The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-02-20
The New Navy Bill.

The House Naval Committee has at last
agreed upon the main features OF the an
nual appropriation bill under it's charge.
Some delay may be imputed perhaps to the
difficult problem of fixing the price OF armor
for the battle ships Illinois, Wisconsin, and
Alabama, authorized last year. At that
time, as now there was n demand in Con-
Rress for a reduction OF the price, and the
plan adopted WAS that of authorizing the
three new ships, while instructing Secretary
HERBERT not to make contracts for their
armor until he had examined the subject
and aid his conclusions before Congress.
1t will be recalled that the Secretary
found, after a prolonged investigation by
many experts, that $500 should be the
maximum price per ton, including the
nickel. Senator CHANDLER, however,
thought that $500 was enough to allow a
fair profit, while a bill has been introduced
into Congress which fixes the price at S24O
a ton, based on an offer made at these figures
by the Illinois Steel Company under the
condition OF a long and exclusive contract, to
Justify building q new plant.
The House committee does not decide in
its bill what shall be the future price Of
armor, but for the three ships now requiring
It an appropriation OF s3,2lo,0OO is made.
They will need altogether about S,025 tons,
1t Is, therefore, evident that the new bill
practically provides for the Secretary's
maximum OF S400 per ton, while leaving
him at liberty to get the armor Mt n lower
price II practicable. We shall hear much
more Of this subject during the debates on
the bill, but the action Of the House COM
mittee seems meanwhile to be judicious,
since 1t gives the Secretary the maximum
he asks, while 1t does not seem likely that
armor for these ships could be procured,
without delay, at any lower price.
The next noticeable provision made is that
for one additional battle ship; and possibly
the Senate may add another, or else n group
OF torpedo boats, or both. The eagerness for
naval preparation, rife q year go, when the
Venezuela dispute was unsettled and when
our relations both with England and Spain
were so threatening. has since somewhat
subsidized. The Naval bill also suffers per
hars from the extravaganza OF other pend
ing appropriation bills, notably the Sundry
Civil which will reach an appalling and
scandalous amoun Again, exclusive of
the Iowa, we have now five large battle ships
In the earlier stages OF construction, so that
a sixth may seem enough to add.
But when the moment OF emergency
comes, n deep sense OF reliance on our ships
is always felt. Huge armorclads cannot be
extemporized, and at any moment OF stress
all that can be relied upon in such vessels
Is what is already available. The pro-
gramme of naval defence is not yet conf
plete, and n creditable installment Of it
should he provided in the present bill,
1t is only fair to say, however, that this
bill, even in its present shape, is most liberal,
and is worthy of n Congress which will
always be memorable for its splendid con-
tributions to the forts and ships, 1t pro-
vides for the enlisted force at the high water
mark OF / 900 men INT 10000 apprentices.
II gives the Ordnance Bureau more than q