The San Francisco call., 1898-03-27
V WARLIKE TALK
 IN THE HOUSE Naval Appropriation Bill Yet Being Slowly
 Considered.
Many Amendments Relating to the Naval Reserve and
 DrydockS Submitted.
Several Representative Declare Ina a State of War Actually Exists,
 and That ction Is in Order.
Special Dispatch to The Call.
Call Office, Riggs House,
 NTnrnh Oe

WdSlllnSlOI, hdt Cu Au.
 During the debate on the naval ap- propriation bill to-day in the House every utterance in favor of aggressive action against Spain was applauded to the echo by the crowded galleries. A strong effort was made to increase the appropriation for the naval reserves, but it failed Another effort to have the Government uniform the naval militia also failed. The main contest of the day was over a proposition to decrease the number of timber dry docks provided by the bill from four to three Cannon, chairman of the Ap- propriations Committee, made the mo- tion 10 discuss the question or war preparations and to inveigh agains. undue extravaganza. He was voted down--7S to 10S.
 No point of order was made agalnst the proposed timber docks, but Cannon gave notice that he would raise polnt against the proposed steel dock at Al eiers. La, on the ground that docR necessarily involved in the future the establishment of navy-yard. There was some further discussion of the relative merits of large battle-shlps and smaller craft, in which the tenn oer of the House seemed about equally divided, but the paragraph reiaIng to the ships had not been reached Wheh the House adjourned.
 Elliott DO of South Carolina moved an amendment to provide the naval militia with clothing. He pointed out tnat tne National Guard were provided with un- forms If war came the naval nliI,tad ..a,tni world be called on before the National Guard, in fact, the naval militia or tHTee iT,s States had already been called out. me Navy Department indorSed thlS pfoPoSi- BouteIle pointed out that the Govern ment had never been called upon to sup ply clothing to the naval mliltla ana ne did not believe the scope of the doVetIi- nent appropriationS had been broadeneu' l The amendment was IoSt ss. h Another amendment was onereu py l Foote CRO of New York to increase the l appropriation for arms, accouterments l etc, of naval reserves from Soo'oVo lo BCuteI1 (R0 of Illinois, in supporting 1 +te amendment argued that it was the i duty of the United States to inter 'GI9 III ! CUfa. His remarks aroused several out- out bursts of applause but ne was ef y.ls. 1 ferday limiting the debate to the question under consideration.
 Lewis D1 of Washington also argued in favor of intervention: War, ne sald was already upon us. We were fools to disguise it. It was not patriotic to delude 1 ourselves further. The spanish torpedo ! fotilla was sailing toward our snores. n, l asserted that it was the duty of the Gov | ernment to intercept that fleet and blow l it from the seas. When he quoted Jonl Randolph o utteyance, o,id osiyeFub eot he bulIied | by the British lion. so we retuse 10 DC | frightened by the Spanish jackal, the l House broke into cheers. - l The amendment was defeated-4o to 3i.
 An amendment was adopted to permit the Secretary of the Navy to use any DOT tion of Miehigans naval ytia nllttda iuna nara ao l graph to transfer the Photographic office from the Bureau of Navigation to the l Bureau of Equipment, which had been ! a6 the Navy Department went out on point or order. 5
 Elliott O.) of South Carolina made point of order against the provlasi49n on, tnal th naval station at Port Royal, $. C., should | be available until the United States ac- quired title to the land claimed by Agnes | A. Niyer, adjacent to the Port Royal dry dock The point of order was overruled Thereupon Elliott moved to strike out | the provision.
 l Ientz DJ of Ohio argued that it was criminal to suspend an appropriation fol a naval station for proviso at such a time as this. War & vas oso at a6o our doors we t 1 meet it. The Spanish fleet was approach ing the country. Ut is boys play" said he. Tt is cowardice to talk about ac- l quiring title to land at great naval sta ton, now. The naval station should be prepared for action. (Applause)
 Dayton D.) of West Virginia said in the time necessary to build the pro- posed key wall at Port Royal"
 The amendment was lost-13 to 63.
 When the paragraph providing for the construction of four timber dry docks al Portsmouth, N. H., Boston, Mare Island and League Island, Pa, was reached, nc point of order was made against it, but Cannon, chairman of the Appropriation ] Committee, moved to reduce the number of timber dry docks to be authorized tc l three, and to be located at such navy yards as the Secretary of the Navy might direct.
 The findings of the Bunce board and the recommendations of the Secretary oi the Navy with regard to dry docks were 1 discussed at great length.
 Boutelle said he would vote for any in crease in the number of torpedo-boats that Cannon might suggest. I suggest that you strike out two of the battle ships and insert the equivalent in smal boats." GApplause.]
 Strike down the fighting line and in crease the mosquito f1eet,' observed Bou telle amid laughter.
 Robbins (R.) of Pennsylvania moved tc strike out the provision for drydock a Portsmouth. The amendment was lost GA to 100, as was that of Cannon-7S te 107
 Then, at o'clock, the House adjourned