New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-03-27

QUESTION or B.TTLE-SHIPs.
frr TELEGRAPH t. THE rRIBUNE.l
Washington March 26-As soon as Mr.. Bailey.
~ Texas who Is a renoer of the Committee on
Rules discovered this morning that the COM
nnittee was prepared 20 put a stop to further
alibus.erine on the Naval Appropriation bill. he
surrendered and re and his followers were as
meek and doclle d,ring the day they
naughty and unr1ly Yesterday. The conse-
cuence was that air progress was made with
The bill nearly Iah of which had passed the
Committee Of tn Whole before the House ad
iou,ned This included one Of the paragraphs
which II was expected would provoke much dis
cussion and considerable opposition. 1t was the
naracraph providing for four timber dry
docks 70 be built in the navy yards at Ports
mouth y Il: Boston. League Island and Mare
Island respectively. 70 cost $4,000 each. and
aorrocr;at!ng 5000 600 each 20 begin the work
% obstruction.
Wien the paragraph was reached Mr. Rob
bins. Of Pennsylvania, moved 10 strike out the
item for the Portsmouth dock. the appropria-
ton fo~ which he denounced as a piece Of use
less extravaganza" His ten-m!nute speech and
that q Nh Dockery Of Missouri. who spoke for
the amendment provoked hot replies and many
Interruptions from Chairman Boutelle. who bore
the brunt Of the fight in behalf Of tho commit
tees Recommendation.
Before a vote could he taken Mr.. Cannon OF
Illinois. added fuel to Mr.. Boutelles Indignation
BY moving 10 strike out the entire paragraph
relating 10 the four timber drydocks and insert
provision authorizing the building OF three
such docks at such navy yards as the secretary
q the Navy might designate. In support or THIS
motion NJ. Cannon delivered an exceedingly
earnest and impassioned speech, in the course
Q. which he also embraced the opportunity 10
c~!t!c.se and oppose the paragraph which author-
ICES the building u three new hai'le-shlps. lie
thought only one should be authorized. and that
q portion Of what the others would cost might
Re probably expended in the building Of tor
pedo-boats and torpedo-boa destroyers. He
warned the House that the proposed authorize
ton of new battle-ships and drydocks. none Of
which could be made ready for use in any ex-
.st.ng or threatened emergency. would cost the
National Treasury more than 2oOOO"oO and
he argued that advantage ought not 10 be taken
q the patriotic fervor which now prevails 10
authorize such an expenditure.
Chairman Boutee replied in vigorous terms.
as also did Mr Dayton. Of West Virginia.
member OF the Naval Committee. Both of them
dwelt on the necessity OF providing against
future emergencies as well as for the existing
emergency and insisted with great emphasis
that u Congress had made suitable and sufi-
fence al emergency appropriation q s50"l""
would not have been necessary, and the Govern
ment would have been spared the Illumination
az sending its agents to ransack the shipyards
q, Europe ana pay enormous prices for inferior
ships"
The debate grew exceedingly before II ended,
but was conducted with surprising good tenn
per considering all the circums stances. The
amendment Of Mr. Robbins was rejected on a d.
vision bv a vote Of ~ 10 101 and Mr.. Cannons
substitute suffered a Ike fate by vote or -
- 107 Mr. Cannon then gave notice thdt ne
would make a point Of order against 'he par
grams providing for a steel floating drydock az
Alriers La and for the appointment Of board
~ naval officers 10 investigate and report as 10
the desira bflity Of building drydock at Calves
ton. Texas. u,
Before the drydock paragraph was reached
efforts were made 20 increase from sooVo 20
100000 the appropriations for the benent OF
Inc Naval Militia and 10 provide that portion
~ the fund might be used to supply uniforms fcT
,ba Nf.,ia In support 81 the former PROPOSE
.,oo NJ Bouten of Illinois. who represents one
- the Chicago districts began an earnest speech
IN. soon Grifted into a discussion OF the Ouoah
situation and advocated immediate lnterNeh-
.ior This was a violation Of the rule which was
Invoked against Mr.. Hartman Yesterday ana
NJ RouteN was called 10 order by MS name
eakA he chairman Of the Naval Committee. VINO
e~ATs his name with a final 'e. Mr.. Lewis on
ysshirf-ton also sought u fire the heart or the
Committee Of the Whole with patriotic oratory
on the same subject Bolh OF lHe aiHe''1'44'N''
IT, spnrorriation of 100000 for the Naval
>,Ii,fs e $1,000 more than any heretofore
-~a5e and is the amount asked by the repre-
sentative officers Of the Militia VINO recently APP
reared before the Naval Committee.