The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-04-06

ress. but slow enough to secure all the
benefits OF new Improvements and new in
sssntignsi or, better still, to do as the
american navy has always done when
given an opportunity, to lead the march OF
the best naval construction found"
appropriations for Various Points.
me more important items in the bill.
IN adaition to those given. are;
emergencies constantly arising IN view
OF the unsettled conditions in our insular
possessions, TO be expended ia the discre-
tion OF the president" 500 600: ordnaace
N,fD,5p; eduipping vessels, 81 $4,000: sur
sions, 10000 '''''''' b'97e'
The public works az various points IN
der the bureau OF yards and docks re-
ceiye amounts az follows:
.Portsmouth, $4,000; Boston 1866 go; View
Washington. ai4lo2 Norfo Isia sis sgs o2;
Royal, n77 600 Key West. ss7 900. San
,,ia f 5000 Pensacola 1850; Aigiers,
ffor barracks), 1868 200. Puget sound. saos,-
deck soS. Alsiers $50 900; four dry docks 800
me naval academy items aggregate SGT :
no. In this IL included 1850 900 70 begin
the erection Of building suitable for ca iat
quarters, AT a cost not exceeding 50 800 fgso
Title Of Midshipman Restored.
Provision IL made for the restoration Of
the title Of ''midshipmar" and the abolish
ment Of the two years' course al sea
new provision has been inserted providing
TOT an increase Of five surgeons and twenty
assistant surgeons In the navy aud n ia
provided that the assistant surgeons who
nave made creditable record during the
war with Spain, now In the volunteer se~y-
Ice, may be given permanent commissions
without limitation as to age
The items for steam engineering include
the new machinery plants a Mare island
Algiers. Honolulu and San Juan
The amounts In detail for the increase
OF the navy are:
Construction and machinery, H274n 90:
$3.50. 900 efD'i''''e'i's'
In providing for new battleships and
cruisers me Following provisions are made
And the contract for the construction
OF each OF said vessels shall be awarded
by the secretary of the navy 10 the lowest
responsible bidder having in view the best
results and most expeditions delivery an
not more than two of the vessels herein
provided for shall be built In one yard or
struciion OF all Of said vessels all the pro-
visions of the naval act OF March g. 1888
shall be followed: and subject To- the pro-
visions hereinafter made two and not NOR,
than two Of the aforesaid vessels shall he
punt on or near the coast Of the Pacific
ocean. or In the waters connecting m are
WIN. provided. that II II shall appear to
the satisfaction Of the president. from the
biddings fer such contracts when thew
are examined by him. that said vessels or
any Of them, cannot be constructed on ar
near tho coast OF the Pacific ocean A, a
cost not exceeding per cent above the
lowest accepted bill for the other vessels
,be rsr n MS act he shan agthoTize
or them, elsewhere In the United Sfatea
subject TO the limitations as to cost here
inbefore provided"
Minority Attack Armor-PIate Price,
Four members of the minority of tho
naval Affairs committee. Messrs. Wheeler
of Kentucky; RiNey, of Virginia. ISitch-
enen, Of North Carolina, and Vandiver, of
TaA Ia
tain Items of the naval appropriation bill
Their report dwells especially upon the
failure Of the majority TO make provision
Tor future supply or armOr plate at a
reasonable cost. The report saws the mi
nority agree with the ma jority as to the
necessity for purchasing 400 tons OF ar
NOR plate for the battleships Maine Ohio
ana missouri. even though at an exor-
bitant price. because "A longer delay would
lnJure ships and also subject the govern
ment 70 suits by contractors. The report
then crtticises the majority for refusing
10 attempt to solve the question OF fu-
ture supply OF armor plate. notwithstand-
ing vessels already authorized viii re
qnlre y, 900 tons. adding.
1t seems 10 be pretty generally under
stood the armor-plate factories will not
furnish krupp armor for less than s545
per tons but exactly where this infnr-
nation comes from we are unable TO
state for there was no testimony before
the committee on the subject except from
Admiral O'Neili. who did not as we un-
derstand e. speak for the plate factories
our Judgment beyond question exorbltaut
II not outrageous There IS not q scln-
tlla y proof from any factory showing
what krupp arplor costs to manufacture
In our Judgment the potential reasons
IN enhancing the price az armQr 10 toe
government u Tire existence uf tiast or
agreement between the armor plate factor
les o. this country are almost pegs0ad-
od We can safely SO further and say armor
plate factories % tho world There are
but two aruior plate factories IN the Unit
fHf N.r aHaffnl "A
SO well there is no competition fur orders
or as te prices, The government Is at the
mercy % these companies. ana We see
but two WAYS OF esCapr-etther stop build
ing armorcd ships or manufacture our own
armof
was directed 20 buy armoT for not exceed
iug 500 per ten. and u be could not get &c
al thar price 20 hurd a factory. the tW3
companies would reduce The price To a
reasonable sum per ton rather than TO az
low liz government 10 become their com
petltor one thing b. certain anieFs sa
build our own plant armor plate viii never
cheaper Fcr the SAKE 90 argument vo
81 eooQ1 and yet We believe the govern
wcnt can save enough nn armar plate now
nee5ca Ter ships authorized to cgusturct
81 SO 000 icft over w need snWr @o
tons ~ arm7r and II Sc can le produced
Tor $40 rcr tou 20 means reduction ~
the price We are noN. REQUIRED g pay 90
Si5 ver ron on something Ike "a. $50 tons.
which would be Wet righ So oe4oe Again.
should the government conclude ta to3aa-
PASTURE as awn Armnr plate q waaid la-
sure thc worry best product for aur wsr-
ships Wa unhe-ltatuEiy SAY ln aur aplu.
sen % would te wise f.- fhT gayerumgat
ta own us own plant even 81 81 never
made one TON ~ arrer plate. hecarEa tbe
fact ~ the gQyeruments ahtitg ~ pre-
operate 20 keep iown nyises frs thc private
Yards aad pat an esd 90 the c1ori iant