The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-03-19

destroyer for less than S3OUsVUO WnlIe the
United States was willing to pay its build
ers not more than two-thirds of this sum for
such boats
Senator Hawley of Connecticut, called at
the Navy and War Departments this morn
ing, in company with Thomas F. Rowland,
whom he introduced to the officials as the
builder of the first monitor on Ericsson's
plans. He recalled the fact that the vessel
was a purely experimental craft, and that
it had to overcome the utmost opposition
from the naval officers Of war times, owing
to the radical departure from established
ideas.
The Ordnance Bureau of the War Depart
ment to-day awarded contracts for a large
number of steel armor piercing and deck
piercing projectiles for the coast fortitica-
ton guns. There were several bidders, but
instead of giving the contract to one con-
Germ the bureau divided the contract, so that
supplies will be coming from several quar-
tiers at the same time. The award is as
follows: Carpenter Steel Company, $50
eight-inch armor-piercing shot; 300 ten-inch
armor-piercing shot; $50 ten-inch armor-
piercing shell; $50 twelve-inch deck-piercing
shell of 800 pounds each; 22S twelve-inch
deck-piercing shell of LOGO pounds each.
Sterling Steel Company, 100 eight-inch ar
mor-piercing shell; $50 ten-inch armor-pierc-
ing shot 25O ten-inch armor-percing shell;
$50 twelve-inch piercing shell of 800
pounds each; 20 twelve-inch deck-piercing
| shell of 1000 pounds each. Midvale Steel
Company $50 twelve-inch deck-piercing
shell of 800 pounds each; 344 twelve-inch
| deck-piercing shell of 1000 pounds each.
Steps have been taken by the engineers
office for the expenditure of the $5,OOO,OOO
originally allotted out of the S50,000 900 ma
| tional defense fund for the continuation OF
| the improvements of various works of forti-
| fcations. Practically all of 1t will be devoted
| to the Atlantic and gulf coasts. While the
expenditure will be under the general super
| vision of the engineers office at Washing
| ton, the details connected Herewith, includ-
ing the making of contracts, etc. will be left
| to the discretion of the local engineer
officials.
The War Department to-day made another
| allotment for the engineering branch of the
service. This consisted of $2,9I5,O0O, and was
| charged against the special appropriation OF
| $4,000 900, made last week IL was stated
at the department that the money will be
expended in the carrying out of the plans
for the fortification of the coast already per-
fected and announced in the last annual re-
port of the chief of engineers No new
Will uS SobdDhSAASO AASAAA NAANS
appropriation.
ARMY REORGANIZATION BILL
The army reorganization bill was taken
UP at the meeting of the House committee
on military affairs to-day and some of its
provisions were discussed. The law relat-
ing to the various items and the changes
brought about from the present plan were
considered in detail, but there was no ac-
tion on the measure owing to the necessity
for a full discussion of each provision. 1t
was reiterated at to-day's meeting, while 1T
made sweeping changes on war footing,
the only difference it contemplates on a
peace footing is an increase of twenty-five
majors. A special meeting of the committee
has been called for tomorrow to continue
consideration Of the bill. The committee
amended the reorganization bill by provid-
ing that vacancies in the grade of major
shall be filled by promotion according to
seniority in the infantry arm. 1t was also
agreed to increase the number of noncom-
missioned officers in each infantry company
by four, for the better control of the large
companies under the three battalion war
formation, the total number Of 250 compos-
ing each company remaining, however, un-
changed. This was efrected by giving, un-
der war footing, twelve sergeants instead
infantry company.
Senator Hawley said to-day that it was
the intention to get through Congress as
speedily as possible the foregoing BILL This
bill, he said, carried a small appropriation,
and, therefore, would pass the House in ad-
vance of action by the Senate. He sup
posed that Mr.. Hull, who introduced the bill
in the House, and who is chairman 'of the
military committee, would get a report on
1t very soon and secure action by the
House, but he did not know whether it
would be treated as an emergency measure
or be acted on more deliberately The gen.
eral desire was to secure the legislation as
soon as possible, and the Senate, he
thought, would act very promptly after the
House had passed the bill.
| By request of Secretary Long, the issue
| as to the enactment into law of the naval
personnel bill will not be precipitated until
| the naval appropriation bill is passed by the
| House. This change of view of the admin
| istration was communicated to the House
| committee on naval affairs to-day by AS
sistant Secretary of the Navy Roosevelt,
who appeared before the committee at the
request of Secretary Long. Secretary
Roosevelt went to the Capitol with the ex-
press purpose, under Secretary Longs di-
| ISCllOu, W urge lIlo incorporation or the en-
| tire personnel bill in the appropriation BILL
He had a brief interview with Chairman
Boutelle, and previous to Mr.. Roosevelt's
| appearance before the committee the two
had talk with Speaker Reed that lasted
an hour and a half. The speaker informed
| them that the bill, as an amendment, would
| be subject to a point of order and after
some further discussion as to securing a
rule later on, Mr.. Roosevelt and Mr.. Bou-
telle returned to the committee, where the
latter advised against putting any portion
of the personnel bill in the appropriation
MEASURE
CHANGES PROPOSED.
Some days ago Secretary Long, CAPTAIN
| Crowninshield and some of the other naval
chiefs had hearing before the committee.
In which the secretary stated he would be
glad to have the entire personnel
bill put in as part of the appropriation bill
Failing that, there were certain features
Of that measure for which the necessity is
| great, which he wanted inserted now. He
subsequently submitted to the committee a
formal provision containing the items
deemed necessary at this time, and which
he had verbally recommended. These were
| to provide on the appropriation bill for au-
| thority for the following: Omission of two
years cruising, comprising a third of the
course of training of the naval cadets. at
Annapolis, and allowing cadets graduating