The herald., 1898-03-12
TH1IE NEW SHIPs
As staunch A. Any Cruisers Now
Adoat

their construction inserted IN LAT naVal
appropriation bill. At the same ..-..e the
committee agreed upon maxin...-. piice
of $500 per ton for armor plate for our ves-
sells, increased the force of naval marines
by 473 men and put matters In fair shape
for a decision tomorrow on the construc-
ton Of the dry docks, probably four In
humber, capable Of accommodating the
largest sized vessels The committee was
in session practically all day and before the
decision on the increase OF ships was
reached there was long and interesting
discussion. Representative Tate, Demo-
crat. Of Georgia. while favoring an IN
crease, believed that two vessels would De
ample and that further expenditure beyond
the point of necessity should be avoided.
Representative Loudenslager of New Jer-
sey protested that If the strength OF the
navy was to be increased at all 1t should
be to the extent of three new vessels, butit
and armed to meet any vessel afioat. The
new warships provided for will be OF the
finest pattern. 1t will be two years, doubt
less, before they can be placed in commits
sion. One Of them, the committee de-
cided, should bear the name OF the ILL
fated Maine. The appropriation for their
Iconstruction was not fixed, being referred
| to the subcommittee on appropriations.
which will report to the full committee to-
morrow. The cost, 1t is expected, Will be
about $50 900 each.
The committee also agreed upon provis-
| ion authorizing the secretary Of the navy
to purchase armor plate by contract or
otherwise at a cost not exceeding $400 per
ton. This was agreed to, however, only on
the express provision that these items
should include the nickel used in the ar
NOR, for which a large outside percentage
heretofore has been paid by the govern
ment. This limit of armor contract price
has been generally exceeded, and with the
exception of the insertion of the proviso
as to nickel. met with little opposition in
the discussion.
One of the most important features of
the work on the bill was an agreement Of
an appropriation of $1Ss.OOO for Quitting,
rationing and uniforming 47S additional
marines. This increase In the naval force
was made the subject of a special and ur-
gent request sent to the house after the
submission of the regular recommended
tions.
The question of establishment of new
dry docks went over for action until to-
morrow. 1t was thoroughly discussed to-
day, and the outlook is that four new dry
docks will be authorized, two on the At
lantic coast, one on the Pacific and another
on the Gulf. If the present expectations
are materialized tomorrow these docks
will be authorized to be constructed at
Boston, Mass; Algiers, New Orleans; Mare
Island, Cal, and League Island, Philadel
phia.
| With the amounts to be paid for dry
docks and for armor plate in the aggregate
not yet determined, the bill as it stands
carries in all something like $4,000, 900,
which, however, will be largely augmented
| by the other committees.
Rapid progress has been made with the
bill, and it is likely it will be in shape to
report to the house on Monday or Tuesday.
TO MAN THE SHIPS
NEW YORK, March 11.-Orders were re-
ceived by the recruiting officer of the
Vermont today to enlist seamen, landsmen,
mechanics and firemen as rapidly as pos
sible.
Seven six-inch rapid fire guns were re-
ceived at the yard today from Washing
ton They are for use in arming the aux
iliary vessels if such an emergency arises.
ON DOUBLE TIME
LYNN, Mass, March 1.-THE American
Ordnance company's factory in this city
is running night and day on orders for gov-
ernment ammunition.
SPAIN'S SQUADRON
LONDON, March ia special dispatch
frcm Madrid says that the Spanish torpedo
squadron at Cadiz will sail for Cuba today.
RELIEF SUPPLIES
| KEY WEST, Fla, March 1.-THE Fern
sailed for Matanzas tonight with a cargo
of provisions for the starving Cubans
| From Matanzas she will go to Sagua la
Grande. Her departure was without Incl
dent. The torpedo boat Dupont has ar
| rived from Mobile.
NEW TORPEDO BOATS
| BRISTOL, R. l., March 1.-THE torpedo
boats Talbot and Gwyn left here this after
noon for Newport. 1t is understood that
they have been accepted by the govern
ment and will go into commission without
| delay.
NEWPORT, r. l., March 1.-THE tor
pedo boats Talbot and Gwynn arrived here
| late this afternoon and were at once turned
over to Lieutenant Commander Mclean,
commanding the station, the boats having
been accepted by the government. They
will receive their shipments and supplies
at the station and are to go into commits
sion in few days.
| WRECK WORKERS
| HAVANA, March 1.-THE court of in
quiry did little today, spending much of the
time watching the wreckers at work. Com
mander Converse and Captain Sigsbee
were in consultation with the court, though
not officially.
| The fine imposed on the Anita was re-
moved by the government today when it
was found that her papers were satisfac-
| tory.
The Austrian third-class cruiser Donau
arrived this evening.
| HAS EARNED A PARDON
| LINCOLN, Neb., March n-Patrick
Ford an ex-member of the Omaha city
council, visited Governor Holcomb today
to plead for pardon for his son, Patrick
Ford, jr, one of the survivors of the
| Maine disaster. Young Ford two years ago
was convicted of burglary and sentenced
| to fifteen years in the penitentiary. He
| escaped from the Omaha jail, mad his way
to Boston, enlisted in the navy under an
assumed name and was assigned to the
Maine some months ago. A letter from
him to his parents detailed his experience
in the wreck, in which he was wounded
Letters from other sources tend to con-
firm his story. Governor Holcomb has moi
indicated what his course will be.
A MAINE BENEFIT
PHILADELPHIA, March 12-Over $6Oo(
was realized for the wounded survivors and
| "a voiIiaa of thOSa kiIIod m tho ha ftloahfr