The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-03-12
TO INCREASE THE NAVY.
House Committee Provides for Three
New Battle Ships.

House Committee Provides for Three
New Battle Ships.
WASHINGTON, March n.-Three new
battle ships of the stanchest type afioat
were authorized by the House committee on
naval affairs to-day, and provision for
their construction was inserted in the naval
appropriation bill. At the same time the
committee agreed on a maximum price of
$4O0 per ton for armor plate for our vessels.
increased the force of naval marines by 473
men and put matters in fair shape for a
decision tomorrow on the location of dry
docks, probably four in number, capable of
accommodating the largest-sized war YES
sels
The committee was in session practically
all day and before the decision on the in
crease of ships was reached there was a
long and interesting discussion. Representa-
tive Tate Dem., GAP, while favoring an
increase believed that two vessels would
be ample and that further expenditure be-
yond the point of necessity should be
avoided. Representative Loudenslager, of
New Jersey, protested that if TIE strength
of the navy was to be increased at all it
should be to the extent of three new ves-
sells, built and armed to meet any vessel
afoat. Representative Hawley, of Texas,
moved that a cruiser be substituted for one
of the battle ships, but subsequently with
drew the motion. When the vote was taken
there was but one dissenting voice; Mr..
Tate insisted that two battle ships would
be sufficient to meet present needs.
The new war ships provided for will be of
the finest pattern. It will be two years,
doubtless, before they can be placed in COM
mission. One of them, the committee de-
cided, should be after the name Of the i'll
fated Maine. The appropriation for their
construction was not fixed, being referred
to the subcommittee on appropriations,
which will report to the full committee to-
morrow The cost, it is expected, will be
about $5,0OO00O each, though for the fiscal
year covered by the bill the amount of ex-
penditure may not exceed two millions
each. An important question was raised as
to whether the expenditures for the new
ships should be betrayed out of the 50,OOO-
900 emergency bill, but this subject was
passed over.
The committee also agreed on provision
authorizing the secretary Of the navy to
purchase armor plate by contract or other
wise at a cost of not exceeding $4OO per
ton. This was agreed to, however, only on
the express proviso that this item should
include the nickel used in the armor for
which a large outside percentage hereto
fore has been paid by the governmnt. This
limit of armor contract price has been
generally expressed and with the excep-
tion of the insertion of the proviso as to
nickel met with little opposition in the dis
cusson.
One of the most important features OF
the work on the bill was an agreement on
an appropriation of $135,OOO for Quitting,
rationing and uniforming 47S additional
marines. This increase in the naval force
was made the subject of special and
urgent request sent to the House after the
submission Of the regular recommendations.
The question of establishment of new
dry docks went over for action tomorrow.
1t was thoroughly discussed to-day and the
outlook is that four new docks would be au-
thorized, two on the Atlantic coast and
one on the Pacific and another on the gulf.
If the present expectations are material
lized tomorrow these docks will be author
lied to be constructed at Boston. Mass,
Algiers, New Orleans, Mare island, Cali
fornia, and League island, Philadelphia.
With the amounts to be paid for dry docks
and for armor plate in the aggregate not
vet determined the bill as it stands carries
in all something like s36.00O,0O0. which, how
ever, will be largely augmented by the other
items Rapid progress has been made with
the bill and it is likely that it will be in
shape to report to the House Monday or
Tuesday.