The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-04-06
THE NAVAL APPROPRIATION.
HOUSE COMMITTEE REPORTS on
THE BILL.
Naval Progra mme Provides for Eight
New Vessels I'm Addition TO Those
Already Authorixed-Armor
Limit High Enough TO Secure IL.

WASHINGTON, April 5.-The naval an
Precipitation bill was today reported to the
house by Acting Chairman Foss, Of the
naval committee. The amount carried by
the bill Is &l.2la.9lg the largest ever re-
ported to the house from the naval com
mittee Aside from this the report which
accompanies the bill Is remarkable for it's
array Of facts regarding sea power, the
world over. the foreign naval programme
and the comparative strength Of the ma
vies OF the great powers, accompanied by
coiored charts, showing the upbuildlng Of
the various great navies.
The Naval Programme.
Under the head OF naval programme"
the report sets forth as follows as to new
ships
FOR the purpose of further increasing
the naval establishment of the United
States the committee recommends that
the president be authorized to have built
b. contract two sea-going coast line bat
teships, carrying the heaviest armor and
most powerful ordnance for vessels OF
their class upon a trial displacement OF
about 1850 tons and TO have the highest
practicable speed and great radius OF ac-
ZION and to cost exclusive OF armor and
armament, not exceeding 10000 each;
three armored cruisers OF about 1900
tons, trial displacement. carrying the
heaviest armor and most powerful ord
have the highest practicable speed and
great radius Of action and TO cost, exclu-
sive of armor and armament. not ex-
eeeding si,250o 900 each and three protect
ed cruisers, OF about 5000 tons trial dis
placement, carrying the most powerful
ordnance. for vessels OF their class. and
10 have the highest speed compatible with
good cruising qualities and great radius
of action and to cost, exclusive OF arma-
men., not exceeding 900 each.
Largest One Ever Submitted.
.'The maximum cost OF the ships herein
authorized, exclusive of armor and arma-
ment Will be 81. 10000 This Is the larg-
est naval programme ever submitted by
the committee on naval affairs Of the
house and is I'm accord with the wishes
and recommendations of the secretary OF
The navy and Admiral Dewey and will.
We believe. meet the just demands OF
public sentiment
How other Nations Are Building.
"The past year in naval construction
has bsen marked by the most liberal
naval programme on the part OF all for
eKn nations. AZ the present time there
IA pendinR In the reicnstag Of Germany
naval bill which IL passed. viii Increase
the tonnage of the present German navy
te2@ tons, larger tonnage than that OF
her present navy"
Efforts To secure Armor Plate.
As to armor plate the report tells OF the
futile efforts TO secure armor at $500 and
80. and says:
AThe hatiieships Maine, Ohio and Mis-
souri, now In process OF construction. re-
auire I.aSs,i2 tons OF armor, or 2ih2.i5 for
each vessel II IN believed by the COM
mitiee that these battleshps, OF nearly
ESQ tons displacement. the largest in de-
sign which have ever been placed by the
navy department, should have the best
ohtainahle aTmOr. and accordingly your
committee recommends that the secretary
Of the navy be authorized to contract for
such afmGr at a cost not to exceed s545 per
phfafnable "a
present time IL, according 10 all naval au-
thortles. the so-ealled krupp armor today
Y0ar committee believes II is little short
Of disloyalty to recommend any other than
the best armor for these battleships, TO be
placed between the bodies OF our officers
and men and the bullets Of the enemy.
Vessels Authorised hut Not BuiIt.
Under the last naval appropriation act
congress authorized the construction OF
ihrce hattleships. Georgia. Pennsylvania
and New Jersey, and three arniored cruis-
ers. Wcst Virginia, Nebraska and Caiifo-
MA put inserted provision therein as
follows:
That no contracts for the armor OF
am vessel authorized by this act shall be
mafe At a rate exceeding $500 per ton OF
Ast pounds including royalties. and In no
case shall a contract be made for the con-
sifuetion Of the hun and vessel author
lied by this act untn "A contract has been
made for the armor OF such vessels
our committee recommends that the
restriction be- removed and the contracts
y authorised SO that the construction Of
TIE hniis Of these vessels may go on with
cut further delay
Our Naval Foley.
One Of the most interesting features OF
We report Is that which discussed "our
aafsi policy Il gives the gradual up
Raliathg % our new navy. year by year.
aadet Secretaries Chandler. Whitney,
tracey, Herbert and Long, and says;
We have navy today which includes
Considerable number OF vessels Of every
fiass and, ship for ship. u viii equal that
q any navy In the world
seventeen years ago We had practically
~ fAeiiiy Tor building ships. and what we
sAN vas discredlted We were Obliged 20
paE our armament and armor, and even in
re case OFT plans, from foreign countries.
way sc are not only building ships In
american shpyafds. 81 American mate
80 " American labor on American
tsns tgr ourselves. but also for some OF
80 sadihs nations 81 the world such
~ eeen The advance which has been
@#2e 10 naval progress Co. our country.
Policy Tor the Future.
ihs question may ny asked what shall
= Sef ieture navN poitcyf
INC pltcd States iu build. as We have
sYh buhdins gradually on aToad lines
49, upon thv most advanced IDEAS ~
49, CONSTRUCTION mot so East that W.
20 NH FFn1 % h.l adj ..F