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

|
The last effort to harmonic the conflict
| ing views of the members OF the House
| Committee on Naval Affairs, in regard to
I 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 will
be presenter 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
lard. 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.. Meyer of
| Louisiana, who had voted with the major
1 ity, mad indicated an intention to make
motion to reconsider. but did not do so.
! The committee would accept no proposition
In regard to the establishment OF an armor
/ plant in any contingency and the Demo-
! Gratis then decided to submit minority re-
| port.
The bill provides that the Secretary of
| the Navy shall purchase armor for three
-
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
Metcalf. the right was reserved to each
member of the committee to oppose any of
nrOyicinng n ha m ha a,.ar nf In
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 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.
THE bill virtually proposes to throw
away at least $50. 900 000.' he said. "and
| propose to show the outrageous extrava-
gance Of some CT the items. Why. the
contingent funds alone amount to almost
a million dollars The Secretary Of the
Navy Is given $500 900, which he may ex-
pend as he sees fit. Heads OF bureaus re-
ceive contingent allowances OF from 81 900
to $4,000. The appropriation for repair
Ing ships is increased $4,000. 600, and that
for the Bureau OF Construction 81, 210 600,
making total increase for substantially
the work of repairing vessels of more than
100000, and yet Admiral Hicbborn says
he has not enough repair work in sight
10 keep the yards busy for six months.
1T is proposed that $500 be allowed
for maintenance of yards and docks,
which seems TO be reasonable, but every
yard receives S25, 900 for the same purpose
under another heading. The Secretary is
given a large sum for the purchase of coal
and supplies for the naval stations. and
he may purchase where he pleases and
nay whfs he pleases | am sure the bill
can be reduced $50, 000, 900 without Gripping
the service in the slightest degree. Two
years ago, when We were in state of pro-
found peace, the Naval Appropriation bill
was only S33, 600, 900, whereas now, when
We are again in the state OF peace. it is
s61 600, 600, so 1t has almost doubled in
two years. All our vessels are new and
in good repair. and | see no use for ex-
travagant appropriations for repairing If
the appropriations keep on increasing at
this rate We will be spending $3.50 GOO, 900
annually on our navy. within FIVE years"
Mr.. Wheeler said he saw no objection
in the appropriation for tho Naval
Academy at Annapolis, and was in favor of
giving it the most liberal treatment, so
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-
structed in IT,, 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.. Metealf said he thought that the main |
tenance of a 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
the majority.