The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-01-24
VARSHIPS ON THE LAKES
An Incident in the Naval ApprO-
priati0n Bill Debate.
Representatives W. 4. Smith and
Bouten Urge Abrogatioa of the
Treaty With Great Britain Because
1t Prevents Work From Going
NOrth-Ttems of Local Interest.

The House of Representatives after hav-
ing disposed of routine business this morn
ing. resumed consideration, In Con mittee
of the Whole of the Naval Appropriation
bill. The bill was taken up at the para
graph relating to outfits for naval app-en-
tees.
w A Smith OF Michigan attacked the
logic Of the agreement between the United
States and Great Britain regulating the
maintenance Of warships on the Great
! Lakes He desired a modification of that
convention, not because the lake cities
wanted to see navies foa. on those waters.
but the shipyaris wanted an opportunity
to bid for the construction OF warships.
Mr.. Mann opposed Mr. Smiths PROPOSE
ton, saying that If warships were con-
structed on the lakes. warships would be
retained there and the next thing that
would be heard would be cIamor from
Chicago, Buffalo and all the other lake
cities for fortihcations
Mr.. Bouten OF Illinois reviewed the
history Of the agreement CT 1918. saying
that it never became treaty, ratffca-
lions never having been exchanged So
far as the convention is concerned. i had
never been observed. While under its
terms the United States was permitted
to maintain ship of not more than one
hundred tons. while the old ship Michi-
gan on the lakes is of 500 tons. Between
1S30-40 Canada maintained quite q feet
on the lakes Mr. Boutell eontended that
the lake ship yards should be permitted
20 compete with the seaboard yards. He
favored the maintenance by the United
States Of two modern gunbOats for the
use Of the naval militia. Canada would
appreciate the same privilege.
Mr.. Foss, Chairman OF the Committee on
Naval Affairs. said that a modification Of
a treaty was not a matter 70 be considered
by the Naval Committee, but by the
Committe on Foreign Affairs, or by the
State Department.
After this Incidental discussion the
clerk resumed the reading Of the bill
passing without interruption the sections
relating to the Naval War College. the
Naval Home at Philadelphia, and ord
nance and ordnance stores In the last
section the following paragraphs Of local
interest occurs:
Purchase and manufacture OF smoke
less powder, five hundred thousand dol
lara.
New and improved machinery for exist
ing shops of the naval gun factory at the
Washington Navy Yard, fifty thousand
dollars
For new and improved machinery for
the proposed new workshop at the Wash
ington Navy Yard estimated Ger by the
Bureau of Yards and Docks. one hundred
theusani- dollars.
For automatic eoaI-eonyeyIng maehin-
cry and apparatus complete for the boiler
house stokers AT the naval gun factory.
$3.50
For equipment of the forge shop at the
naval gun factory after extension and re-
modelling, as estimated for by the Bureau
of Yards and Docks. including twenty-five
ton crane and runways, steam hammer.
small hammers, piping, wiring, and mo
tors, 81, 000.'
Mr.. Foss moved an amendment to the
Indian Head proving ground section. in
creasing the amount carried for the pur-
chase of land from SIS, Gee to $4,000. This
amendment Mr. Foss said was submitted
at The request OF the Navy Department.
The amendment was agreed 70.
The paragraphs respecting the Wash
ingten Navy Yard and the smokeless
powder factory were passed without OPP
position. These paragraphs follow:
Navy Yard, Washington, District of
Columbia: For one chemist, at g 590; enc
Chief Clerk, at 81, 600: one clerk, at
81, 400; one clerk, at 81 100; one writer,
at s1.e17.25; two writers. at 81 OF % each;
one craftsman. at 81 800; three craftsmen,
at S1.08i each; one assistant craftsman,
al S772; two copyists. az 1920 each; enc
telegraph operator and copyist, al 81 600:
in all. ST, s06.T5.
"smokeIess powder factory: For one
chemist, at s., 500; enc assistant chemist,
at 81 500; IN ali 81 IQ0"