The evening times., 1899-11-21
DELAY IN NAVAL PLANS
Programme Of the Construction
Beard Not Considered.
The Difficulty Over the Price of Ar
NOR Held Responsible for the Fall
ure to Adept Recommendations for
New Crutscrs and Gun5Oats-FHr-
ther Congregational Action Needed.

The report of the Naval Board ON Con-
struction recommending TO the Navy De-
partment the adoption of building pro-
gramme embracing three armored cruisers.
three protected cruisers of the first-class.
and twelve small gunboats. has not
heen taken up for consideration by the
Department proper. II is very broad
assumption, il was said this morning, that
the programme will be adopted by the
Department because the recommendations
OF the Board on Construction are usually
followed. Those who are interested in
seeing large increase in the naval estab
lishment, and are consequently encouraged
over the comprehensive character of the
boards report, should not indulge in too
much hoping that it will be adopted in the
form of a recommendation to Congress.
There are indications that the Depart
ment. alive to the embarrassanents of the
armor controversy, may decide to disap-
prove that portion OF the boards recon-
mendations relating to the three gigantic
armored cruisers. which the board desires
to be the best in the world. Some basis for
the feeling among those who are anxious
to have these big, fast, and formidable
ships added to the American Navy. that
the department does not regard that
proposition of the board with favor. is
found in the fact that no arDored vessels
were mentioned in the suggestive pro-
gramme laid before the Board on Con-
struction to form o nucleus for its con-
sideration OF naval increase. This omis-
sion of armorclads was due. largely. if not
wholly, it Is said, to the failure OF the de-
partment TO arrange for the construction
of the three armured cruisers and three
battleships authorized by Congress at its
last session. The failure was not due to
any fault of the department. but TO the
provision in the naval act forbidding the
award OF contracts for the six armoreiads
until contracts for armor had been made.
Owing to the low price for armor fixed by
Congress in the naval bill the armor
makers could not be induced to furnish
bids within the limits of the price Set by
the legislative branch. and in consequence
nothing can be done by the department
until Congress makes more liberal pro-
vision.
The naval bill became a law last March
and there is little prospect that Congress
will act in the matter until some time next
year. Secretary Longs report. which will
contain his recommendations for the in
crease in the navy, will be laid before the
President prior to the assembling of Con-
gress, and it is feared that he will omit
the boards advocacy of the three 13. 800
ton armored cruisers on the ground that
no good could come of such q recommenda-
tion until Congress raises the limit of the
price TO be paid for armor TO figure
which the armor makers will consider.
In this connection it is interesting to
note that France is paying more than sTO0
a ton for armOr treated by the krupp pro-
cess which was offered to the Navy De-
partment by American manufacturers for
s5i5 a ton. Other amor may be secured
At cheaper rate. but the Navy Depart
ment. which wants that hardened by the
Krupp method. acknowledged to be the
best in the world. is confronted by a law
fixing the maximum price to be paid by
the Government at $500 a ton.