The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-04-06

! 1851, coo; Boston, $3.50, 300: New York, $780,
! 200; League Island, $999.5OO; Washington
/ $414,1O Norfolk, s466 500; Port Royal,
| 1927, GOO; Key West, $4,000; San Juan
| $50, 900; Pensacola, $500; Algiers, $145,000;
Mare Island Gncluding provision for
F! barracks), s563 200; Puget Sound, s2O6 165;
| dredging Dry Tortugas 100000 dry dock
at Algiers, $3.50 900; four dry docks, $780,
900: repairs and preservation $500, 600. The
| naval academy items aggregate $6I7,50O
In this is included s35O0OO to begin tx
erection of a building suitable for cade
quarters at cost not exceeding $500,
O00 Provision is made for the restoration
of the title Of ''midshpman," and the
adjustment of the two years course at
sea. A new provision has been inserted
providing for an increase of five surgeons
and twenty passed assistant and assist
ant surgeons in the navy, and it is pro-
vfded that the assistant surgeons who
have made a creditable record during the
war with Spain now in the volunteer
service may be given permanent commits
sions without limitation as to age. The
item for steam engineering includes new
machinery plants at Mare Island, AL
giers, Honolulu and San Juan. The
amounts in detail for the increase Of the
navy are: Construction and machinery,
s12 74O. 500: armor and armament, 100000
equipments s250,0O0
In providing for new battleShips and
cruisers the following provisions are
made: And the contract for the con-
struotion of each of such vessels shall be
awarded by the secretary of the navy to
the lowest and best responsible bidder,
having in view the best results and most
expeditions delivery, and not more than
two of the vessels herein provided for
shall be built in one yard, or by one con-
tracing party. and in the construction Of
all of said vessels all the provisions of
the naval act of March 8, 1899, shall be
followed; and subject 10 the provisions
hereinafter made, two and not more than
two of the Aforesaid vessels shall be
built on or near the coast of the Pacific
ocean or in the waters connecting there
with: Provided. that if 1t shall appear to
the satisfaction of the resident from the
biddings from such contracts when the
same are examined by him. that said
vessels, or any of them, cannot be con-
structed on or near the coast of the Pc
cifc ocean at a cost not exceeding 4 per
cent above the lowest accepted bid for
the other vessels provided for in this act
he shall authorize the construction OF
said vessels, or either OF them. elsewhere
in the United States. subject to the iirni-
tations as to cost hereinbefore provided
Four members Of the minority Of the
naval affairs committee. Messrs. Wheeler
= Z OF Of fr-yf- fa
OF North Carolina and Vanniver OF Mis-
souri,, united in a report opposing certain
items OF the naval appropriation bill.
Their report dwells especially upon the
failure Of the majority 10 make provision
for a future supply OF armbr plate az
a reasonable cost The report says the
minority agree with the majority as to
the necessity for purchasing 400 tons
OF armor for the battleships Maine, Ohio
and Missouri. even though al an exor5i-
tant price. because longer delays injure
the ships and also subject the govern
ment to suits by contractors. The report
then cridcises the majority for refusing TO
attempt 10 solve the question OF a fu-
ture supply OF armor plate. notwitbstand-
ing vessels already authorized @il re-
quite 240oo tons. adding:
1T seems to be pretty generally under
stood the arnor plate factories viii not
furnish Krupp armor Cor less than s5l5
perton. but exactly where this inforrna-
ton comes from we are unable to state.
for there was no testimony before the
committee on the subject. except from
Admiral O'Neill. who did lot. as We IN
derstand II. speak for the plate factories
The sum Of SIS per ton FOR arzaor is. in
our Judgment. beyond question. exo.bi-
tant. II not outrageous. There IS uot 4
scintilla OF proof from any factory show
Ing what KrUpp amor costs TO manu.
facture- Harveyized amor has been re-
Gently az It Is not ROW. supplied 20 the
government at $50 Iser ton and no man
connected with ether OF the factories IL