Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-03-27

quoted John Randolph's utterance deliv-
cred in the house in 1922, "aS we would not
be bullied by the British lion. SO we refuse
the house broke into cheers.
The amendment was defeated46 to 81.
Mr.. Elliott. Democrat. of South Carolina,
made a point Of order against the pro-
vision that none Of the money appropriated
for the naval station at Port Royal. 8. c.,
should be available until the United States
acquired title to the land claimed by Agnes
A. Niver, adjacent to the Port Royal dry
dock. The point of order was overruled.
Thereupon Mr.. Elliott moved to strike out
Mr.. Lentz. Democrat. of Ohio. argued
that 1t was criminal to suspend an appro-
priation for a naval station with a pro.
our doors. We had appropriated So; ooo, 900
to prepare to meet 1t. The Spanish hotilla
was approaching the country. 1T is boys
about acquiring title to land al. a great
naval station now. The naval station
should be prepared for action" (Applause)
ginia, said: 1--WE could lick six countries
like Spain in the time necessary to build
the proposed key wall at Port Royal"
The amendment was lost, l3-65.
When the paragraph providing for the
construction of four timber dry docks at
Portsmouth, N. H. Boston, Mare Island.
Cal. and League island. Pa. was received
but Mr. Cannon. chairman of the appro-
priations committee, moved to reduce the
number of timber dry docks to be author
lied to three, and to be located at such
navy yards aS the secretary OF the navy
might direct.
The findings of the Bunce board and the
recommendations of the secretary Of the
navy with regard to dry docks were dis
cussed at great length.
Mr.. Dockery, Democrat. of Missouri. said
he was willing to vote for all the docks
deemed urgently necessary" but Ports
mouth was not one of them.
discussed a
the proposed increases in the navy, dry
docks and battleships. He said he was
willing. as he thought every other member
of the house was, to be liberal in voting all
the money necessary for the naval estab-
lishment. With reference to dry docks.
there were now, he said. Iour docks in the
battleships-at New York. Port Royal.
Hudder's Point, Cal. and Puget sound.
For three years to come. If a battleship
was docked at San Francisco bay. It would
have to be at Hudder's Point. He read
from the report of the chief of engineers
to show that it would cost s3l0 900 to deep
en- the channel from San Francisco to
Mare island SO that a battleship could get
to the yard. Three docks were enough.
Let the secretary locate them. This was
no time for locality, it was the time for
efficiency.
Personally. he disclaimed any interest in
any locality. But he begged gentlemen to
remember that a dry dock necessarily
meant naval yard and. because s, he be
naval stations. he gave notice that he would
make point of order against the pro,
also against the investigation Of the de-
STABILITY Of locating dry dock at Gal
weston He was opposed. he declared. to
any attempt to foist upon the house. under
could not stand on its merits. When he
touched the increases Of the navy; he sug-
placed in commission in thirty-six months.
The small! torpedo boats might, on the
If war 1t was to be, was over.
Mr.. Boutelle said he would vote for any
increase In the number Of torpedo boats
that mghs be sbsn ;has Won strike ont
Of the battleships and insert the equivalent
in small boats" (Applause)
the aomn 1hs Nh
Boutelle, amid laughter.
Mr.. Cannon said he realized that It was
the country was stirred to criticise any
thing labeled national defense" but he
had duty to perform p1,9 and d. he would would dis dis
tleship had not been demonstrated. He
had been greatly interested in the discus
i've battleships and the relatively inexpens-
i've monitors. He would like to see these
great engines Of war tested before he voted
ter at this time to build or buy small tor
pedo boats which would be in service In
three or si1 X, months: ~
1t was our niggardly policy with regard to
the navy which to-day forced US to ran
sack Europe to find vessels with which to
meet the aggressor. IF we are going to
ment of the world. Ferryboats and tug
boats will not perform the service they
did in 1s61-65.'
Mr.. Hilborn, Republican. Of California, q
member of the naval committee, called
attention to the fact that we had secured
the earth but not battleship in the world
was for sale.
Mr.. Cannon asked Mr.. Boutelle to say
frankly whether he personally believed