The times., 1899-02-18
FOR A GREATER NAVY.
The House Takes Up the Naval Ap-
preparation Bill.

preparation Bill.
The Naval Appropriation bill was taken
up in Committee of the Whole House yes
terday In presenting the bill. Mr.. Bou-
telle, Chairman of the Naval Affairs Com
mittee, said that the amount called for by
the Navy Department in the regular annual
estimates as required to maintain the
naval establishment during the fiscal year
1900 was si7, ,12S, ,25l. Subsequently addi-
tional estimates were submitted. making
the aggregate of the estimates considered
by the committee $i7 ,963, ,905.
The committee had recommended in the
bill appropriations aggregating s44. .16S, ,6O5.
being decrease from the estimates of
So. 795 300, and yet exceeding by sSiS5,54
the largest appropriations in one bill ever
before reported by that committee.
The bill making appropriations for the
same objects when reported to the House
last year carried $35, 6S3 85g. During the
consideration of the bill in the House and
Senate the emergency which eliminated
in the Spanish war demanded considerable
additions to the amounts authorized for
special purposes The conferees of the two
houses finally agreed UPON $50, 09S. 1888.
The committee, he said, had carefully
considered every proposihonS before 1t in
the interest of the naval establishment
with the purpose of meeting every re-
quirement of the service. In view Of the
rapid increase of the vessels, in commits
sion and of the fact that the regular en-
listed force had for long time been in
sufficient to properly man the fleets even
on peace basis, the committee had deem
ed il eXpedient to authorize an increase of
that force to 10000 men. Recognizing the
claim of the department that the system
of training boys at stations and on board
ships had furnished the service with a su
perior class OF enlisted men and petty Of
ficers, an increase of apprentices to $500
was recommended. The necessities of the
late war developed lamentable deficiency
in the appliances of the navy yards and
stations for the repairs and reconstruction
of vessels. and in order TO cure these de-
fects unusually large appropriations were
proposed for buildings and construction
plants.
While the committee does not adopt the
entire recommendation of the Secretary OF
the Navy respecting the increase OF the
navy, they proposed to authorize sub
stantial increase of those classes OF vessels
whose efficiency was demonstrated so prac-
tically during the late war. This propos-
ed increase included three seagoing coast
line battleships. carrying the heaviest
armor and most powerful ordnance for
vessels of their class upon trial dis
placement of about 1880 tons; three
armored cruisers of about $4,000 tons trial
displacement. carrying the heaviest armor
and most powerful ordnance of vessels of
their class, and six protected cruisers OF
about $500 tons trial displacement, all of
which vessels are to have the highest prac-
ticable speed and greatest radius OF ac-
ton.
Some thirty pages of the bill were dis
posed of. the only matter rousing any
comment being the provisions for the Bos-
ton navy yard and those for the Naval
Academy
The estimates submitted by the Depart
ment embraced items amounting to several
million dollars toward the rebuilding OF
the Naval Academy at Annapolis upon a
basis involving an entire change in the To-
cation of the structures, a considerable
enlargement of the grounds by extending
the water front, and the removal of most
of the existing structures at that place.
In the absence OF any legislation author
izing or adopting any specific plan for the
reconstruction of this institution, the COM
mittee had deemed it wise. in acting upon
subject of so much Importance and in
volying a probable expenditure of from
six to ten million dollars. to authorize the
appointment of a joint select committee
of Congress to consider the whole subject,
ard. with the aid OF the most competent
professional experts whose assistance they
were authorized to employ, to report to
tie first session of the Fifty sixth Congress
comprehensive plan for the rearrange-
ment and reconstruction OF said buildings
and grounds as they may deem expedient.
together with an estimate of the cost of
the same. Pending such report all ex-
penditures under the last annual appro-
priation bill for this purpose were to be
suspended. except so far as II shall be
no IN ynIG Ialr iy do
and entered upon.
Representative NMdd of Maryland made
a point of order against this paragraph as
being new Legislation. and as knocking
out precedent legislation for the rebuilding
OF the Academy. After considerable dis
cussion, without the point being decided
by the Chair. the House adjourned