraph relating
to the increase Of the navy.
Mr.. Hanley, Republican of Indiana, a
member of the naval committee. who fa-
vored IA larger increase il the navy than
the majority of the committee, argued in
favor of an amendment which he gave no.
tice he would Cffer, to increase the number
of battleships from four 10 six
He thought it was time for the United
States to enter upon a distinctively ma
tional policy. He referred 10 the ag-
gressions of Great Britain and our foreign
complications as an argument for a strong
navy. The Republicans should pursue a
similar course. No party could afford 10
block the destiny of the United States, and
now that the Republicans were clothed
with power they should not hesitate to
carry out the promises made when they
were in the opposition.
Mr.. Hulick (Repubiican OF Ohio) said he
endorsed all Mr.. Haniey had said, but he
argued that in view of the condition of the
trea sury it was unwise TO authorize more
than four battleslips in this bill.
Mr.. johnson (Republican of California;
favored the Hanley amendment for six
battleships instead of four. He ridculed
the bravado with which we had during the
past few months announced our willing
MSS to declare war on the first-class
rcwers OF the world. With our navy, our
pretensions were preposter,,us.
Mr.. Robinson, Republican of Pennsyl-
vania, argued in support of the Judgment
Of the committee. He had listened, he
said. to the "foreusic song and dance'' of
the gentlemen from Indiana and Califor-
mia. but that did not appeal TO him. He
and his people, he said, were in favor of a
lib,ral appropriation for modern navy to
police our coast, but they did not favor an
enormous navy for the purpose of compet-
ing with England or continental powers in
ii display of militarism.
Mr.. Cummings, Democrat of New York.
also member of the committee. followed
with strong and eloquent speech IN favor
of larger increase in the navy.
MIR. Bouteile closed the debate in favor
OF abiding by the judgment OF the naval
committee. In conclusion he expressed
the hope that the Hanley amendment to
increase the number of battleships from
four tc six would be voted down.
The vote was then taken on the amend