The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-05-24
CONGRESSIONAL STUPIDITY.

whether It Is the fear OF illlberaI con-
situencles back of many congressman that
Is responsible for the FREQUENT want OF bus
mess sense witnessed in congress, or
WHISTLER the congressman are naturally
demagogic and neglect the best interests of
the country often, in order to impress m
or uniformed public with
tholr representatives devotion to econ
omy,' certain 1t is that many things are
left undone at Washington that ought to be
done and that the country at last loses big
mol Les by the omissions.
A notable illustration In point is now
furnished by the necessities of our fleet in
Cuban waters and the absence OF means for
meeting those requirements
ship after being In salt water for six
months or so loses from two to four knots
In srccd by reason of the foul huli The
copper-covered hull Is not so subject to
iouling as the iron or steel bottom--not
nearly so in fact Most of the foreign ma
tions have been sheathlng their vessels
bulls In copper to prevent the cost Of fire.
quent docking and preserve the speed when
away from docking facilities. There are
but the two ways OF keeping the bottoms
cleaned sheathing and docking.
What have the United States done? Speed
Is recognized as one of the most important
elements In naval operations. We are see
ing the cost of the want OF II to us now, in
our naval operations around Cuba--we
not only have an inadequate force OF fast
armored cruisers, but such vessels MS we
have are fowled through being long out OF
docks and are said to have visiby lost such
speed as they are capable OF making when
clean.
Why not dock them. then? Simply be-
cause the foolish opposition In congress 10
the appeals for more docks has rendered fl
impossible to dock ships assigned to the
gulf without carrying them hundreds o,
miles to the Eastern coastsl In war such
ioss OF time or weakening Of the fleet can
not be thought Of Then, too. there are not
sufficient docks even In the East only one
now available along the Atlantic coast
where the first-cl battleships can be
safely and quickly docked, There ought to
be half dozen! And above all there ought
to be two or three In the g,5f waters
This is not alias shors sighted az II may
seem, While failing TO provide facilities tot
maintaining tho navy ON its contract speed
basis, yet congress has been paying big
bonuses TO contractors for every quarter
knot over the contract rate--thus recognize
ing in the costlle0t way the great value Of
speed
| Congressional action Is full Of such in
stances of an utter want OF business sense
The case cited Is but one of many Sill
the distinguished members who exhibit this
incompotcncy In a dozen matters of Vita
concern to the country, como back to theil
constituencies with red hot speech on tn,
| finances or the tariif and the good peopl,
imagine that they are getting more than tn,
worth Of their money out of the brilliant
sky-scraper who has tho honor to represent
them!
| The statement that has so often beer
made will bear frequent repetition, that tht
Americans get poorer bargains for the bis
prices they pay for government than any
other first class. intelligent people OF
| earth.