New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-03-01
THE NEED OF MORE SEAMEN.
CHAIRMAN BOUTELLE NOT 'COMMUNICA
TIVE
Hp DfzNIEs HOWEVER THAT HE rs AT ODDS
WITH THE PRESIDENT AND sECRD-
rsY TELEGRAPH TO THE rRIBUNH.l

rsY TELEGRAM TRIBUNE
Washington. Feb. s.-Chairmen Boutelle Of the
Mouse Committee Naval Affairs was hesieged
On h,, cornit;ee-room this afternoon by newspaper
correspondents who subjected him 20 a close d.
,.c, examination and a searching REORGANIZATION
on rhe subject OF Acting Secretary Rooseveits lot
ter urging speedy action 10 increase The NUMBER
q. enlisted IN the Navy and as TO the prospect
q, such action. Mr.. Boutelle had just come from
conference with President Mckinley and Secretary
Long and he good naturedly parted. evaded and
declined 10 answer the questions OF the newspaper
men except 20 say that there was no difference OF
opinion so far he was aware, between the Presl-
dent and thu Secretary and himself respecting me
manner or scope Of any legislation that might be
thought necessary or desirable TO strengthen the
enlisted force OF the Navy
He afterward added. IN the course OF converse
Ion with Tribune correspondent. that the sub
committee which. has been engaged in the prepare
ion Of the Naval Appropriation bil-curther action
on which 10 temporarily suspended penang ihlor-
nation IN regard TO the results Of the Maine IN
vsstigst,on-had inserted an. item providing for an
addition OF eight hundred enlisted men ana .onr nun
dreS and Atty naval apprentices 70 the existing lorce
Of the Navy This partial response 20 the rec
onmenda ton OF the Chief of the Bureau OF Navi-
cation. approved by the Secretary o. the Navy IN
his annual report that fifteen hundred enlisted
men be added 10 the Navy. In his annual report
secretary Long salo:
While The increase OF vessels has been constant
.It =
suondng increase Of enlisted men. DlIhs lhe heAS
two years five battle-ships Of the nrsJ class an"
seventeen Orpedo boats are 10 be paced III Soti-
mission. Those now in comm ssioE aDsorp al d Arc
officers and allowed BY law As Vesse.s usov1
IN srrIcrion are completed 10 Will be necessary, III
order 10 place them IN commission, 70 axe o'I.l
vessels out and put them N reserve lh0se II 10
serve can be made ready FOR service IN Jew GAYS
~ ~ make the reserve system Of value the secIe-
ts~v Of the Navy should be author! zed 70 MAE
Additional enlistments at least 70 the cNteH' IeN
commended By the Bureau OF Na. . ~ au
pioyrnent q all the vessels on the Navy list. 10
such an extent as the emergency requires
Chairman Boutelle declined 70 allow the CORE
snondants 10 read Mi Rcoseveits letter or even 10
admit that he had received a communication rec
orouending any legislation on the subject OF aoai-
t,onal enlistments additional TO or different from
that recommended by Secretary Long IN his an
rusl report He refused pointblank 10 discuss that
matter or give any Information concerning II OF so
TeSrfar appropriation bill. He repeated. however,
MAJ the President the Secretary OF the Navy ana
himself we're In accord. SO FAR as ne knew" poth 20
10 what ought 10 be done ana the iila'.iio' Va
II might. perhaps fairly be Inferred from some sons
~ The 4xnrsSsions dropped by Chairman 6ostelIe
in tne course of mis- talk with the colresponueis
la IN his Judgment Il an addition Of only leo
81 ed men was 70 be made 10 the Navy: no harIn
could result from having legislative acu0h IN re-
gard to it take the usual course, al .s acticn
war emergency should arise immaculate sut W.
would bs required to add much larger nuM mn,
o. men TO the enlisted force OF the navy; ma
such emergency will suddenly or speeulIy ooi,
front Congress ne does not now appear TO resaIo
as probable. He said that he learned nothlne III
his Interviews with the PRESIDENT aho s
hat he gained tho impression that neither the
President the Secretary had yet receives any
definite trustworthy Information on which 10 20
destruction OF the Maine