The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-04-16
NAVAL BILL
WILL AROUSE
BOTH HOUSES
,...,, Debate Promised This Week,
bIo.,s os:sed By the Republican Lead
srs, FOss and Dayton.
MINORITY REPORTS MADE.
,..,,stion Recognized as Decidedly
''v T.,k-senutOr and Mrs. Elkins
Celebrate Anniversary.

esseIl Dispatcn 10 NHS ''''S''s
w,sHlNGToN, April l5.-As stated
:, ,se ln,allsencer Of yesterday, there
s,,lr,ly debate promised for the COM
=, uc,k over the naval appropriation
,w rb, provisions of the measure. 50
a. ,s the new construction is con-
r,,,,,,-,hc battleships, armOred cruis-
.,,.-wcre accurately anticipated in
N. ro,rInspncer several days before the
Mn was reported to the house. A NIL
ro,5,r Of the committee, which em-
,,,,es but five Of its Democratic mem.
,,-s-ypssrs. Tate, Kitchen. Rixey,
w,,s,a- and vandiver-has seen Gt,
,,,-syrr. 10 make Il fight over some OF
-, main items. The minority, as
s,,,.5 Yesterday will oppose the up.
ar,nrl,rIon Of 100000 TO meet emer-
rsrsias In the lnsular possessions, nota-
Ty tbf Philippines; will argue in favor
handbag a part or all OF the PROPOSE
,55,,loB8l vessels for the navy in gov
s-rnent navy yards. as asked for by
,bs employees in the yards; will adyo-
cate the building OF an armor plate fac
cry I, be operated by the government,
,,5 will also report against n contract
FOR armor plate at the rate proposed in
tsemajority report.
Contention Decidedly Weak.
The contention OF the minority is re-
r,r1ed by the majority as decidedly
weak Under the leadership of MessrH.
DAYTON and Foss, the latter in the alb
.sn,e o, Chairman Boutelle. being the
anklng member, the majority OF the
committee will show that the emer-
rspry appropriation will be an abso.
lute requirement, the conditions in Por-
to Rico. the Philippines. Hawaii and
other United States possessions being
as vet underlined and liable TO become
disturbed at any time. The majority
viii also oppose the building Of ships
IN the government yards. 1t win be
shown that the navy yards are now
twelve months behind in repairs, which
Is their legitimate line OF work. and
ihat to undertake construction will me-
1ssl,ate an increase OF facilities At
great cost. In addition it will deprive
outside woridngmen OF employment, In
erase the cost OF construction by at
least fifty per cent. and require one
third more time to complete the work.
while the government will have no
guarantee. as under a contract, that
ihs vessels constructed Will be exactly
according to specifications. In othe=
words. The government cannot require
Ct Itself a guarantee that 1t will turn
out vessel satisfactory to itself In all
It's details.
Plate Should be the Best.
Ol the question Of armor plate, and
hs uasuucuon OF a factory by tho
g1Unment for It's production, the ma
j5-.iy OF tn. committee viii demon
stiaie that the plate should be OF the
b.st, and the world over. the Krupp
pr0iuc, Is considered the best, for the
rtson that a vessel can be armored
with Il at one-;hlrd the weight pre-
scrioed .n the best OF other processes,
whereby more OF the vessel can be pro-
teciad at The same weight. The price.
F5ij per ,on-5i5 being the royalty-wIll
be shown to BE- less than Is paid for the
same plate by any other country in the
world England paying for the same
material eils. or s5S5 per ton.
The majority will also point TO thu
iari that Russia abandoned the project
Of government manufacture OF armor
Plate after rxpanding millions in max
ing Preparations for It. Russia dis
covered az great cost that Its factory
vas Inadequate and too expensive. 4
careful computation showed that every
I'a OF armor plate constructed by tha
Russian government cost from 800 to
N9 per ton. And It will require at least
TIRE years for building and cquipping
factory.
Besides, The spokesmen OF the ma
h'iiy or the committee will show that
"a kupp process is a secret which 1t
D szsel.nFly doubtful II the govern
aaHt can take advantage OF. even II I;
aa acquire the formula.
q strong argument to be advanced,
'''' is that It VIII require four years
G HnH TO complete the construction
aFaag authorized, and meanwhile
'1''e Contracted for should be under
way there being In view the posslbIl
,y that tho government viii be liable
.oT damages It II needlessly delays the
a Factory Would be Useless.
IL '.- b7 shown. also that the entlra
a." 77iInatigH win not embrace NOR
-"'" lF.iya or fifteen vessels, and the
NI.nae OF constructing factory 70.
,m 200 amount exceeding slOOO,OOO-
WV o. u.aless outlay. In view OF the
'lN.aai. specially as armor plat
.l a like other commodities. 70
aal may Ia the next few years
i, ... past few years, b. changed sr
.. factory would be vnluplass. sincn
'' .h. present casa, the newer pro.
p.,.. would b. private property. The
Dem Iron works. It is daclarel
'" DOB IrH f1ctlry machinery. nav