New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-03-12
CASHMERE BOUQUET
and
WORKS.
THREE MORE BATTLE-SHIPS
AUTHORIZED BY THE HOUSE COMMITTEE
ON NAVAL AFFAIRS.

THEY ARE INFECTED TO COST ABOUT 5000. 600
EACH AND ONE IS TO BE NAMED THE
MA1NE-PRIcE OF ARMoR FIXED AT
| 500 A roN-MoEE MARINES
PROVIDED FOR
| wssb,rgton March 11.-Three new battle
sh,ns of the stanchest type a1oat were author
! ized nv the House Committee on Naval affairs
to-day. and q provision for their construction
was inserted In the Naval Appropriation Dill Al
the same time the committee agreed on maxi
mum price Of $500 ton for armor plate IN
creased the force Of marines by Alb men, ana
put matters in fair shape for decision to-fnor-
| row on the location of drydocks. probably four
| in number. capable Of accommodating the larg-
est sized vessels
The committee was In session practically all
| day and before the decision on the increase OF
| ships was reached there was a long and inter-
esting discussion. Representative Tate or "eor-
gia while favoring an increase, bele'eo 'na'
two vessels would be ample. and that fur'her
expenditure beyond the point OF necessity should
be avoided.
REPRESENTATIVE Loudenslager. Of New-Jersey,
protested that II the Strength Of the Navy was
to be increased at all. it should be to the extent
of three new vessels built and armed to meet
any vessel afoat.
Representative Hawley, Of Texas moved that
a cruiser be substituted for one Of the battle
ships. but subsequently withdrew the motion
When the vote was taken there was only one
dissenting voice Mr.. Tate insisted that two
battle-ships would be sufficient to meet present
needs.
ONE TO BE NAMED THE MAINE
The new warships provided for will he Of the
finest pattern. 1t will be two years. doubtless
before they can be placed in commission One
OF them the committee decided. should bear the
name Of the Inflated Maine. The appropriation
for their construction was not fixed. being re-
ferred TO the sub committee appropriations,
which will report 20 the full committee to-mor-
row. The cost. 1t is expected. will be about
S. 600 600 each though for the fiscal year Gov
cred In the bill the amount OF expenditure may
not exceed$2 100000 each. An important question
was raised as 10 whether the expenditure for
the new battle-ships should be betrayed out of
the SJo00oO00 emergency appropriation but
this subject was passed over
The committee also agreed on provision au-
thorlzng the Secretary Of the Navy to purchase
armor plate by contract or otherwise at cost
Of not exceeding $500 ton This was agreed
to- however, only on the express proviso that this
item should include the nickel used In the armor,
for which large outside percentage heretofore
has been paid by the Government. This limit
Of arr1or contract price had been generally eX-
tected and with the exception OF the insertion
OF the proviso as 10 nicke. met with little oppo-
s:tion in the discussion.
One Of the most important features OF the
work on the bill was an agreement on an appro-
priation of $3.50 900 for outfittirg ratoninS and
uniforming 4T3 additional marines.
This increase in the naval force was made the
subject OF a special and urgent request sent TO
the House after the submission Of the regular
recommenda lions.
FOUR NEW DRYDOCKS LIKELY.
The question Of establishment Of new drydocks
went over for action tomorrow. II was thor
oughy discussed to-day. and the outlook is that
four new docks Will be authorized two on the
Atlantic coast, the Pacific and another
on the Gulf If the present expectations are
realized to- morrow. these docks will be author
tied 10 he constructed at Boston, Agers. La.
Mare Island. Cal, and League Island
With the amounts to be paid Tor drydocks ana
for armor plate in the aggregate not yet deter
mined the bill as 1t stands carries in all some
thing like SIG. 000.0G0. which. however, Will he
largely augmented by the other items. Rapid
progress has been made with the bill, and 1t
probably will be in shape to report 10 the House
Monday or Tuesday.