The record-union., 1898-03-27


I by Agnes A. Niver adjacent to the
Port Royal dry-dock.
The point Of order was overruled.
! ThereGpon Elliott moved to strike out
/ the provision.
Lentz Of Ohio argued that it was Grim
iual 10 sue2enG an appropriation for
a naval station for q oroFiso at such
q time as this War~1vas ct our doors.
We had appropriated S30,030.G0J to
prepare to meet it. The Spanish fleet
was approaching the country. 1T is
beys' play" said he 1T is cowardicc
to talk about acquiring title to land at
q great naval station now. The naval
station should be prepared for action. -"
| (Applause)
Dayton CD Of West Virginia said:
We could lick six countries like Spain
in the time necessary to build the pro-
posed key wall at Port Royal"
The amendment was Iost-13 to SO.
When the paragraph providing fer the
construction Of four timber dry-docks
at Portsmouth, y. n, Boston. MAJ {
Island and League Island, Pa, was
reached, 10 point CT order was nade
against it. hut Cannon, Chairman OF
the Augmentation Committee. moved to
reduce the number of timber dry-docka
to be authorized to three, and TO be 10
Gated at such navy yards as the Secre-
taTy of the Navy might direct.
The findings of the Bunee Board and
the recommendations Of the Secretary
Of the Navy with regard to dry-docks
were discussed at great length.
Dockery CD of Missouri said he was
willing TO vote for all the docks deemed
urgently necessary" bat Portsmouth
was not one of them.
Cannon discussed in a general way
the proposed increase in the navy dry
docks and battleships. He said he was
willing, as he thought every other mem
Der of the House, was, to be liberal in
voting all the money necessary for the
naval establishment. With reference to
dry docks. there were. he said, four
docks in the United States which would
accommodate battleshiDs now, at New
York, at Port Royal, Hunters Point,
Cal, and Puget Sound. For three
years to come, if a battleshiD was
docked at San Francisco Bay, it would
have TO be a Hunters Point. He read
from the report Of the Chief of Engi-
neers to show that it would cost S3l0,-
COG to deepen the channel from San
Francisco to Mare Island so that a
battleship could get to the yard. Three
docks were enough Let the Secretary
locate them. This was no time for 10
cality, it was the time for efficiency.
Personally, he disclaimed any inter-
est in any locality. But he begged
gentlemen to remember that a dry-dock
necessarily meant q naval yard, and
because ne believed this was 10 time
to establish new naval stations, he gave
notice that he would make a point of
order AGAINST the proposed steel dry
dock at AlgieTs. La, and also the in
ivcstigation of desirability of locating a
dry-dock at Galveston. He was oD-
posed, he declared, to any attempt to
foist upon the House, under the cry OF
urgency, new work which could not
stand on it's merits.
When he touched the increases of
the navy, he suggested that the bat
tleships could not be placed into COM
mission in thirty-six months. The small
torpedo boats might, on the other hand,
be completed before the war, if war it
was to be, was over
Boutelle said he would vote for any
increase in the number of torpedo boats
that Cannon might suggest.
4 suggest that you strike out two
of the battleships and insert the equiv
alent in small boats" said Cannon.
I (Applause)
Strike down the fighting line and
increase the mosquito feet observed
Boutelle, amid laughter.
Cannon said he realized that it was
/ q thankless job, While the patriotic
heart of the country was stirred, 70
criticise anything labeled national de-
Tense" But he had a duty to perform,
and he would discharge it. The utility
Of the modern battleship had not been
! demonstrated. He had been greatly in
terested in the discussion Of the respec-
/ tive merits of the expensive battleship
and the relatively inexpensive monitor.
He would live to see these great en-
gines of war tested before he voted to
expend S15.000.000. (Applause) Much
better at this time to build or buy small
torpedo boats, which would be in serv-
ice in two or three months.
BOuteIle interrupted to declare that
it was our niggardly policy with re-
gard to the navy- which to-day forced
US to ransack Europe to find vessels
with which to meet the aggressors IF
we are going to fight the world, we
must meet the equipment of the world.
| Ferry boats and tugboats will not per-
form the service they did in 1861 go
Hilborn (R) of California. a member
Of the Naval Committee called atten-
ton to the fact that we have secured
the earth. but not battleship in the
world was for sale.
Cannon asked Boutelle to say frank
ly whether he personally believed three
battleships should be authorized, and
the latter created q great outburst of
enthusiasm in the galleries by declar-
ing that if he could have his way he
would authorize six battleships instead
of three.
In conclusion. Cannon said he had lit
tie hope that his amendment would
carry. but he wanted to vote every dol
lar necessary. but this was not time
for reckiessness. He appealed to the
members to meet the situation with
loyal hearts and cool heads" Gap
plause)
Dayton expressed his surprise that
the Republican leader, who had come
before the House with the emergency
appropriation. should now seek TO
thwart a policy that would make every
American proud OF his flag. Gap
plause.)
Robbins CR) of Pennsylvania moved
to strike out the provision for a dry
dock at Portsmouth.
The amendment was lost-G4 TO 100
as was that Of Cannon-TS to 107.
Then at > o'clock, the House ad-
journed.
Crisis.