New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-03-16
PRICE THREE CENTS.
A LIBERAL NAVAL POLICY.
THE HOUSE COMMITTEE VOTES TO
BUILD FIVE NEW DRYDOCKs.
SEVERAL TORPEDO BOATS AND TORPEDO BOAT
DESTROYERs LIKELY TO BE AUTHORIZED
IN ADDITION TO THE THREE
BATTLE ALREADY


Washington. March 15.--There Is a strong dis
position In the House Committee on Naval Af-
fairs to increase the Navy in addition to tho
three battleships recently authorized. by the
construction OF some Of the smaller vessels or
war. II was said tonight that the COMMITTEES
may authorize the building OF about ten tor
pedo-boats and torpedo-boat destroyers. costing
In the neighborhood OF S1.j00,C00 for all Of
them. A movement for this increase will be
made Tomorrow, and Representative Bull, OF
Rhode Island, will submit a motion calling for
the construction OF number Of both OF these
classes OF boats probably six. Other members
OF the committee favor the increase. and some
important action is looked for The increases
In the personnel asked for by Secretary Long
also Will be taken up tomorrow
The construction of five modern drydocks was
agreed on to-day by the committed They are TO
be located at Portsmouth, n. H.. Boston. League
Island. near Philadelphia: Algiers, near New
Orleans. and Mare Island San Francisco
Thef- docks all OF which are to be entirely new
structures. TO be Of wood except those at
Algiers and Portsmouth. The material for these
will not be determined until tomorrow. The
indications are that the dock at Portsmouth
will be built Of stone from quarres near by.
and that at Algiers Of steel.
The decision Of the committee the out
come or a protracted and at times animated nis-
cussion. The final vote choosing the points
named was TO g. The opponents Of the prof.
ect first contended against the construction Of
the docks on general principles. and then sep
arately opposed the sites that were selected.
They argued that the docks should he located
where the approaches and depth Of water wsrs
sufficient 10 admit the ingress and egress OF the
largest battle-shps, or where steps already have
been made under Government direction to put
the approaches in readiness 10 receive the larg-
est vessels by the increase Of both depth and
width Of channel. or that the work on the
channels should be undertaken at the same time
as that on the drydocks. 1t was agreed. however.
that the docks erected should be made capable
Of accommodating the largest class Of warships
The principal reason for the decision to build
OF wood was economy but it was also said that
docks so constructed might remain in good con-
diton long enough for all practical purposes.
and that by the time their usefulness ceased
developments in the structural field or a change
In the character Of present dock ideas might
arise A motion to vote on the docks separately
was defeated by to 6, and then they we're
voted a whole and authorized.
Secretary Long to-day sent TO Chairman
Boutee a provision TO be iL4erted in the Naval
bill Incorporating the recommendations he made
| yesterday to assistant engineers or skilled
machinists, assistant paymasters and assistant
surgeons being increased in number.
Yesterday when Secretary Long was before
| the committee he recommended the passage Of
the bill for the reorganization Of the personnel
Of the Navy. which prepared by the Board
! OF which Assistant Secretary Roosevelt vas
president. He said 1t would be good time to
end the strife which has been caused for so
many years between the officers OF the line and
! staff by the existing conditions and also to
provide some additional officers urgently
needed for the ships which going into COM
mission. But the matter was not particularly
pressed Nothing was said about the Prcsi.
dents Endorsement Of the measure.