Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-01-25
PROGRESS ON NAVAL BILL
DEFEAT OF AMENDMENT TO STRIKE
OUT THE INCREASE.
Mr.. Cannon Believes That 1t is About
Time to Cry Halt on the Build
ing of Warships.

Consideration of the naval appropriation
bill continued in the House yesterday az
ternoon. and when the paragraph for the
increase of the navy was reached, Mr..
Rixey (Va.), member of the naval COM
mittee. opposed the provision on the ground
that the recent contracts let would for the
present absorb the capabilities of our ship
yards. In the course of his remarks he
became involved in a sharp dispute with
Mr.. Wheeler (KyD, who announced We'd
nesday that he was in favor of the biggest
navy in the world. II am not only in ia
, vor of my country said Mr. Rixey, when
II is right, but 1 am in favor of 1T right or
wrong" CAppause)
II am not in favor of following my coun-
try" replied Mr.. Wheeler, where to fol-
low II means to indorse the subjugation of
q people and the crushing of their liberties
(Applause.)
Mr.. Rixey said that if the building of
the navy was rushed along at an inordinate
rate, In a few years new inventions might
make many of our new ships obsolete. He
in favor of going slower.
Mr.. Wheeler, in replying to Mr.. RiXey.
again contended that the democratic party
always had been in favor of a strong navy.
rs the gentleman aware. fnterposed Mr..
Foss, that William j. Bryan on the floor
of this House in 1880 opposed the further
construction of ships?
w
Wheeler. lis great, pure and able demo-
crat. but he is not the democratic party"
Republican laughter and cries of I'VE
thought he was.'D
THAT statement excites merriment on the
republican side of the House, continued
Mr.. Wheeler, because men who recognize
as their party shibboleth and handspring
of action the will of one man, Marcus Au-
relius Hanna, cannot understand how dem
ocrats can recognize a great and distn-
guished citizen and leader and at the same
time differ from him questions of pol
ICY
Mr.. Rixey's Amendment.
Mr.. Rixey offered an amendment to strike
out the entire provision for the increase of
the navy.
Mr.. Dayton CW.Va) vigorously opposed
the amendment, contending that if the gov
eminent abandoned the naval program 1t
would dtsappont the generous sentiment
manifested by the country toward the
building up of the new navy.
MIR. Cannon chairman of the appropria-
tons committee, said that in considering
the amendment it was necessary to ascer-
tain where we We're at" He was for
sufficient navy. But when 1t was sufficient
he was in favor of stopping Since 1882
when the new navy began to be built
S22I.OUooo had been appropriated for ships
Including the provision in the bib, but not
including SS3,OOO,0OO still due on contracts
To Mr.. Wheeler, who interrupted him to
inquire to whom the credit for the inaugu-
ration OF the new navy was due, Mr. Can
non replied rather impatiently that the
country at large did not care three hur-
rams in hot place" to whom the credit
belonged. 1t was interested in results
daughter and applause.)
Mr.. Cannon Cries a Halt
Mr.. Cannon said he did not think Congress-
had appropriated too much for the navy.
but he wanted the House to proceed with
full knowledge of what had been done.
He did tba wi,
the largest navy in the world. We would
not be called upon to fight England. Her
American possessions along our northern
border constituted a bond of peace But
we needed strong navy. We had the
philippines. And we were going to keen
them We could not get rid of them If
We desired to. But we didn't want a larger
navy than was needed. After we had enact
ed this Dill. said he, we would have gone
as far as we should 60 Indeed, he would
nave been content IL the authorization in
the pending bill had been omitted But
after the ships now authorized and to be
authorized by this bill had been completed
ne thought the time to stop would have ar
rived with sI53. 100000 of appropriations
including provision for the sinking fund
now In sight. for the coming fiscal year"
SAID he. In conclusion, and as we are 10
reduce taxation. we should inquire dil!gent-
~ MO all these matters and not go beyond
lnat winch Ia necessary for the protection
glory and honor OF the country" Gap
plause).
Committees Action Defended
Mr.. Foss. chairman of the naval commit
tee. defended the action of the committee
pointing out the various recommendations
OF the bureau chiefs and the Secretary of
the Navy, ranging from thirty-two vessels
by OF the former to eleven vesse1s h,,
the Secretary. Under these circumstances
Mr.. Foss submitted, the action of the com
nittee recommending the authorization of
FOUR was both moderate and conservative.
He reviewed the naval programs of the
european countries for the coming wear
and contrasted them with ours to show now
moderate our Increase appeared.
Inc Rixey amendment was lost on a ris-
ing vote-46 to 90.
Mr.. Vandiver (Mo) moved to strike ON
the provision for the construction of the
TWO armored cruisers. This amendment
was also lost.
Mr.. Fitzgerald (N.Y.) offered an amend
ment providing that the ships might he
punt IN the government navy yards The
amendment was lost-87 to 81.
After completing the BILL with the excen-
ton or a single paragraph, the House, at
$50 pm. adjourned.