The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-01-25
AN EXPENSIVE NAVY
WHAT 1T WILL HAVE COST WHEN
PLANS ARE COMPLETED.
s310,ooo,OOo THE FIGURE
SINCE CLEVELAND AND HEsR BERT
BEGUN THE WORK.

watch Dog" Cannon Thinks IL Time
to Cali IL HaIt-HydrOgrnphic APP
preparation Gets Through This
Year All Right-TwO Democratic
Members Indulge In PyrOtechnics.
Total of Appropriations Now In
sight for the Coming Fiscal Year
S753,0O0,O0O.
Washington, Jan. 2l.-The House to-day
continued the consideration of the naval
appropriation bill and practically com
pleted it before adjournment. one small
matter went over until tomorrow. The
debate upon the present naval bill has
lacked the interesting and sensational fea-
lures of recent years.
Several items went over on points of or
der to-day but no material amendments
were made.
Mr.. Cannon, chairman OF the approprla-
ton committee, made a notable statement
to the effect that when the ships now au-
thorized and to be authorized had been
completed, $4,000 900 would have been
spent upon the new navy and that in his
opinion the time to stop will then have
arrived.
Mr.. w. A. Smith. of Michigan, brought
up the question of the abrogation of the
treaty of 1917 prohibiting the maintenance
of war vessels upon the great lakes
Mr.. Smith said the treaty was an in
hibition upon the shipbuilding and COM
mercial interests of. the lakes against
which he protested
Mr.. Mann of Illinois opposed the abro-
gation of the treaty. 1t would mean that
England could build great ships there
which would threaten the cities on the
American side and the whole commerce
of the lakes.
Mr.. Boutee of Illinois favored modf-
cation, mainly to permit one small armed
vessel on the upper lakes and one on the
lower.
Mr. Foss in charge of the bill. said
the matter was one for the state depart
ment to consider.
The paragraph appropriating 100000 for
photographic surveys which aroused so
long and bitter fight last year between
the Naval and Appropriations commit
tees, was to-day passed with merely an
Inquiry from Mr.. Cannon as to how much
Of the appropriations of last year for hy-
geographic surveys had been expended.
Mr.. Foss replied that sT5,e00 had been
used. The provision in the present bin
makes the victory of the navy and the
Naval Committee complete.
Mr.. Rixey, a Democratic member of tine
Naval Committee opposed the provision
for increase of the navy on the ground
that the recent contracts let would. for
the present, absorb the capabilities of our
shpyards. He had sharp dispute with
Mr.. Wheeler of Kentucky.
II am not only in favor of my coun-
try" said Mr.. Rixey, when it is right,
but l am in favor of IL, right or wrong"
(Applause)
81 am not in favor Of following my coun-
try" replied Mr.. Wheeler, where to
follow IL means to indorse the subjection
of a people, and the crushing of their
liberties" (Applause)
Mr.. Rixey said that if the building of
the navy was rushed along at an inor-
Ginate rate, in few years new inven-
tions might make many of our new ships
obsolete. He was in favor of going slow
er.
Mr.. Wheeler contended that the Demo-
cratic party always had been i'm favor
of a strong navy.
as the gentleman aware" interposed
Mr.. Foss, that William j. Bryan on the
floor of this House in 1890 opposed the
further construction of shiDs."
William Jennings Bryan" retorted
Mr.. Wheeler, lis a great. pure and able
Democrat, but he is not the Democratic
party. Men who recognize as their party
Shibboleth and handspring of action the
will of one man, Marcus Aurelus Hanna,
cannot understand how Democrats can
recognize a great and distinguished citi-
zen and leader and at the same time diff
fer from him on questions of policy"
Mr.. Rixey offered an amendment to
strike out the entire provision for the
increase of the navy.
Mr.. Cannon, chairman of the Appropria-
tiqns Committee, said he was for sufii-
cient navy, but when IL was sufficient ne
was in favor of stopping. Since 1888, when
the new navy began to be built, $227, ,000,-
600 had been appropriated for ships Qn
Guiding the provision In the bilD, but not
including $50, 100000 still due on contracts.
He did not think the United States need
ed the largest navy in the world. We
would not be called upon to fight England
Her American possessions along our north
ern border constituted q bond of peace
But we needed strong navy. We had
the Philippines. And we were going to
keep them. We could not get rid of them
II we wished to. He would have been con-
tent II the authorization in the pen0ng
bin had been omitted.
with $753OOO.0OO OF appropriations. In
Guiding provision for the sinking fund
now in sight for the coming-fiscal year"
said he in conclusion, "and as we are
to reduce taxation, we should inquire di;-
igently into ali these matters and not
90 beyond that which is necessary for
the protection, glory and honor OF the
country" Applause.)
Mr. Foss defended the action of the
committee.
Mr. Rixey's amendment was lost on a
rising vote, 40 to 80.
Amendments striking out the provision
for construction OF the two armored cruz
sers and providing that the ships might
be built in the government navy yards,
were lost.
At $50 D. D the House adjourned.