The sun., 1898-03-10
THE EMERGENCY FUND.
A Part May Bo Uscd In tho Purchase but Net
In the BuildinE or warships.

n Pnrt Way b0 Uheo IN thO hurCnneo nut Hot
In the BuiidinE or WaFships.
WASHINGTON. March 9.-No decision has been
reached as to how the money provided by Con-
gross for national defence shall be allotted. The
President. who has entire discretion in the
matter prefers to wait for more definite evi.
dence that hostilities cannot be avoided
before he undertakes to arrange what
shall bo done with the appropriation.
President Orcutt of the Newport News
Ship Building and Dry Dock Company. whero
the battleships Kearsarge, Kentucky, and Hi.
nois are under construction, had an interview
with Secretary Long to-day on the subject OF
launching the two hrst-named vessels on the
oath inst. He also wanted to learn whether
the department contemplated devoting any
of the large sum now available for defence pur-
poses to the construction OF battleships or other
large type OF war vessels. Irving c. Scott. Presi.
dent of the Union Iron Works, which is build
ing the Wisconsin. is equally anxious to find
out what the department intends doing In that
direction.
Mr.. Scott has offered to deliver to the Govern
ment within one year q reproduction Of the
monitor Monterey, now on the Pacific station,
and to duplicate the Puritan within eighteen
months. He stands ready also to undertake
the prompt delivery of two battleships, II the
Government desires them. Mr.. Orcutt informed
the Secretary that he could build three battle
ships as quickly one, and that eighteen
months would be all the time he would require
il the inspection system by naval officers was
made less severe. The refnements Of the in.
spection to parts of the ship not essential In tho
construction Of irstclass vessel could be aban-
doned, he said. in the interest of quick work. and
II the department less exacting in the quail
ty of work demanded on certain parts. battle
ships could be completed well within two
years. MIR. Orcutt has no expectation, however.
as the result OF his talk with Mr.. Long, that the
department intends to expend for battleships AM
of the large sum now available. The appropria-
tion is regarded by the Secretary as intended for
emergency purposes. and therefore he does not
believe he would be authorized in contract
ing for vessels, which, under no possibility,
could become servIceable under two years.
II any of the money is devoted to increas-
ing the squadrons by ships that may be pur-
chased abroad. the department will probably
spend it for torpedo boats. type of vessel that
can be speedily built, and of which there Is
comparatively few in the American navy. The
Secretary realizes that to build any other class
requires year or two. and it was not intended
by Congress that any OF the money for national
defence should be used upon contracts that
could not be executed before the expiration
of the time when the appropriation ceases to be
available.
Mr.. Orcutt thinks that the present weakness
of the navy is in the direction of lack Of guns
and ammunition. If it has the ordnance, he
says. something afioat can always be utilized
as q gun platform. To-day three representa-
tives of the Bethlehem Steel Company offer to
begin tho manufacture of any number of guns.
up to 13inch calibre. that the navy may require.
The plant OF the firm WAS said to be capable of
quick work, especially in making the four.
fve. and six inch types of guns required
for auxiliary cruisers. or guns of these cali
bres the navy has something over a hundred on
hand. but these would scarcely equip the ships
of the American limo and few other large
merchant vessels that would be impressed into
service, and none would be left to replace
ordnance that might be injured on ships now In
commission.
Two merchant ships. well suited for a repair
vessel and an ambulance ship. have been picked
out and an estimate made OF the time and cost
to place them in commission. The medical men
would have charge of the latter and the former
would accompany the fleet to render aid to any
ali In becoming disabled in action