Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1899-02-16
PROVISIONS MADE BY THE NAVAL
APPROPRIATION hill.
ADDITIONS TO NATIONS NAVY
AUTHORIZED IS OF
THE HIGHEST CLASS.
Three BattIeships, Three Armorcd
Cruisers and Six Protected Cruisers
Pacific Coast Will Get Two
.- Of Them-Surveys of New
Land Acquisitions.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 15.-The text Of the
naval appropriation bill became available
to-day The provision as to new ships is
as follows
THAT for the purpose OF further increas-
ing the naval establishment Of the United
States, the president is hereby authorized
to have constructed by contract three sea-
going coast line battleships carrying the
heaviest armor and most powerful ord
nance for vessels of their class upon a
trial displacement of 1850 tons, to be
sheathed and coppered. and to have the
highest practicable speed and great radius
of action, and to cost, exclusive Of .armor
and armament, not exceeding $s,6O0,00O;
and three armored cruisers Of about 120O0
tons trial displacement, carrying the heav-
lest armor and most powerful ordnance for
vessels of their class. to be sheathed and
coppered. and to have the highest practi-
cable speed and great radius of action, and
to cost. exclusive or armor and armament,
not exceeding 100000 each: six protected
cruisers of about $500 tons trial displace-
ment, to be sheathed and coppered, and to
have the highest speed compatible with
good cruising qualities, great, radius OF
action and to carry the most power ord
nance suited to vessels of their class, and
to cost. exclusive of armament, not ex-
ceeding Sl,14l,SOO; and not more than two
of said battleships, and not more than two
of said armored cruisers, and not moro
than two of said protected cruisers shall
be built in one yard or by one contracting
narty. and the contracts for the construc-
ton of each of said vessels shall be award
ed by the secretary OF the navy to the
lowest responsible bidder, having in view
the best results and most expeditions de-
livery"
Provision is also made that "one and
not more than one of the aforesaid battle
ships, and one and not more than one OF
the aforesaid armored cruisers shall be
built on or near the coast of the Pacific
ocean or in the waters connecting there
with"
This last provision has condition that
the Pacific coast construction shall not ex-
ceed 4 per cent above the cost elsewhere.
the construction elsewhere. Another pro-
vision Is that bidders must have adequate
plants in operation. -
The provision as to armor and armament
is as follows:
Toward the armament and arrnor Of do
nestle manufacture for the vessels au-
thorized by the act of July rs. 1884, OF the
vessels authorized under the act Of March
3, 1895; of those authorized by the act OF
June 10, 1886; of those authorized by the
act Of March 8. 1873; Of those authorized by
act of May 4. 1898. and of those authorized
by this act. 100000. In all future con-
tracts for. armor for any Of the vessels
above mentioned. the secretary Of war is
hereby authorized and directed to procure
armor of the best obtainable quality at an
average cost not exceeding $40 ton OF
2.240 pounds including all royalties"
The bill contains the following authorize
ton:
1.-THE secretary Of the navy Is hereby au-
thorized to pay to such officers as were ap-
pointed for temporary service in the navy
during the late war with Spain, and who
entered upon the performance of duty prior
to the date on which they accepted their
commissions and executed oaths Of office.
the pay of their grades for the interval
during which they were SO employed, such
payments to De MADE from the appropr1a-
tion, pay of the navy"
Among the naval surveys authorized are
those 'for surveys Of the imperfectly
known parts of the coasts and harbors of
the Philippine archipelago and the islands
of Cuba and Porto Rico, with their border
ing keys and waters and the minor outlying
islands"
The bill creates joint select COMMITTEES
of congress, three from each house, ito ex-
anime the present condition of the build
ings and grounds of the naval academy at
Annapolis, and to report to the first session
of the Fifty-sixth congress a comprehen-
sive plan for such Encouragement and re-
construction of said buildings and grounds
as they may deem expedient. together with
an estimate of the cost of the same
For this purpose the committee is au-
thoriZed to secure plans from five archi-
tects Of conspicuous ability, and to employ
engineering experts on the subject.