New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-03-11
THE FERN AT KEY WEST.


CENTRADos.
Key West Fla. March 10.-The United states
dispatch boat Fern, which arrived here TO-DAY
From, Havana brought the Names sliVer"ale
and sixty rifles recovered from the wreck
Mr. Biss5ll. stenographer OF the Court OF IL
oujrv. WAS also on board Both the official
s,enographers have now LETT the court al" ~
has only a temporary clerk. This leads many
here TO think that It's work Is practically done,
and that it will return to Key West by or before
Saturday.
The Fern coaled, and the provisions for the
starving Cuhens were then put on board. She is
scheduled to sail for Matanzas tomorrow.
The Marblehead will go from the Tor'ugas. to
which point she sailed this morning 10 distribute
ammunition to the fleet, to Tampa. where II Is
reported she will take on additional ammuni-
tlon.
The British cruiser Cordelia coaed to-day.
The United States ba,tle-sh2 Iowa has sailed
for the Tortugas Islands.
The torpedo-b boat Porter has also sailed for the
Tortugas with mail for the feet.
THE NAVAL BILL NEARLY COMPLETED.
IT WILL CARRY ABOUT ssoooO,ooo EXCLUSIVE OF
PROVISIONS FOR NEW SHIPS ARMoR
AND DRYDOCKs.
Washington. March 1o-The Naval Appropriation
bill has been practically completed by the House
Committee on Naval Affairs except as to the ques-
tons Of increase of the Navy drydocks and arnlor-
plate Chairman Boutelle said tonight that nc
might report the bill to the House by SATURDAY
and ~ not # will go in early next week There
have been few changes from the estimates ana
the bill Will carry in the neighborhood OF SooV""o
aside from vessels, drydocks ana armor' me
Increases allowed are such as meet the sr'oua'
DEVELOPMENT Of the service. The general item Io'
construction and repair aggregates 100000 and Is
Identical with the estimates. This includes ABOUT
$4,000 a material increase for improved machihery
at the shors The amount also is exclusive OF the
specnc appropriations for the various construction
plants etc. There is also horizontal approprla-
ton proposed of $4,000 10 each Of the yards eN-
cept TO the Puget Sound station In lieu OF Inc gen
eraI estimate of $4,000. The estimates LOT ',e
Naval Academy at Annapolis go through practical
ly unchanged authorizing among other Things the
much needed repair of the laundry plant.
There was long discussion In the commute
to-day over the additional land wanted for t the
called to some legal points involved in the cues
ton but appropriation of $40 500 dof c Ing
poses finally allowed subject 10 the acquisition
Of a Quit claim for the MYERS tract. ,... ao,o
A hearing was given to the Massachuse,ts go Gvly
lowering Mccall Moody and simpkins who wffe
appointed at Joint meeting OF the 20 nresent
an appropriation of about $.%""n Tor a o.! uo' n n
equipped TO accommodate the largest vesses 10 o,
erected ct Boston although they cOntended IN |
they would also favor at Portsmouth or , ~ u
terry Point after one had been built at boston dneX
pointed out that in case OF war the NeW-hnsiah
coast would be attacked. that the wealth ana otner
attractions of that section would invite foreign m
vasion and that there was no drydock on the
coast that would accommodate large battIe-ship
They predicted that in case of war a battle would
be fought off Cape Cod. and that there would be
no place 10 dock an injured vessel. They cited the
depih of the harbor q feet. and proposed enlarge
mant OF the width Of the channel at Boston and
urged that the need Of n dock at Boston was I'M
perative The committee deferred action and VIII
probably give other hearings.
With this bin reported TO the House. the General
Deficiency bill alone remains for committee action.
Work on that will begin In day or two. although
It's submission to the House will he deferred until
the Naval and Post Office bills have been pract-
caly disposed OF.