The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-04-02

washington, April Long before tnt
house convened, every inch of available
space in the galleries was taken and
hundreds besieged the doors unable tC
gain admission.
Mr.. Boutelle, chairman of the nava
committee, desired TO go ahead with
the naval appropriation bill, despite the
fact that under the rules this was pri-
vate bill day. He explained briefly the
urgent necessity of getting the bill
through at once. A very significant
incident occurred while an attempt was
being made to effect an arrangement
to postpone private bill day until Tues
day
The speaker himself seemed to hest
tate about asking the consent of the
house, whereupon Mr.. Bromwell (Rep.,
o. asked if Tuesday was set apart for
private bills, whether it would inter
fere with report from the foreign af-
fairs committee.
1T certainly would" replied the
speaker promptly.
Then 1 object" shouted Mr.. Brom-
WELL
Subsequently he withdrew his objec-
ton with the understanding that Tues
day should be private bill day, pro-
vided the foreign affairs committee had
no report to make to the house. The
naval bill was then taken up.
Mr.. King Oem., Utah) made a. point
of order against the provision for new
battleships and torpedo boats. 1t was
overruled by the chair.
ONE BATTLESHIP ONLY.
Mr.. Cannon, chairman of the appro-
priations committee, Offered a sub tute
for the paragraph in the bill provid-
ing for three battleships, six torpedo
boats and six torpedo boat destrOyers.
The substitute provided for one bat
tleship to cost S3,000000, exclusive of
armament; II torpedo boat destroyers
and u torpedo boats, to cost not ex-
ceeding S4,6O0,o00.
Mr.. Cannon supported the amendment
in a brief speech, arguing that in case
of necessity the torpedo boats and the
torpedo 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.. Doekery.
Three years"
How long to construct torpedo
boats?"
Under stress. utilizing the ship
yards of the whole country, from three
to eight months"
Mr.. Cannon appealed to members
without passion to act as wise men did
act.
QUESTION AND ANSWER.
What objection" asked Mr.. Morton
Oem.. o., have you to leaving the
battleships in the bill and increasing
the number of torpedo boats TO the
provided in this amendments
tremendous applause in the galleries)
Most gentlemen believe" said Mr..
Cannon, that within a week we will
be at war with one of the countries
of the earth. That will mean addi-
tional taxation and authorizations to
borrow $500 900, 900. 1t means that these
burdens shall be put upon the people.
Let us double taxation, if necessary,
but let us not authorize a single dol
lar that is not necessary to meet the
Just in front of US. Long
before these battleships can be
launched the war will be over, and l
fear these battleships will be obsolete"
applause on the fioor)
Mr.. Boutelle in a spirited reply. de-
clared that the history of naval war
fare showed that the great naval bat
ships of the battle line
Mr.. Hilboro (Rep Cal) member of
the naval committee, argued earnestly
in favor of authorizing the permanent
increase to the battleship line provided
in the bill.
Mr.. Cummings Dem. n. W declared
that the value of the battleship had
been demonstrated at the battle of the
Yalu and with subsequent actions of
Japan and China to justify us in or
dering battleships. LOT to speak of the
fact that Germany! France. England
and Russia were building immense
ships of the heavy fighting type. All
this was conclusive of their value.
TORPEDO BOAT INCREASE.
Mr.. Pearce CRep. MOI offered an
amendment to increase the number of
torpedo boats and torpedo boat destroy
ers authorized by the bill to u each
and to increase the appropriation from
81 300 900 to S4,0000 coo. He quoted
high naval officer as stating that these
torpedo craft were absolutely neces-
sary to the protection of the battle
ships of the navy. 1t was little short
Of criminal, he cOntended, to subject
fleets to dangers from a torpedo boat.
Mr. Boutelle said the committee was
perfectly willing to accept the Pearce
but he pointed out that
under the emergency appropriation the
administration was buying and build
ing torpedo and other boats of the
lighting ships.
The debate drifted into a discussion
If the respective merits of battleships
and torpedo craft
Mr.. Dockery (Dem. MOI strongly op-
posed the Pearce amendment. He said
hat congress, in the present emer-
gency should vote every dollar the de-
oartment asked, but here was a propo-
sition endorsed neither by the depart
nent nor the committee. 1t was i'm
,ortant, ne said, that time-honored Gus
.oms be observed and that members
should not. in an outburst of enthusi-
lsm, vote away money that partook
more of the nature of an assault upon
he treasury than an assault upon
Spain.
The Pearce amendment WIS
BAD TEMPER.
Mr.. Foote (Rep N. W then offered
IN amendment to add two armored