Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-05-12

WASHINGTON, May 11.-No dispo-
sition has been made as yet of the
naval appropriation bill by the Sen
ate, but after an all-day discussion
an agreement was reached to vote on
the armor plate section at O'Clock
tomorrow afternoon.
During the days discussion nota-
BILE speech was delivered by Mr.. Lodge,
of Massachusetts,, upon the necessity
of building up the United States navy
without delay. The speech was de-
livered with the vigor and earnest
ness characteristic of Mr.. Lodges dis
cussion of public questions and at
tracted much attention.
Mr.. Daniel, of Virginia, presented
an extended argument in support of
the immediate construction by the
government of an armor factory, while
Mr.. Allison, of Iowa, opposed the
project of a government armor fac
tory on the score of economy.
At the conclusion of routine bus
mess the Senate proceeded to the con-
sideration of the naval appropriation
bill, the pending question being the
amendment of Mr.. Tillman Is. c.
providing for a straight price of $500
per ton for armor and an armor plate
factory to be built by the government
at cost not to exceed $4,000, 900.
Mr.. Lodge, Massachusetts,, speak
ing in opposition to the amendment,
said that for the past three years the
Senator'S from South Carolina and New
Hampshire, (Mr. Tillman and Mr..
Chandler), had been endeavoring to
get armor at low price. The net re-
suit of their work had been to put a
stop to the construction of navy.
said, would absolutely stop the build
Ing of ships. He had no prejudices
against a government armor plant.
indeed, he was not at all assured that
1t would not have been better in the
beginning Of the construction of our
navy to erect an armor plant. To
stop the building of all ships until the
armor plant could be erected would,
he thought, be a fatal mistake.
my reasons for desiring more
ships" said he "and desiring them
quickly, is my belief that the safety of
the United States depends upon the
strength of our navy We Go not need
the navy for the protection of our in
sular possessions. The danger lies in
our own great coast line and in the
defense of the Monroe doctrine in this
hemisphere. Our Atlantic coast is
studded with cities from the gulf to
northern Maine. For the defense of
this great coast line and these cities
we have no adequate fleet.
1--WE are about to enter upon the
construction of an Isthmian canal.
Whether it will be better to fortify that
canal or not is yet an open question.
But to control that canal, to defend it,
to hold it open for our commerce and
for the commerce of the world, even
though it be against an enemy's fleet,
we must be the naval masters of the
Caribbean sea. We must have far
more powerful feet than we have to-
day. The safety of the canal depends
upon our fleet All admit that the
canal ought to be built, and the time
is near when the work will be begun.
If we are to protect the canal as well
as our own coast, we must have a navy
proportionately strong.
81 hope and believe" he continued,
that we shall have no war, but great
fleet is the greatest insurance of
peace. However, we would be foolish
indeed, if we should close our eyes TO