The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-04-06
MAJORITY REPORT ON THE ANNUAL
APPROPRIATION MEASURE.
House Committee Recommends Con-
Plate Question-MinOrity Report.


world over, foreign naval programmes and
the comparative naval strength of the
great maritime powers. accompanied by
colored charts showing the upbuilding of
the various great navies. Under the head
of Naval Programme" the report sets
forth as follows. as to new ships: For the
purpose of further increasing the naval es-
adjustment of the United States the COM
mittee recommends that the President be
authorized to have built, by contract, two
sea-going coast-line battleships, carrying
the heaviest armor and most powerful
ordnance for vessels of their class upon a
trial displacement of about 1880 tons, ard
to have the highest practicable speed and
great radius of action, and to cost, ex-
elusive of armor and armament, not ex-
ers of about thirteen thousand tons trial
displacement, carrying the heaviest armor
and most powerful ordnance for vessels of
their class, and to have the highest practi-
cable speed and great radius of action, and
to cost, exclusive of armor and armament,
not exceeding s4,25O,OOO each: and three
protected cruisers of about eight thousand
tons trial displacement. carrying the most
vessels
class, and to have the highest speed COM
patible with good cruising qualities and
great radius of action, and to cost, ex-
elusive OF armor, not exceeding S2,SO0,O 900
each"
Continuing, the report says: THE maxi
mum cost of ships herein authorized, ex-
elusive of armor and armament, will be
S2S350.OO0 This is the largest naval pro-
gramme ever submitted by the committee
on naval affairs of the House. and is in
accord with the wishes and recommended
lions of the secretary of the navy and Adj
miral Dewey, and Will, We believe. meet
the just demands of public sentiment. The
last year in naval construction has been
marked by the most liberal naval pro-
grammes on the part of all foreign ma
tions. At the present time there is pend
ing in the Reichstag of Germany a naval
bill. which, If passed will increase the ton
mage of the present German navy AZ. 900
tons. larger tonnage than that of her
present navy.
ARMOR PLATE.
AS to armor plate, the report tells of the
futile efforts to secure armor at $500 and
$500, and says: 1.-THE battleships Maine.
Ohio and Missouri, now in process of con-
struction, require 1892 tons of armor. or
2,453.H for each vessel. 1t is believed by
the committee that these battleships of
nearly thirteen thousand tons displace-
ment, the largest in design which have
ever been planned by the Navy Depart
ment, should have the best obtainable
armor, and, accordingly, your committee
recommends that the secretary of the navy
be authorized to contract for such armor,
at cost not to exceed $545 per ton. The
best obtainable armor at the present time
is, according to all naval authorities. the
so-called krupp armor, which is, at least,
so proven by ballastic tests of % per cent.
greater efficiency than that of the Harvey
Every N IN ha
is using the Krupp armor to-day. Your
committee believes that it is little short of
disloyalty to order anything other than
the best protection and the best armor for
these battleships, to be placed between
the bodies of our officers and men and the
bullets of the enemy"
Under the last naval appropriation act
Congress authorized the construction of
three battleships, Georgia, Pennsylvania
and New Jersey, and three armed cruisers,
West Virginia, Nebraska and California.
but inserted a provision therein as follows:
That no contracts for the armor for any
vessels authorized by this act shall be
made at a rate exceeding $500 per ton of
2.2io pounds. including royalties, and in no
case shall a contract be made for the con-
structlon Of the hull of any vessel author
lied by this act until a contract has been
made for the armor of such vessel Your
committee recommends that this restric-
ton be removed and that contracts be au-
thorized SO that the construction of the
hulls of these vessels may go on without
further delay"
One of the most interesting features of
the report is that which discusses "our
naval policy" 1t gives the gradual up
building OF our new navy, year by year,
under Secretaries Chandler. Whitney
Tracey, Herbert and Long, and saws: "The
question may be asked, what shall be our
future naval policy? Let us build as we
have been building-gradually, on broad
lines and upon the most advanced ideas OF
naval construction; not so fast that we will
eSS
but slow enough to, secure all the benefits
or new improvements and new inventions
or, better still. to do as the American navy
has always done, when given an oppor-
tunity. to lead the march of the best naval
construction.
MINORITY REPORT
Four members of the minority of the
committee, Messrs. Wheeler of Kentucky
Riley of Virginia, Kitchen of North Caro-
lima, and Vandiver of Missouri, united in
a report opposing certain items of the bill
Their report dwells especially on the fac,
of the majority to make provision for a
future supply of armor plate at a reason.
able rate. The report says the minority
agree with the majority as to the neces-
sity for purchasing 7.4OO tons of armor fol
the battleships Maine. Ohio and Missouri
even though at an exorbtant price he.
cause longer delay would injure the ships
and also subject the government to suits
by contractors. The report then criticises
the majority for refusing to attempt &c
solve the question of future supply OF
armor plate notwithstanding vessels al.
ready authorized will require 1900 tons
adding: lit seems to be pretty generally
understood that armor plate factories viii
not furnish Krupp armor for less than s5i'
per ton, but exactly where this informa.
ton comes from We cannot state, because
there was no testimony before the com
mittee, except by O'Neil, who did not, a.
we understood 1t. speak for the plate fac
tories. The sum Of $545 per ton for armol
is, in our judgment. beyond question. ex
brilliant. If not outrageous"
The minority thinks money could b,
saved by constructing an armor-plate fac
tory. For the sake of argument" tn,
report says. 1--WE will admit a factory viii
cost $4.000,000, and yet we believe the gov
eminent can save enough on armor plat,
now needed, or that will be needed TO,
ships authorized to construct its factory
make its armor and have s5,0O0OOO ief
over. We need some thirty-one THOUSAND
tons of armor, ana IL it can be produced
for $3.50 per ton, IL means a saving from
the price We are now required to paw o
1915 per ton, on something like thirty-on.
thousand tons, which would be well nigl
no0 000