The Topeka state journal., 1898-04-02
S5OO,OOO, 900.
That is the Size of the Loan
Ahead
In Case of War According to
Mr.. Cannon.
WAR WITHIN A WEEK
He Predicts and Urges That
Money BE Spent
WAR WITHIN A WEEK
For Immediate Needs Rather
Than For the Future.

Washington, April 2-After an ex-
| ceedingly turbulent session of six hours,
| the house today passed the naval ap-
preparation bill and then adjourned un-
| til Monday.
The war spirit was manifested in all
| the speeches and Overrode the naval
committee itself by increasing the num-
| Der of torpedo boat destroyers to "a,
the bill as reported providing for but
H.
The amendment of Mr.. Cannon,
chairman of the appropriations commit
tee, to reduce the number of battleships
to one, was buried under an overwhelm-
ing majority. The provision relating to
@rmOr plate, which, in ordinary times
would have precipitated a debate of
several days, was disposed of in ten
minutes, a proposition to decrease the
price agreed to in the bill from $400 to
$500 per ton being drowned in a perfect
chorus of noes.
Mr.. Cannon, during the course of the
day, announced the belief of a majority
of the members, that war would be up
on US within a week, and Mr. De Arm
Ond (MO.) made a notable speech, de-
1t was our duty to strike the first blow.
Mr.. Cannon supported his amendment
in a brief speech, arguing that, in case
OF necessity, the torpedo boats and tor
pedo boat destroyers would be much
more valuable than the battleships, be-
cause they would be quickly built.
How long does it require to build a
battleShip?' asked Mr.. Dockery.
"Three years.
How long to construct torpedo
boats?''
Under stress, utilizing the ship yards
of the country, from three to eight
MONTHS
Mr.. Cannon appealed to members with
cool heads and without passion, to act
as wise men should act.
What objection asked Mr.. Norton
(Dem., o., have you to leaving the
three battleships in the bill and increas-
ing the number of torpedo boats to the
number provided in this amendment ?"
tremendous applause in the galleries.)
Most gentlemen believe" said Mr..
Cannon, that within week we will be
at war with one Of the countries of the
earth. That will mean additional tax
alton and authorization to borrow
$500. coo, 900. It means that these burdens
shall be put upon the people. Let US
double taxation, if necessary, but let us
not authorize a single dollar that is not
necessary to meet the emergency just
in front of US. Long before these battle
ships can be launched the war will be
here, and I fear these battleships will
be obsolete" applause on the hoor.)
Mr.. Boutelle, in a spirited reply, de-
clared that the history of naval warfare
showed that the great naval battles of
the world had been won by the ships of
the battle line.
Mr.. Pearce (Rep., MOI offered an
amendment to increase the number of
torpedo boats and torpedo boat destroy
erS, authorized by the bill, to IL each
and to increase the appropriation from
S2,3OO, 900 to $4,000, 900. He quoted a high
naval officer as stating that these tor
pedo craft were absolutely essential to
the protection of battleshipS of the ma
Wy. 1t was little short of criminal, he
continued, to subject fleets to dangers
from a torpedo boat
Mr.. Boutelle said the committee was
perfectly willing to accept the Pearce
amendment but he pointed out that un-
der the emergency appropriation the
administration was buying and building
torpedo and other boats of the Mos
quito fleet for the protection of our
fighting ships.