The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-03-17
Naval Construction Delayed.

Naval Construction Delayed.
The house committee on naval affairs
has agreed upon a programme which.
while not as extensive as the friends OF
the navy would like to see, will never
theless add much to the efficiency OF
this branch of the service when carried
into effect. That il will be ostensibly
indorsed by legislation is quite prob
able. There is unquestionably a strong
public demand for an increase in the
navy. There is no substantial partisan
capital to be made at present out OF
opposition to It, There are other means,
however, by which the building Of the
ships proposed can be delayed and pos
sibly indefinitely postponed.
When the naval programme shall be
presented to the house. the opportunity
will arise for the old armor plate de-
bate: and there is always present the
prospect that amendments may be
made. directed ostensibly against the
so-called armor plate trust, but really
designed to prevent the building OF
navy, thus doing by indirecuon what
the opponents OF strong navy have
not the courage to do directly. In the
last session of congress a bill passed
authorizing the immediate construction
of six armored cruisers. but the oppo-
nents of the navy succeeded in having
an amendment attached limiting the
maximum price Of $500 ton, and
providing further that no contract
should be made for the hulls and ma
chinery of the vessels authorized until
the armor had been contracted for. As
nowhere in the world can armor be
purchased at anything like the figure
ment was to nullify completely the pro-
vision for an increase In the navy; and
as consequence. not a step has been
taken toward construction OF vessels
fnperatively needed. although more
than a year has passed since their
building was authorized theoretically.
Even a worse condition OF affairs Is
presented by the three battleships now
under construction. the Maine, Missouri
and Ohio. The contracts for the build
ing OF these hattleships were let in Oc-
tober. 1898, nearly seventeen months
ago. "A similar limitation OF the cost Of
armor Tor these vessels was imposed.
and as result no armor could be had.
and until congress makes proper pro-
vision none can he purchased When
appropriation is finally made. It VIII be
upwards 81 six months before the ar
nor can be supplied
The needs OF the navy count for
nuihing as against the opportunity for
speeches 20 the gallery against the ar.
NOR plate trust Members OF congress
can prove 70 their own satisfaction that
armor plate can be manufactured at
proht FOR $500 a ton. but they do not
seek 10 explain why no government On
earth can get II at less price than ,64s
a ton. the figure al which It Is offered
the United states Neither do the naval
authorities. particularly Admiral O'Neil.
chief % ordnance. believe that armor
plate could be manufactured BY the
United states at a government plant
FOR less
nut all this Is aside from the main
proposition. II may be that the arucr
plate manufacturers are making more
than f4ir proft out Of the armor
which they are furnishing the govern
Ineuts o. the United states. Great Brit
a. A. France Russia and Germany. The
plate is furnished to all these countries
al substantially Identical figures. the
exception balas thar the United states
has iCcesvei a slightly IOwer rate than
Is given 60 the 0thecs. Yet this has
had no influence on the naval pro-
Erammes q any = these countries.
which are building more and better
warshi7s than ever before in their his
tory TIE United states alone. whose
needs are greater than those 81 any
other 81 the great powers is held up in
Che completion % It's naval programme
ey partisanship and BY the tlInidlty
which fears 70 make perfectly ueces-
ssry and proper appropriation lest 4
Dee charged with aiding a trust II
, would be as sensible 70 discard kero-