The Portland daily press., 1898-03-28

docks and battleships. He said he was
willing, as he thought every other mem
her of the House was, to be liberal in
voting all the money necessary for the
naval establishment. With reference to
dry docks, there were, he said, four docks
in the United States which would accom-
modate battleships, at New York, Port
Royal, Hudder's Point, CAL, and Puget
Sound. For three years to come, Il q
battleship was locked 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 1T would
cost $4,000 to deepen 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.
He read letter from shipbuilding firm
at Newport News saying that the firm
was about to build dock there, LAO feet
long and go feet wide, capable of docking
the two largest battleships The dock
would be completed in twelve months.
Here was the easiest quickest and surest
relief if a reason of emergency arose and
it would not cost the government dollar.
Personally he disclaimed any interest in
locality. But he begged the gentlemen
to remember that dry dock necessarily
meant a naval yaru and because he be-
|
naval stations he gave notice that he
would make point of order against the
proposed steel dry dock at Algiers, La. ,
and also against the investigation of the
desirability of locating dock at Calves
ton, Tex. He was opposed, he declared.
to any attempt to fcist upon the House,
under the cry of emergency, new work
which could not stand on its merits.
When he touched the increases of the
navy he said that the battleships could be
placed in commission in three or six
months. The small torpedo boats might
on the other hand, be completed before
the war,
IF WARIT WAS TO BE,
was over.
Mr. Boutelle, said he would vote for an
increase in the number of torpedo boats.
Mr.. Cannon might suggest.
81 suggest then that you strike out two
of the battleships and insert the equiva.
lent in small boats. (Applause.)
''Strike down the fighting line and in
crease the mosquito fleet" observed Mr..
Boutelle, amid laughter.
Mr.. Cannon said he realized that it was
a thankless job while the patriotic heart
thing labelled National Defence" But
he had duty to perform and he would
discharge it. The utility Of the modern
battleship had not been demonstrated
He had been greatly interested in the dis
cussion of the respective merits of the ex-
pensive battleships and the relatively in
expensive monitor. He would like to see
he voted to expend nearly SIS, 1000. 600
more. (Applause. 1t was much better
at this time to build or buy small torpedo
boats which would be in service in three
or six months. Mr.. Boutelle interrupted
to declare that it was our niggardIy policy
with regard to the navy which today
forced us to ransack Europe to find yes
sells with which so meet the aggressor.
eff we are going to fight the world we
must meet the equipment of the world
Ferry boats AID tug boats will not per-
form the service they did in 1876" Cap
plause.)
Mr.. Hilborn, Republican of California,
q member of the naval committee called
attention to the fact we had secured the
earth but not battleshiD in the world
was for sale.
Mr.. Cannon asked Mr.. Boutelle to say
frankly whether he, personally, believed
the battleships should be authorized and
the latter created great outburst of en-
thusiasm in the galleries by declaring
that if he had bis way he would authorize
six batrleships instead of three.
Mr.. Cannon said he had little hope that
his amendment would carry. The mem
bers of the House should be ready to
vote every dollar necessary but this was
not the time for recklessness. He appealed
to the members to meet the situation
with loyal hearts and cool heads. Cap
plause.)
Mr.. Dayton expressed his surprise that
the Republican leader who had come be-
fore the House with the energy appropri-
atoms should now seek to thwart policy
that would make every American proud
of his flag. (Applause.)
Mr.. Robbins, Republican of Pennsyl-
vania, moved to strike out the provision
for dry dock at Portsmouth. The
amendment was lost 64-104 as WAS that of
Mr. Cannon 78167.
Then at O'Clock the House adjourned.