Evening journal., 1898-03-16
House Committee on Naval
Affairs Votes to Build
New DTydOCkS.
TO HOLD BIG WARSHIPS.
Naval Court Of Inquiry Suddenly Sails
From Havana,
TO CONTINUE WORK AT KEY WEST
Spanish Embassador at Rome Declares
spnin's Relations with Us Are Still
Most Cordial and Deprecates
Papal Mediation For Cuba.

Papal Mediation For Cuba.
WASHINGTON, March 16.--There has
been another busy day in the war and
navy departments. Secretary Alger was
enabled to make an allotment Of funds
from the appropriation Of $4,000, 900
which will greatly facilitate the work
OF the bureaus. These bureaus had not
been able to conclude any contracts for
the procurement OF war supplies be-
cause no allotment had been made. but
yesterday afternoon tho ordnance bu
reau was given 81, 500, 900. and business
went forward with a rush. It Is true
that this sum IS already mOrtgaged un-
der provisional arrangements made |
during the past week, but with the as
surance OF more funds 10 come the |
work of the bureau is now moving rap |
idly.
The construction Of five modern dry |
docks has been agreed on by the house |
committee on naval affairs. They are |
to be located at Portsmouth, N. H.; |
Boston. League Island. near Phlladel- |
phia; Algiers, near New Orleans. and |
Mare island, near San Francisco. These |
docks. all OF which are TO be entirely |
new structures are to be Of wood, eX-
cept that at Algiers and at Portsmouth
The Indications are that the dock ut
Portsmouth will be built of stone from
near by Quarries and that at Alglers of
steel.
The decision of the committee was
the outcome OF a protracted and at
times animated discussion. The final
vote choosing the points named was z
20 3. The opponents Of the project first
contended against their construction on
general principles. and then separately
opposed the sites that we're selected.
They argued that the docks should be
located either where the approaches or
depth OF water was sufficient to admit
the ingress and egress Of the largest
battleships or where steps already have
been taken under government direction
TO put the approaches in a state OF
preparation to receive the largest YES
sells by the development Of both depth
and width of channel or that the work
on the channels should be undertaken
contemporaneously with the drydocks.
1t was agreed, however, that the
docks constructed should be capable
OF accommodating the largest class of
warsh1ps. The principal reason for the
conclusion 10 build Of wood was econ
cmy, but It was also stated that docks
so constructed might remain IN good
condition long enough for all practical
UuiUOFtH hllQ NntN ny tflG lllilt NlltlI
usefulness ceased developments In the
structural field or a change In the char
aoter OF present dock ideas might arise.
A motion to vote on the docks separate
ly was voted down by to G, and then
they were voted on as a whole and au-
thorized.
There is a strong disposition in the
committee to increase the navy, in ad-
ditlon TO the three battleships recently
authorized. by the construction Of some
of the smaller vessels Of war II was
stated last night that the committee
may authorize the building OF about ten
torpedo boats and torpedo boat destroy
ers costing In the neighborhood Of ST.
100000 for all. A movement for this in
crease viii be made at once, and Rep
resentative Bull OF Rhode Island will
submit a motion calling for the con-
struction of a number OF both of these
classes of boats, probably six. Others
of the committee are favorable 10 the
increase, and some important action Is
looked for.
Representative Dingley Of Maine.
chairman of the ways and means COM
mittee Of the house. has introduced a
joint resolution providing for the tenn
porary admission free OF duty Of naval
supplies procured abroad. 1t is as fol-
lows: Resolved. That such guns, am
munition and other naval supplies as
may be purchased abroad by this gov
ernment for the national defense prior
TO Jan. /. 1899, shall be admitted az any
port OF entry IN the United States free
OF duty" The bill win be reported i'm
mediately by the ways and means com.
mittee. 70 which Il was referred. II
was introduced at the request OF III,
administration.
Secretary Long was extremely busy
yesterday, having not only to give
good deal. Of time to the cabinet I,
which he was obliged 10 return twice
but also being obliged TO see a grea
many persons with whom the depart
ment has or expects TO have contrac
relations Among the latter was Mr.
Herreshom. the torpedo boat builde
of Bristol r. T. He turned two o
these boats over 10 the department
few days ago, and the secretary's pur
S'ose In consulting him was to learn hoy
much he could hasten the work on on
Of the boats remaining in his hands
which in ordinary times would requir
about two months 10 complete.
The secretary also spent good dea
Of time at intervals during the day 4
consulting over the long distance tele
phone with naval officers in New Yorl
and IL is believed much of this consul
tation concerned the procurement O
suitable vessels from among the aux
iliary navy for war purposes.
Mr.. Master of the Columbian Iro
works at Baltimore has notified the dc
partment that he win be able to tur
over TO Il the torpedo boat Rodger
next Saturday. The Rodgers is a boe
which smashed her. engines in the mid,
Of a trial trip about six months ag
1t was necessary almost to replace tn
engines but under the hurry order
from the navy department this hs
been done in good time. II is expecte
that the boat will be taken at once fro
Baltimore TO Norfolk
The new cruiser Amazonas, accordiI