The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1898-03-25
TIE NAVAL APPROPRIATION
1t Will Pass the House By a
Practically Unanimous Vote.
AMERICAN HISTORY OUTDONE
Carries S.i5.GS3, O5S.GS md Is the
Most Liberal Measure OF the
I>Ind Ever Sanctioned by Con-
Eress-1Ir. Dayton Makes IN EIo-
uuent Speech.

Immediately after the opening of the
House yesterday Mr.. BouteHe Chair
man of the Naval committee, called up
the naval appropriation bill for discus
sion. This bill cauries $35, $50 O5S.GS. and
is the most liberal naval appropriation
bill ever reported to the House showing
an increase over the appropriations made
last year of $3,764432 10. and of $25l4.-
S22.49 over the estimate submitted by the
department.
In view of tho exigencies requiring an
addition to the enlisted force to man
the vessels put into commission. the
comittee provide for an increase of 1000.
to be composed of $50 men and $50 boys
Tho department also urgently requested
authority for the appointment of twenty
five acting surgeons and fifteen assist
ant paymasters, which are provided for,
in this bill causing an increase under
Pay of the Navy for officers, men, and
boys of S67G 400
Under the head of the Increase of the
Navy the work of construction of new
vessels had become considerably reduced
by the near approach to completion of
recommend the construction of three
| sea-going coast-line battleships designed
to carry the heaviest armor and most
powerful ordnance upon a displacement
of about LOCO tons each, to have the
highest practicable speed for vessels of
their class, and TO cost, exclusive of ar
mament, not exceeding $3,0000O0 each.
one of which shall be named the Maine.
/ Also six torpedo boat destroyers of about
$50 tons displacement, and six torpedo
boats, of about 80 tons displacement, to
have the highest practicable speed the
torpedo boat destroyers to cost not eX-
ceeding $24O,OOo each, and the torpedo
boats not exceeding $l5OOOO each Also
! one gun boat to take the place of the
! United States steamship Michigan on the
/ Great Lakes to cost, exclusive of ar
! mament. not exceeding S26c 600.
/ The entire authorization for the cost of
/ the hulls and machinery of the vessels
! enumerated aggregates $l1,60O.G 600. and to-
/ ward their construction, to be expended
during the next fiscal year. there is ap-
! propriated in this bill under ''Construc-
ton and machinery 50 100000 and under
"Armor and armament" 1924 900, making
/ the total appropriations for the next
| years's expenditures on the new vessels
authorized under this act $4304,O00
The committee also authorize the con-
struction of five dry docks, to be located
! at points that have been recommended
| by the Secretary of the Navy, for begin
ming work upon which the sum of $1,000
! 600 is proposed to be appropriated, the
| whole cost Of the docks being limited to
! $i150OG0
After Mr. Boutelle had spent one and
| one-half hours in explaining the bill. he
] IN fiNTt ha fpr to On,
4 it at four hours including the time he
I had taken. This proposition met with
| lively opposition on the part of great
} many members OF the House who wanted
! TO make speeches, not so much on the
bill as for campaign consumption. After
/ considerable filtbustering the time for
vote was fixed for / o'clock today.
1t was soon apparent that there was
not the slightest opposition to any of the
/ provisions of the bill by either the Re
/ publican, Democratic or Populist mem
I bers, and it will probably be passed today
by a practically unanimous vote.
Mr.. Boutelle said in his remarks on
the bill that necessarily it had been some
| what delayed on account of the increas-
! ing demands made from day to day to
meet the exigencies which had been con-
stantly arising since the beginning of the
| session. That the committee had given
the fullest and most ample investigation,
could legitimatcly arise during the cur
rent year
Mr.. Meyer DemocraD of Louisiana
member of the Naval Committee made
a speech approving the bill lie was
followed by Mr.. Dayton. OF West Viz
/ ginia, who, after voicing his hearty APP
! prevail of the bill, gave a comparison of
the different naves of the world. as fci-
lows: England has 632 vessels and IS I'M
der construction, France, $50 and 81 under
! construction; Russia, 1903, and Is under
/ construction: Italy. 266 and - under con-
/ structiOn; Spain, lS9 and 10 under con-
struction; Japan. "A, and 10 under con-
struction; the United States S., and 20 I'M
der construction
Mr.. Dayton was in favor of immediate
intervention by the United States on be
half of Cuba. I'VE do not know vet "
said he. that Spanish authority blew UP
the Maine and destroyed the lives of our
seamen, but we do know that Spain is re-
| sponsible for this wholesale murder by
starvation of her subjects in Cuba. We
do not forget that the only cause for this
the only crime that these pitiful dead and
dying people have committed is that IN
spired by our example. They are fighting
to obtain for themselves The right to
| free self-goVernment'
Mr.. Arnold of Pennsylvania was also
in favor of immediate action by this Gov
| eminent to relieve the suffering in Cuba
lie said:
II desire to refer to the suggestion Of
| some un-American citizens that the CON
| troversy be settled by arbitration sub
mt this cannot be done with honor We
| have not only lost the Maine. which in
| money can be estimated but there were
ushered into eternity, without 4 moments
warning, 256 American sailors whose
lives were dear to them and dear to Us
and this cannot be estimated or meas
| ured Shall we make merchandise Of the
! lives of our people, Can money purchase
human life? Is gold dearer to US that the
blood of patriots?
War is the incarnation of an awful
tragedy but a greater tragedy was en-
! acted when 266 brave American sailors
| went down 10 their death through the in
| famous treachery of Spain or of some Of
/ her subjects. We all love peace, and il is
! dear to us, but may it never again be
said of this great nation that we will
| purchase peace at the price of honor
But, throwing aside all precedents and
| all INJURIES and not even considering the
Maine disaster, there is a law, greater
and higher and nobler than any and all
| international law-the law of common hu-
mahlty-which not only justies. but de-
| mands Immediate action at our hands
To our present chief magistrate there
has come an opportunity. seldom vouch-
safed to man, to build for himself in the
cause of humanity a monument which
| all the assaults of all time cannot de-
| stroy and leave to posterity a glorious
name, which will be reveTed by all men
and which will be an inspiration to all in
future ages who shall battle for their
liberties.
The history of the world. from the
slavery of the Israelites under Pharaoh
down to this hour shows that charters
OF liberty are always written in the blood