The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-31
EFFORTS FOR HARMONY FAIL.
House Naval Affairs Committee Dis
agrees on ships and Amor.

agrees on ships and Armor.
The last effort to harmonic the conflict
ing views Of the members Of the House
Committee on Naval Affairs, in regard to
/ constructing ships in Government navy
yards and on the price OF armor. failed yes
terday and a majority and minority re-
| port on the Naval Appropriation bill viii
be presented to the House
Representative Metcalf. at the meeting
Of the committee, made a motion to au-
thorize the Secretary Of the Navy to have
three ships constructed in Government
yards. one at the Norfolk, one at the
brooklyn, and one at the Mare Island Navy
yard. point Of order was made against
the motion on the ground that a similar
motion had been defeated and as Mr.. Met
car mad not voted with the majority he
| could not move to reconsider. The point
/ OF order was sustained. Mr. Never OF
Louisiana, who had voted with the major
/ lty, had Indicated an intention to make a
motion TO reconsider but did not do so
| The committee would accept no proposition
IN regard 10 the establishment Of an armor
plant in any contingency. and the Demo-
! Gratis then decided to submit a minority re-
port
The bill provides that the Secretary OF
the Navy shall purchase armor for thre,.
ships under construction about 400 tons
at the most reasonable price possible not
to exceed S545 a ton. The minority report
VIII be signed by all the Democrats with
the exception of Representative Meyer
and possibly Representative Cummings
Mr.. Metcalf will either submit his views
separately or sign the minority report At
the instance Of Representatives Mudd and
Metcaf the right was reserved to each
member Of the committee to oppose any Of
the provisions Of the bill on the floor OF the
House. The majority report Will be sub
mitted By Representative FOss. acting
Chairman OF the committee. early next
week. This will be the first time in several
years that a minority report has been sub
mitted from this committee.
Mr.. Wheeler will lead the fight on the
floor against the bill He denounced the
bill yesterday as the most extravagant
measure presented to the House this ses-
sion.
1.-THE bill virtually proposes to throw
away at least $40 900 900. " he said. and
| propose to show the outrageous eytrava-
gance Of some Of the items. Why. the
contingent funds alone amount 70 almost
a million dollars. The Secretary Of the
Navy Is given $500 600. which he may ex-
pend as he sees fit. Heads OF bureaus re-
ceive contingent allowances OF from 81 600
to $50, 900. The appropriation for repair
ing ships IS increased $1,000. 600, and that
for the Bureau OF Construction 81. PIG, Geo,
making a total increase for substantially
the work Of repairing vessels Of more than
100000 and yet Admiral HichbOrn says
he has not enough repair work in sight
TO keep the yards busy for six months.
1T is proposed that $3.50. 900 be allowed
for maintenance OF yards and docks
which seems to be reasonable, but every
yard receives $4,000 for the same purpose
under another heading. The Secretary is
given large sum for the purchase Of coal
and supplies for the naval stations, and
he may purchase where he pleases and
nay what he pleases. l am sure the bill
can be reduced $50 900 900 without Gripping
the service in the slightest degree. Two
years ago, when we were in a state of pro-
found peace, the Naval Appropriation bill
was only 1913, 600 600, whereas now, when
We are again in the state of peace. it is
S61 600 600. so It has almost doubled in
two years. All our vessels are new and
in good repair, and / see no use for ex-
trayagant appropriations for repairing. II
the appropriations keep on increasing at /
this rate We will be spending $3.50. 600. 600 /
annually on our navy within FIVE years"
Mr.. Wheeler said he saw no objection 1
in the appropriation for the Naval /
Academy al Annapolis. and was in favor Of 4
giving IL the most llbtfdl treatment SO Z
as to make it a frst-class school in every /
respect.
Mr.. Metcalf said he was unable to see
why some Of the ships should not be con-
strueted in TIL navy yards, as between those
authorized last year and those authorized
in this bill there would be so many to
be constructed the private yards would
never miss the three ships he proposed to
have constructed in the Government yards
Mr.. Metcalf said he thought that the main
tenance of force Of first-class mechanics
in the yards, for the construction of the
ships would result in a considerable saw
ing on the repair work. enough. probably
to Offset the difference in price between
ships constructed in private yards and
those in the Government yards Acting
Chairman Foss will make the report for