New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-04-02
DEBATE ON THE NAVAL BILL
A LIVELY DISCUSSION on THE RELATIVE Mf-Rl Is
OF rORPEr-o-BOATs AND BATTLE~sHIPs.


DEBATE ON THE NAVAL BILL.
LIVELY DISCUSSION on THE RELATIVE MERITS
OF TORPEDO BOATS AND BATTLE-SHlPs.
washington. April Packed galleries are the
,.rar accompaniment OF the sessions OF the House
g., .hsse exciting DAYS and to-day hour before
tho session opened every inch Of available space
was taken. and hundreds besieged the doors unable
20 gain admission.
Mr. Boutele chairman Of the Naval Committee.
desired 10 go ahead with the Naval Appropriauon
BIZ DESPITE the fact that under The rules this was
or,vs,e bin day He explained briefly the urgent
necessity OF getting the bill through at once
A very significant incident occurred while an at
tempt was being made TO effect an arrangement 20
postpone private bill day until Tuesday The
speaker seemed 10 hesitate about asking the oon-
sent OF the House whereupon Mr.. Bromwen tRep.
Ohio, asked II Tuesday set apart for private
bills whether u would interfere with repor, from
tn Foreign Affairs Committee
~. certainly would" replied the Speaker.
promptly
Then 7 object" shouted Mr. Bromwel
He afterward withdrew HIS objection with me
understanding that Tuesday should be private bill
day provided tho Foreign Affairs committees haa
no report 10 make 70 the House.
The Naval bill then taken up.
Mr.. King Dem. Utah made a point Of order
against the provision for new oattle-shlps ana 10Y
podo-boats. II was overruled by the Chair
roRPEDo-BoATs INSTEAD OF BATTLE-sIuPs
Mr. Cannon chairman OF the Appropriations
Committee offered substitute FOR the paragraph
in the bill providing for three battleshiis. six tor
pedo-boats and six torpedo-boat destroyers. TIC
substitute provided FOR one battle-ship 20 coS'
g. oo 90 exclusive OF armament. twelve torpedo
,na. 6es.rovers and twelve torpedo-boats, 70 cost
not exceeding 81 10000 Mr. Cannon supported the
amendment In A brief speech. arguing that In case
Of necessity the torpedo boats and the torpeco-ooat
destroyers would be much more valuable than the
bat,lo-ships. because they would be quickly built
How long does # require 70 build battle-ship?
asked Mr.. Dockery.
Three years"
How long 20 construct torpedo-boats7"
Under stress. utilizing the shipyards Of tho
country from three eight months"
NJ Cannon appealed 70 members with cool heads
and without passion 70 act wise men should act
What objection" asked Mr. Norton Dern--
Onto have you 20 leaving the three battle-ships
IN the bill and Increasing the number Of torpedo
boat. 70 the number provided In this amendment?
Tremendous applause in the galleries.
OPINION THAT WAR rs NEAR.
Mos. gentlemen believe" said Mr.. Cannon. that
within 2 week viii be at war with one or the
countries Of the earth That will mean additional
taxation and authorizations 70 borrow Sonn""
II means that these burdens shall be put upon the
people Let double taxation. II necessary but
le- us not author.ze single dollar that II not
necessary 70 meet the emergency Just in 'front.' Of
before these
the war viii be over. and fear these battle-sh!ps
VIII be obsolete" applause on the hoor)
NJ. Bouteie in spirited reply declared that the
history Of naval warfare showed that the great
naval battles Of the world had been won by the
ships z The baftle-line
Nj H.iborn Rep. CALI. a member Of the Naval
Committee. argued earnestly IN favor OF authoriz-
ing tho permanent Increase 20 the batte-line pro-
vided a the bill
M Cummings Dem. Y y. declared that the
value % the oattle-shiDs had been demonstrated
az the battle o. he Yaloo and that the subsequent
action % Japan and China ordering batte-ships.
not 20 speak Of Tho fact that Germany, France.
England and Russia building immense ships
Of ne heavy hghtine ,ype was conclusive proof OF
their value
FOR MORE TORPEDO-BOATS.
Mr. Pearce rep Mo- offered an amendment 70
Increase he number Of torpedo boats and torpedo
boat-cestroyers authorized By the bill TO twelve
each and % Increase tho appropriation from 500
o. 10 100000 He quoted high naval officer ~
stating tha, these torpedo craft were absolutely
essential 20 the protection OF the battie-ships OK
the Navy It little short of criminal. no con
tended. 10 subject the American fleet 10 danger
from torpedo-boats.
Mr. Boutele said the committee was perfectly
willing TO accept the Pcarce amendment. but ne
pointed out that under the emergency appropria~
ton the Administration was buying AMI building
torpedo and other boats Of the mosquito neet for
the protection o. the big lighting ships.
The debate drifcd into discussion OF the respec-
tive merits Of battle-ships and torpedo craft Mr..
Dockery Dem Mo- strongly opposed the Pearcc
amendment. He said that Congress IN tho present
emergency should vote every dollar the Depart
rnent asked. but here was q proposition Endorsed
neither by tho Department nor b. the committee.
II was important he said. that e-honored Gus
toms be observed. and that members should not IN
An outburst Of enthusiasm vote away money that
partook more % the nature OF an assault upon the
Treasury than an assault upon Spain.
The Pearce amendment was adopied-l5' 10 -.
NJ Foote. Of Ncw-York. offered an Amendment
10 add two armored cruisers. 10 cost, exclusive %
armament. not 10 exceed 100000. 20 the provision
Tor new ships While he advocating iho
amendment he became involved IN war Of words
with Mr. Cannon. in which strong language was
used u lost-s) 20 60
BAD TEMPER DISPLAYED
Ar Steele (Rep.. Ind. moved TO decrease the
number OF battle ships from three 20 two. Much
PAD temper was displayed the debate proceeded
Mr. BOutee. after Mr.. Steele had Withdrawn a
motion 20 close debate said: Il did not know but
inc gentleman had Withdrawn my BILL uaugh-
'erJ i think every member this floor, re-
p'ien air. Steele. has been impressed since the
ueOa'e began with the idea that the bill would
.,@'e Jared bette. ~ II had been Withdrawn from
the hands OF the gentleman from Maine" GAush-
Ter and APPLAUSE
~. ~ Almond Dem. MOI at this Juncture GOT
ooof tor . speech that attracted much atten-