The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-04-06

The Naval Appropriation bill was yes
terdsy reported to the House of Represen-
tatives by Mr. Foss. Acting Chairman o.
the Committee on Naval Affairs 1t was
accompanied by minority and a majority
report The amount carried by he bill is
sol .2le9l6 the greatest sum ever carried
by an American naval appropriation bi l.
The estimates were $50 SIS, 634. The su n
provided for the use Of the Navy is Sl2,-
Sl0.Ss7.
The Bureau Of Navigation is allowed
s566 4g5. For the Bureau Of Ordnance,
/ S2.3SS.l24 is set aside, which is $755 600
less than last year. The appropriation for
the Bureau OF Equipment is $S.i64.U'2 :.
which is S6sS $50 more than last year. out
OF this appropriation coal sheds and a
! wharf for p 600 tons OF coal are to be es-
tablished at Cavite, Philippine Islands an
! allowance Of s6OS sS9 is made to the Blu
reau Of Yards and Docks. an increase Ct
! S154 9s7, Of which 1925, coo is for the main
I tensnce Of yards and docks at the naval
! stations at Havana. san Juan, and Manila.
| Public works are given S7.79I 467, an in
I crease Of s.. S32 Isl.
Under this head the Brooklyn Navy Yard
Is given 81 800, zoo as against 1912 062 for
1900: the dry dock at Algiers is allowed
$3.50 coo. and four new dry docks are p.O-
vided at a cost Of 100000. The Naval
Academy is allowed s677 soc Of which
$3.50 coo is 10 commence a building for
naval cadet quarters. to cost 81. 500,t CO.
Other allowances are: Bureau of Medi Inc
and Surgery 1920 COO; Bureau of 'Supp..es
and Accounts. 1881, 222; Bureau OF en-
struction and Repairs s6.235, S24 an in
crease Of s., S62, or; Bureau of St an Engi-
ueering, S2,744 200. an increase of S,565,
200; support Of Naval Academy Slg9tS5.
provision for the restorat. on Of the
title OF midShipman. abolished In 1882, is
inserted in the bill. ard the two ye-Ts
course at sea is discontinued. The Mar ne
Corps is allowed 81 Il2.S10, for increase Cf
the Navy. sl6,S9O.6 sos is allowed. an in
crease Of $6.74S. 2g7.
Under the provision for the armOr pl lte
the committee recommends that 1853 tons
be purchased for the Maine Ohio. and Mi
souri,. az not TO exceed $545 per ton.
The Naval Programme
Under the caption OF Naval Programme 20
the report on the bill reci,es: For the
purpose OF further increasing The naval es-
Enlistment OF the United States the com
mittee recommends that the President be
authorized TO have built by contract two
seagciug coast-line battleships. carrying
the heaviest armor and most powerful ord
nance for vessels Of their class upon a trial
displacement Of about l3 500 tons. and 10
have the highest practicable speed and
great radius Of action. and TO cost. eXclu-
slve Of armor and armament not exceed
Ing $500. zoe each; three armured cruisers
OF about u Geo tons trial displacement ear
rying the heaviest armor and most power
ful ordnance for vessels OF their class, and
to have the highest practicable speed and
great radius Of action. and to cost ex-
elusive Of aTmor and armament, not ex-
ceeding "a $50 coo each; and three protected
cruisers OF about SG00 tons trial displace-
ment. carrying the most powerful ordnance
for vessels Of their class. and to have the
highest speed compatible with good cruls-
ing qualities and great radius Of action,
and to cost. exclusive of armament. not
exceeding s.. 100000 each.
The maximum cost Of the ships herein
authorized exclusive Of armor and arma-
ment. viii be SzS55O. 0C0. This is the larg-
est naval programme ever submitted by the
Committee on Naval Affairs Of the House
and is in accord with The wishes and rec
ommendarions OF the Secretary Of the
Navy and Admiral Dewey. and will. we
believe meet The Just demands Of public
sentiment The past year in naval con-
s.ruction has been marked by the most
liberal naval programme on the part Of all
fore ign nations. Al the present time there
is pending in the Reichstsg Of Germany
naval hill which. il passed. will increase
The tonnage OF the present German Navy
AZ eco tons larger tonnage than that Of
her present lazy.
The Naval Policy.
Under the heading Naval Policy. The
report after reviewing the growth Of the
Navy under Secretaries Chandler, Whit
ney. Tracy. Herbert. and Long. continues:
We have a navy today which includes
a considerable number Of vessels Of every
class. and, ship for ship. 81 will equal that
Of any navy in the world.
Seventeen years ago We had practically
no facilities for building ships. and what
We had were discredited. We were obliged
20 buy our armament ana armor. and even
in one case our plans from foreign cOun-
tries Today we are not only building
ships in American shipyards Of American
material by American labor on American
plans for ourselves. but also for some %
the leading nations Of the world. Such
has been the advance which has been made
in naval progress in our own country.
The question may be asked, What snail
be- our future naval policy?
LET us build as We have been building
gradually on broad lines and upon The
most advanced ideas q naval construction;
not so fast that We will be ahead Of the
advance Of naval progress. hut slowly
enough to secure an the benefits Of new
improvements and new inventions or.
better still. TO do as the American Navy
has always done when given an oppor-
tuuity TO lead the march Of the best naval