New-York tribune., 1901-01-25
COST OF TIE NEW NAVY.
WIEN WORK NOW CALLED FOR Is DONE
TOTAL ESPENDITU RE WILL
REACH s31ooOo,ooo.

Washington. Jan. 24--The House To-Day con-
tinued consideration Of the Naval Appropriation
bill and practically completed it before adjourn
rnent. one small matter went over until to-
morrow The debate upon the present Naval
bin has licked the interesting and sensational
features Of recent years. The fight which The
Appropriation Committee waged -gainst hydro
graphic surveys under the auspices Of the Navy
was abandoned this year by the committee. and
several other questions. including armor plate.
which usually entail much discussion, eccssioned
10 comment whateveT.
The provision for the increase Of the Navy
vss made the occasion Of an interesting debate
upon the length 20 which tho building up Of the
cSavy was 20 GO and drew from Mr Cannon.
chairman Of the Appropriation Committee a
ststenent &c the effect that when the ships now
authorized ana 20 be authorized had been com
pleted $40 100000 would have been spent upon
The new Navy and that in his opinion the time
30 stop would then have arrived An amend
nnent offered by Mr. Rixey, q Democratic mem
bsF Of the Naval Committee 10 strike out the
provision II the bill for two battleships and two
cruisers was defeated by vote Of IS 10 90
HYDRoGRAPHIC SURVEY QUESTION
The paragraph appropriaung 100000 for by
geographic surveys "hich aroused such 2 long
snd bitter fight last -esr between the Naval and
APPROXIMATIONS committees the latter insisting
thar the photographic surveys should be made
hv the Coast and Geodetic SURVEY. and not by
'he Navy, passed to-day without objection
The paragraph carving the appropriation in the
present bill contains limitation whatever
upop the CHARACTER of the photographic surveys
be made by III. Navy This makes the vic
tory of the Navy and Naval Committee com
plere
Mr Rixey 2 member Of the Naval Commit
fee, opposed the provision in the Hill for the in
crease n the Navy, the ground that the re-
cent contracts let would for the present absorb
me capaolhles Of our shlpyarcs. he became
involved in sharp dispute with Mr.. Wheeler.
who announced yesterday that he was in favor
of tn biggest navy in the world.
am not only IN favor Of my country said
ET RiXey. when i is right, but I am in favor
of il. right OF wrong tApplause)
! am not n favor Of following my country,
replied Mr. Wheeler, where TO follow il means
20 in6orse the subsection Of a people and the
crushing OF their liberties. CApplause)
ny Rixey said that if the building of the
Navy rushed along at inordinate rate
in few years new inventions might make many
~ our new ships obsolete lie was in favor Of
going more slowly
Mr Wheeler. in replying to Mr.. Rixey. again
contended. on yesterday, that the Demo
Gratis party always had been in favor Of a
Is the gentleman aware" interposed M
Foss that William ] Eryan on the floor Of
this house in 1890 opposed the further corstruc-
tisn of ships?
William Jennings Bryan" retorted Mr
Wheeler. is a great pure and able Democrat.
hut he is not the Democratic party" tRepubli-
can laughter and cries Of We thought ne was,'O
That statement eXoites neTTlment on the Re
publican slds of the House. continued Mr.
Wheeler. because men who recognize as their
party shibboleth and handspring Of action the
will of one man. Marcus AureliuS Hanna cannot
understand how Democrats can recognize a
great and distinguished citizen and leader, and
at the same time differ from him on questions Of
policy
Mr. Rixey offered an amendment to strike out
rhe entire provision for the increase Of the Navy.
Mr. Dayton Of West Virginia. vigorously op-
posed the amendment. contending that if the
Government abandoned the naval programme il
Ewoul9 9lsappolhI me generous sentiment NAM. .
rested by The country toward the building up Of
The new Navy.
CREDIT FOR THE NEW NAVY.
Nr Cannon. chairman Of the Appropriations
Committee said that in considering the amend
rlent II was necessary 70 ascertain where We
at" He was for a sufficient Navy. But
when IL sufficient he in favor Of STOP
ping Since 1888 when the new Navy began to
Re built, S227.000000 had been appropriated for
ships, including the provisions in the bill. hut
not including $50 100000 still due on contracts
To Mr., Wheeler, who interrupted him TO in
qUire 70 whom the credit for beginning the new
Navy was due, Mr. Cannon replied rather i'm
patiently that the country large did not care
three hurrahS N hot place to whom the credit
belonged. IL as interested in results Laugh-
ter and appause)
Mr.. Cannon said he did not think Congress had
appropriated too much for the Navy. but ne
wanted the House 10 proceed with full knoWl-
edge Of What had been done. He did not think
the United States needed the largest navy in
England. Her American possessions along our
northern border constituted a bond Of peace
But We needed 2 strong Navy. We had the
Philippines. And going 10 keep them.
We could not get rid OF them if desired TO-
But We did not want a larger Navy than
needed. After We had enacted this bill said he,
We would have gone far should go and
should stop
With S753000Oo0 Of appropriations includ-
ing provision for the sinking fund now in sight
fcr fhe coming fiscal year. said he in cOnClu-
sion. and are 10 reduce taxation.
should inquire diligently into all these matters
and not go beyond that which is necessary for
the protection, glory and honor Of the country
applause
Mr., Foss chairman OF the Naval Committee
detended 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 one Of the former TO
eleven vessels hy the Secretary. Under these
circumstances. Mr.. Foss submitted the action
q the committee recommending the authorize
flon of four was both moderate and conserva-
tive The RiXey amendment was lost on a ris-
ing vote-a6 TO 90
Mr. Vandiver moved 10 strike out the pro-
vision for the construction of two armored
cruisers This amendment also was lost Mr..
Fitzgerald offered an amendment providing the
ships might be built in the Government Navy
Esres. The motion was lost. After completing
the bill. with the exception Of a single para
asph. the House adjourned.
HERE To SILL IONDON POaD