The gold leaf., 1900-04-12
BUILDING UP THE NAVY.
THE NAVAL APPROPRIATION BILL.
REPORrED TO THE HOUSE.
t Carries S6l, l,2l0,el6, the Largest
Naval COmmittee-A Remark n BILE
Array OF Facts Regarding Sen
Power the World Gver- Eight sew
ShipB-ProvislOn Made for tho
Stone Dry Dock at Norfolk.

Washington. April 5.-The Naval Ap-
preparation bill was to-day reported to
the House by acting Chairman Foss. of
the Naval Committee. 1t carries
SCI, ,219,916, the largest ever reported to
the House from the Naval Committee.
The bill is also remarkable fer It's array
of facts regarding sea power the world
over
Under the head Of Naval Irc-
gramme"the committee recommend that
the President be authorized to have
built by contract two sea going coas;
line battleships, carrying the heaviest
armor and most powerful ordnance fer
vessels of their class. upon a trial dis
placement of about 1900 TONS. and to
have the highest practicable speed and
great radius of action. and to cost, eX-
elusive of armor and armament, not
exceeding s3.600G00 each: three arnlored
cruisers Of about 1900 tons trial dis
placement, carrying the heaviest armu-
and most powerful ordnance for vessels
of their class, and to have the highest
practica BILE speed and great radius Of
action, and to cost, exclusive of armCr
and armament, not exceeding 81 cen
each; al three protected cruisers. OF
about 5000 tons trial displacement, car
rying the most powerful ordnance for
vessels Of their class and to have the
highest speed compatible with good
cruising qualities ard great radius Of
action, and to cost, exclusive of arma-
ment, not exceeding s.. 500 600 each.
Continuing, the report says: The
maximum cost Of the ships herein au
thorized, exclusive of armor and arm
ament. will be s26 $4,000 The past
year in naval construction has bcc Il
marked by the most liberal naval pro-
grammes on the part Of all foreign ma
tions."
AS to armor plate. the report tells Of
the futile efforts to secure armor at 5000
and $400, and recommends authority for
the Secretary of the Navy to contract
for such armor at a cost not to exceed
$545 per ton, and says the sO-called
Krupp armCr is the best obtainable.
Besides the items siven. the bill in
cludeS $500, Geo cCntinP ncy funds, nee
essary to meet emergencies constantly
arising in view Of the unsettled condi
tions in our insular rossessi> is. to be
expended in the discre ion o. the PreSi-
dent" and ordnance $40 90; equip
ping vessels, $4,000. .000 rveys and
coaling stations in insular possessions,
100000.
In the appropriations for yards and
docks Port Royal is given 1927 GOO; Key
West, s97 coo Norfolk. $500; Pensa-
cola, $500; dredging Dry Tortugas,
100000; four dry docks, $500, 900; re-
pairs and preservation, $500, 900.
Provision is made for beginning con-
struction Of two more stone dry docks,
one at New York and the other at Nor
folk, Va. AT the present time we ha ve
no docks at either ace large enough to
take in cur largest battleships with
safety.
The amounts in detail for the increase
of the navy are: Construction and ma
chinery, $12, 140. .699; armOr and arma-
n1ent. s4,00o,000: equipment, $3.50 eco.
The bill directs that the contracts for
eaci of the new Vesso'S be given to the
lowest responsible bid 'er,n0t more tt an
two Of such vessels - be built in enc
yard, and two to be Of Pacific coast
construction, subject to certain cost re-
strictions.
Four members of the minority of the
Naval Affairs Committee Messrs
Wheeler. Of Kentucky: Rixey. Of Vir-
ginia; Kitchen. Of North Carolina, and
Wand er Of Missouri. united ir a re-
port opposing certain item of the Ma
val Appropriation bill. Their report
dWells especially urCn the failure Of the
majority to make pr vision for a flu
ture supply Of armCr plate at a reason
able cost, though ag' eeirg as to the ne
cessity for FuichasiI = 14C0 tons Of ar
NOR for the battlesh s Maine, Ohio and
Missouri, even though at an exc. ,itant
price, because longer delay would injure
the srips.
The minority report continues: "s545
per ton for armor is exorbitant, il not
outrageous. Estimating the labor at
$185.50 per ton would make the net cast
per ton $3.50, SO per ton. and timati <
it al $165. the most acceptable figu. e,
would make it $3.50 er ton. A profit
Of 1915. or even s235 / + ton, is certainly
excessive"
The minority say the reason of all
this is the existence Of trust or agree
ment between the am or plate factories
of this country-we are almost per
suaded we could sa:- the armor plate
factories Of the wor!6. There IRE but
two armor plate factories in the United
States, and they understand each other
SO well there is no cory etition for or
ders or as to price. The govern -nent
is at their mercy. We see but two ways
of escape-either stop building armC:ed
ships or manufacture our own arnor.
The minority estimate the cost Of
constructing an arrnor plate factory
complete at 81 010 COO. 1t favors gov
ernment ownership cf such plant il
only for its moral effect The minority
| point out that this bill is $4,000, 900 in
| excess of any bin heretofore reported
and s26. 600, 0C0 in er ess. or practically
| double that, of any ever reported in
| time of peace, indie te a growing dis
| position to forget how money is collect
| ed from the people. and a ten lency of
the American Congress to extrava-
| gance.
| EXCURSION RATES FOR THE