Evening star., 1901-10-18
B U Id UP A NAV Y
REPRESENTATIVE DAYTON Re-
LIEyEs CONGRESS WILL ASSIST.
Thinks More Battle Ships Should Be
COnstructed-He Does Not Favor
Mr.. BabcOck's Tariff Bill.

Representative Dayton of West Virginia
one Of the most active members of the
House naval committee, believes that the
next session of Congress will see fit to
make a decided increase in the American
navy. Mr.. Dayton left Washington this
morning, after having had a lengthy con-
ference with the President. After stating
that there was absolutely no excuse for
Congress refusing to build three or four
battle ships and two or three armored cruis-
ers Mr.. Dayton remarked, incidentally that
he had every reason to believe the Presi-
dent was in hearty accord with his ideas on
this subject. 80 %aNF
II am very anxious that there shall be
no backward step in the building up Of
the navy said Mr.. Dayton to a Star re-
porter Il think 1t was a very un-
wise policy which the Senate forced on
Congress last year in, simply laying out a
program instead of authorizing the con-
struction of a reasonable number Of battle
ships and cruisers. did not approve of
the plan Of simply having specifications
prepared for these ships for the purpose of
presenting them to the next Congress.
Must Have Battle Ships.
Il never have been a very strong advo-
cate of building up the smaller class of
vessels for the navy such gun5oats, al
though there is, of course, a necessity for
some craft of that class. The Spanish war
taught that we could buy any nuius;er
of gunboats, and that we could convert
any number of yachts into dispatch boats
that we could get protected cruisers by the
wholesale, but we could not buy a battle
ship anywhere. 1g,
Il do not believe that the sentiment of
this country will tolerate for moment the
idea that the American navy is finish ed
product or that it's increase Is to be check
ed because we are in times of peace. If
we are to build an isthmian canal and hold
our possessions in the Pacific we have got
to realize that the proper thing to do is to
have defenses ready, and for these GefenSeS
we have got to depend on the navy more
than on anything else.
Il have reason to believe that the Pres
ident Is in entire accord with the IDEAS 1
have now expressed"
Since the adjournment of Congress Mr.
Dayton has visited the Pacific coast
II was very delightfully."- surprised to find
what excellent navy yards we had at Mare
Island, Cal, and Bremerton, WASH" con-
tinued Mr.. Dayton, land to find how eco
nomically the money had been expended in
building up those yards. In my Judg nent
Puget sound is the finest body of water
in the world, and the possibilities of build
ing up great navy yard at Bremerton are
ideal. The natural advantages cannot be
surpassed anywhere, and 1 think Congress
will make a mistake If it does not go 10
work Systematically to build up such u
yard there. Its geographical position Is
also important ana advantageous III It's
proximity to Alaska and the Northwest
territory. The start that has been made
there is all that could be desired"
No Sympathy With BabcOck's Bill.
Mr.. Dayton was asked regarding his idea
Of tariff revision by the next Congress.
Il do not hesitate to say" he answered,
that 1 have no sympathy at all with Mr..
Babcock's tariff revision bill. l am not at
all frightened by the fact that there viii
still be surplus of revenues. In the pres
ent era of unexampled prosperity the banKs
have surplus; anybody who wants to
work has surplus--and LIDO not see that
1t is going to be very DANGEROUS thing for
the treasury of the United States to have
a surplus. l think there are many things
for which we can spend Pgney for the bet
terment of the government. l have always
favored, however fair and equitable rcci-
procity treaties-suah agreements as woufd
tend to Increase and build up our markets;
and l certainly think those treaties, well
and carefully made and considered, would
afford a far better means Of settling all
questions of tariff than represented by at
tempting reytStonxVm i
II have been trying tos ascertain where
there was any demand for tariff revisit Dill
and I cannot find # anywhere. Even TIE
democratic party does nSt dare mention
| free trade ideas, ana It would seem TO me
| to be utterly foolish for the republican
party to think Of 1t In any way"