Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-01-19
Naval Bill Carries the Largest Appro-
priation in Its History.
THE TOTAL AMOUNT is $77,0l6,65
Over Ten Millions Below the De-
partment's Estimates.
PROVISION FOR NEW SHIPS

The naval appropriation bill was reported
to the House today, with an elaborate state
ment of its provisions by Chairman Foss
of the naval committee. The bill carries
ST1,O16,635, the largest ever reported to
the House from the committee on naval af-
fairs. This is $11 800 71S above the bill of
last year and $10,2oD, 3G5 below the esti-
mates submitted by the Navy Department.
New Ships for the Navy.
Concerning new ships for the navy the
report says: For the purpose of further in
creasing the naval establishment of the
United States the committe recommends
that the President be authorized to have
built, by contract, two unshea thed sea-
going battleships. carrying the heaviest ar
NOR and the most powerful ordnance for
vessels Of their class upon trial dis
placement OF about 1900 tons each, to
have the highest practicable speed and
grea atest radius of action, and to cost, ex-
elusive of armor and arma ment, not ey-
ceedlng s3,So0,0O0 each. and two unsheath
ed armored cruisers carrying the heaviest
armor and most powerful ordnance for
vessels of their class upon Il trial dis
placement of about 1900 tone each and
to have the highest practicable speed and
greatest radius o faction and to cost, eX-
elusive of arn1Or and armament, not eX-
ceeding S4,OO0,OO0 each. Maximum cost of
the vessels herein authorized, exclusive of
armor and armament. will be S1J.IO0, 900.
Inc bill provides that not more than one
battle ship armored cruiser shall be
built in one yard or by one party. and the
usual provision is made that at least one
and not more than two of the battle ships
and armored cruisers shall be built on the
Pacific coast.
Increase of the Navy.
OF the appropriations for the various
branches of the service the principal item
iS - for no f,f he
The pay Of the navy is increased 81, is93S7
over the appropria tion for the same object
last year, and is accounted for by the
thority granted to the department to enlist
) 600 additional seamen and fifty warrant
machjnists to meet the necessity of prop
ery manning the new ships soon to be
added to the navy.
To meet the emergency of the lack of
officers for the new ships the bill provides
that the two classes now at sea, which
have completed their four-years' course at
the Naval Academy, shall be commissioned
thereupOn. This will provide for the new
officers desired by the department, and in
the judgment of the committee will meet ali
the eXigencies of the present situation.
The continued necessity for emergency
fund is found to exist i'll the unsettled state
of affairs in the far east, and enables the
department to meet contingencies which
1t is impossible to anticipate with sufficient
Appropriations for Naval Work.
The following places receive appropria-
tons for naval work: Portsmouth. s37S.S5o
Boston, s526GO0: New York, s1,0O9, ,p01;
eague Island, $685., ,230; Washington, $31S.-
210; Norfolk. s594 .260; Key West, s144, ,O0o;
Mare Island, 1891 $50: Puget Sound. s273. 900;
San Juan, $4,000: Pensacola. s41 800: Al
gierS, 1920, 900: Dry Tortugas. S10U,000, Hd-
wall. $101 800; Tutuila, $22J 600.
For the four new dry docks, now build
ing at Portsmouth, Boston, League Island
and Mare Island 81 ,000, 900 is provided. The
committee recommends this year an appro-
priation of SS,o000 600 toward the rebuilding
of the Naval Academy. In the last year 5
bill S'5o,00o was appropriated prior to that
tlce 81 .c20.0b. making IA total appropriation
Of 81, 900 prior to the present bill.
The ArmOr Question.
The report says in part as to armor:
Your committee also provides under the
increase of the navy an appropriation of
s4,GnHO for armor and armament for
ships now under construction.
1t win be remembered that Congress
wisely solved the perplexing question Of
providing armor plate for our ships last
year by the enactment of a provision Civ
ing the Secretary of the Navy full power
to buy armor at such price as in his judg
ment might seem reasonable and just, or
build an armor plate factory. toward which
100000 were appropriated. 1t ought to
be a matter of general congratulation that
the armor plate question has been settled
through the skill, firmness and excellent
carrying out the evident purposes of Con-