The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-02-26
ACTION TO Be DELAYED
The House Yields Regarding the
Building of Warships.
Accepts the senate Amendment Re
Guiring the Secretary OF the Navy
the Vessels Next December - \
Further Conference on other Items

Advocates of the increase of the navy
were yesterday obliged. after long fight
in the House. to recede from the provision
in the Naval Appropriation bill for build
| ing two battleships and two cruisers. They
were compelled also to accept the Senate
amendment which puts of until next De-
| cember any further action. It makes it
| incumbent upon the Secretary of the Navy
! to prepare report upon the style, armoT
| ing and armament of the vessels, to be
submitted TO the House in December. and
makes probable a long and determined
fight among the Representatives them
selves over the disputed points Of armor.
guns and turrets concerned in the con-
struction of the ships. The motion to re-
cede and concur in the Senate amendment
was agreed to by 15S to So and further
conference on the remaining items of dis
agreement was ordered.
Mr.. Dayton submitted the conference re-
port and Mr.. Rixey asked that the House
recede from its opposition to the Senate
amendment. which requires the Secretary
of the Navy to submit a report upon the
plans for the battleships and cruisers. Mr..
Dayton said that such action would in
volve the House in the intricacies of a
scientific investigation that would be both
unwise and Improbable.
Mr.. RiXey- am surprised that the
House does not accept the Senate amend
| ment. The question of armoring, arming,
and equigping our war vessels is one which
we cannot investigate thoroughly. Dur
ing the last ninety days the Government
has contracted for fourteen new vessels,
five battleships, six armored cruisers, and
three protected cruisers. The cost OF
these will be $50. .0OO. 600 The shipyards of
the country are full to oveTflowing
Mr.. Dayton-I have in my pocket a
telegram from shipyard in your own
State saying that IL can build the whole
number provided for in this bill. We can
have built without delay fifteen more ships
if we want Them.
Mr Rixey-Four of these new vessels
will cost us $4,000 0O0. Before we make
this great expenditure, should we not be
willing to wait until December? Then the
Secretary of the Navy can report thor
oughly upon the matter. l am not un-
willing to have the navy increased, but
the trouble is that we cannot go over one
session without making great appropria-
tion for vessels. We have fifty vessels
already on the stocks.
Mr.. Dayton-That is no argument. Why,
Japan alone is building twelve warships,
two cruisers, two smaller cruisers, ana
eight destroyers The United States must
not lag behind. Germany proposes to in
crease its naval establishment by twenty
seven ships.
Mr. Mudd-I am in favor of liberal
policy of building up the navy. We can
not do this by a policy of delay, inyest-
CATION and retrenchment.
Mr.. Hopkins-Should we not wait until
the question of sheathed or unsheathed
cruisers shall be settled in the depart
ment in some way, at least2
Mr. Mudd-The gentleman's policy is to |
wait and wait and wait. until we know !
that We know nothing OF today Where !
will it end? We can build both sheathed |
and unsheathed vessels, and find out. We !
are building upon the best system in the |
world today. Everybody admits that the |
new conditions arising from acquisition |
of territory require a proper develop !
ment of our naval force.
Mr. w A Smith-How long will it take /
to build these vessels?
Mr. Dayton-About two years. and six |
months longer If the Senate amendment |
is retained. There has been a very healthy |
increase in shipyards. There Is much /
competition and We will be able to get |
our ships much more cheaply.
Mr.. Brown-It is certain that the ques |
tions in doubt have been in doubt 50 long
that they are not likely to be settled in |
the six months between now and next |
December
Mr. Adams-The gentleman from rli-
nois, MIR. Hopkins is a MiCawber, he is |
always waiting for something 20 turn |
up" II was upon his argument against |
the armor plate price that the question OF
building ships was put over from one
session to another. That action. based
upon a misapprehension Of the facts, mas
resulted in an expense to this Govern
meur And now he wants to repeat the
same thing, while the Senate amendment
for submarine boats which have proved |
almost a failure and have hardly proved
their usefulness, goes through without
his opposition.
Mr. Hopkins-You can build a half
dozen submarine beats for the price Of
one hattleship.
Mr.. Caunon-This is not a question of
seutmeutality, ! am for a sufficient navy !
and sufficient army. But enough is as
good as a feast Is it not time - halt
The ships now authorized will cost SG5-
600 900. will require almost twice as many
officers and almost twice as many men
When our ships are built We viii have the
best manned and best equipped navy in
the world with the exception OF England
We have no fear from her. for thousands
Of miles along our northern coast. Can
ada is a hostage. ! believe We can aC-
cept the Senate amendment and deal with
this question twelve months from now
The motion to recede from the House
and to accept the Senate
was carred-yeas l5S. nays so
present .. Mr.. Dayton then asked that q
motion TO ask for further conference be
substituted for the motion TO agree to the
conference report This was done.