The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-04-02
Several Hours of Debate on the
Many Amendments.
10 INCREASE THE TORPEDO BILL,
An Addition OF So. 100000 10 The Orig.
innI NH Passed Despite thr
Protest Of Cannon.


war spirit was manifested in all speeches
and OVERRIDE the naval committees itself by
increasing the number of torpedo beats
and torpedo boat destroyers to twenty
four, the bill as reported providing for but
twelve The amendment Of Mr.. Cannon,
chairman of the appropriation committee.
to reduce the number of battleShips to one
was buried under an overwhelming major
ity The provision relating TO armor plate,
which In ordinary times would have pre-
cipitated debate of several days, was dis
posed OF In ten minutes, a proposition to
decrease the price agreed to from 400 to
$500 being downed in perfect chorus of
noes.
Mr., Cannon during the course of the day
announced the belief of the majority Of
members that war would be on us within Il
week, and Mr.. De Almond OF Missouri
made notable speech. declaring that If
hostillties were TO come it was our duty
to strike the first blow.
Washington. April Packed galleries
are the regular accompaniment of the ses-
SONS of the house in these exciting days,
and today an hour before the session con-
vened every inch of available space was
taken and hundreds bezieged the doors
unable TO gain admission.
Mr.. Boutele, chairman OF the naval COM
mttee. desired to go ahead with the naval
appropriation bill, despite the fact that un-
der the rules this was private bill day, He
explained briefly the urgent necessity of
getting the bill through at once. very
significant incident occurred while an at
Tempt was being made to effect an ar
rangement to postpone private bill day I'M
til Tuesday. The speaker hihself seemed
to hesitate about asking the consent OF the
house, whereupon Mr.. Bromwell (Rep.,
Ohio asked If Tuesday was set apart FOR
private bills whether it would Interfere
with report from the foreign affairs conf
mittee.
1T certainly would" replied the speaker
promptly.
"9hcn | object" shouted Mr.. Cromwell.
subsequently he withdrew his objection
with the und Arstan1lnG that Tuesday
should be private bill day providld the for
cign affairs committee had no report to
make. The :r-al bill was then taken up.
Mr.. King tDem, Utah made a poirt OF
CIDER against thS provision for new battle
ships and torpedo boats. Ii was overruled
by the chair
Mt. cannon, CHAIRMAN Oh tlS HnDFOpTli-
lions committee, offered a substitute for
the paragraph providing for three battle
ships. six torpedo boats and six torpedo
boat destroyers. The substitute provided
for one battleship to cost S2,o0960l eXclu
sive OF armament twelve torpedo boat de-
stroyers aial twelve torpedo boats, TO cost
not exceeding s4Go0,occ.
Mr.. Cannon supported the amendment in
brief speech, arguing that in case Of me-
cessty the torpedo boats and the tcrpe1o
boat destroyers would he much more val
liable than battleshlp because they would
be auickly built
MIR. Cannon appealed TO members with
cool heads and without passion to act as
wise men should act.
What objection" said Mr. Morton
dem, Ohip) have you to leaving the
Erec battlcships in the bill and increas-
ing the number of torpedo boats TO the
number provided In this amendment?'
tremendous applause in the saIleries>,
Most gt-ltlomen believe" said Mr.. Can
non, that within n week we will be at
war with one Of the countries OF the Garth
Tint will mean additional taxation and au-
thorlzatons to borrow $500 900. 900. 1t
means that these burdens shall be put upon
the people. Let us double the taxation II
necessary, but let us not authorize single
dollar that is not necessary TO meet the
emergency put in fron Of us. Long be-
luit Ahtht pllh'Hulha tiil Df lduiCnsH llS
war will be over and fear these battle
ships will be obsolete" applause ON the
floor.
Mr. Boutelle in speech declared that
the history OF naval warfare showed that
the great naval battles of the world have
beNn won by the ships of the battle line.
MIR. Cummings tDem., y. W declared
that the value of the battleship had hoen
demonstrated Mt the battle OF the Yalu and
thai the subsequent action OF Japal and
China In organizing ships, not to speak of
the fact that Germany. France. England
and Russia we're building immense shps
of the navy fighting type, was conclusive
OF their value.
Mr.. pearce tIlcp., MOI offered an amend
nent to increase the number of tori edo
boats aud torpedo roat destroYerS author
lied by the bill 20 twelve each aui TO in
crease tho appropriation from s2,s00,u0 to
$4,000 900 lie quoted n high naval officer
as stating that these torpedo craft were
absolutely essential to the protection of
of the navy / was little short
of criminal, he cuntended, 10 subject a fleet
to dangers from n torpedo boat
Mr.. Beutclle said the committee was per-
fectly willing TO accept the rearce amend
ment, hut he pointed out that under the
emergency appropriation the adminisira-
ton was buying and building torpedo and
other boats OF the mosquito fleet for the
protection Of our fighting ships.
The pearee amsndnirnt was adcptsd--
l5T 10 81.
Mr. steele tRep., Ind, m-vs1 TO d.
crease the numbsr OF bnttleships pro.
yided for from three To two
Mr. DeArmond Dem. Mol. th,n tn,
the floor with speech thFt attracted mu h
attention. He called upon tho airin stra-
tion TO take the aggressive. The Maine. he
said, had been blown up In harbor rnp-
posed to he friendly There was or AT dao-
rer nov. he declared, In trusting 10 dipl,-
msoy rsthcr than 10 our ong arm. The
great question now, lie srid, was To s'op |
TIE hostile feet apuro9chng our shore. |
II Wa We're demanding uroa a'pl ina1Y Il
would PROVE D broken re- a. Thu BIS, mo- |
lection. he sad. WAS aggression. not To |
wait Idly, resting unon hopes that bah 20 |
foundation. He declared we should striia |
lille We had the advantage War belwe n |
nations was not ike cpntert be'weeu |
cdrallv matched elndiators The victory
belonged IN war Ia the countrg that ba,t |
end arst prerarei for Il and seslog forth
~ into 10 fnt''rs stuck art waere ths |
h'rw woird p-ore mcst effsct'vs.
81 e W protect ourselves y cont,puaa