The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-02-25
The Navy Bill.

Once more the House has passed a lib
eral bill for the maintenance and increase
Of the navy. AS originally framed, it car
ried more than $44, Ooo, 1000; it is much
larger than n similar bill of the last
thirty years, except the one Of last year,
which wss greatly increased over the esti-
mates on account of the hostilities with
Spain.
TO begin with, this bill gives us the great
kestamount Of new ship construction, wheth-
er taking into account tonnage or cost, that
has ever been authorized in one measure.
It provides for twelve new vessels, OF
which three are battleships of about
1850 tons displacement each; three
are armored cruisers Of about IL, 900 tons
each, and the remainder are 2,5Oo-ton pro-
itected cruisers. The total tonnage Is e1,-
500, and the cost nearly $50, 900, 900, ex-
l~clusive Of armor and armament, which will
bring 1t up to over SAP, 900 900. The ex-
Spense Is distributed through the years in
which they are under construction, and in
the pending bill appropriations are made on
ships begun long ago. The total outlay
sfeported from the committee for the in
crease of the navy was about SO, 900, 900
for hulls and machinery, 100000 for
armor and armament, and 100000 for
Equipment, making about $40, 200, 900.
The next great increase is in the enlisted
strength OF the navy. Secretary LONG
asked for a total Of %, 500 men and boys,
bus adding 10, 800 men to the force estab-
shed just before the war with Spain, and
lore than doubling the basis of two or
Alrce years ago. The House Naval CON-
lnaittoa connadnd tbic ipcraaca oltho,,0b a.
made the permanent peace basis nearly
equal to last years war force of a little over
$4,000, including the naval reserves. The
sommittee found ample justification for
fts action in the increased number of YES
sells we shall hereafter keep in commission
snd in q provision for sudden needs.
The permanent increase Of cost from this
source In maintaining the navy will be
over 100000 a year, and since the
Bending personnel bill, now in conference.
With every prospect OF an agreement on
will cost about $4,000, 900 more a
gear, the total addition to the expenses
II the personnel will amount to over
100000 a year. 1t should be noted that
he personnel bill adds more than 5000
Ulcers and men to the Marine Corps, be-
fdes those added by the other bill to the
avy proper.
"A third noticeable increase is in the cost
armor. Heretofore the maximum price
flowed has been $4oo a ton, but hereafter
is to be $445. The difference is due
b o change from the Harvey hard
ming process to the Krupp. The man
3facturers considered tho latter 20
nr cent. better than the Harvey, and
ssked TO have this difference allowed for in
be price, thus making the cost $50 in
ttead Of $4oo a ton. with $40 for the
3oyaity to KRUPP, making S545 per ton.
The House, however, by a very great ma
ority, concluded that 1t would be enough to
Jay the additional outlay Of $40 per ton for
he royalty on the process which made the
Armor better than the Harvey. 1t remains
% be- seen whether the desired armor can
e got for the price.
For the Ordnance Bureau are the appro-
1fiations OF 81 900, 900 for smokeless pow
Ter; $780, 900 for a reserve supply o. ammu-
5tion; $25o,o0 for reserve guns for auxil-
sry cruisers that may be called into SER
Ice In another war, and $eoO,o0 for a
avail magazine In New York barber. The
ordnance Bureau, in fact. gets over
5000, 900, as also does the Bureau OF
construction and Repair. The Bureau Of
ards and Docks surpasses them both.
nth the appropriation OF over 81, SOC, 900,
fhich indicates the high Importance
laced on the naval stations and on pro-
idlng new dry docks.
a most p~raiseworthy amendment was
at which added to the bill the Senate's
easure for reviving the grade of Admiral
that DEWEY may be promoted to 1t. 1t
ould nave been creditable to tho Naval
ommittee to have initiated this leglsla-
on In the House, but Mr.. MOODY carries
1.-THE honor Of proposing the amendment.
The naEt vaar GhaWs tho ovGrVhGlmin6