New-York tribune., 1901-01-16
AGAINST HOLLAND BOATS
NO SUBMARINES INCLUDED IN THE
NAVAL BILL. WHICH CARRIES
A TOTAL OF S7SOOOO00.
[BY TELEGRAPH TO THE rR1BuxE.l


Washington, Jan. 15-The Naval Appropri-
the House Committee on Naval Affairs, which
lasted five hours, most of that time being devot-
ed to a lively fight over the question of sub
marine boats. Those who took part in the dis
cussion were Admirals ONeil. Melville and
Bradford and a few members of the committee
The bill carries appropriations aggregat-
ing S7S0O0OOO which is S13,OOO.0O0 more than
the amount allowed last year, and the greatest
sum ever granted to the Navy for current ex-
penses. The only increase provided Is for -FOUR
maximum armored vessels Of greater offensive
power than any ever designed in the world,
two of them battleships and two cruisers each
of about fifteen thousand tons displacement
For the construction of the hulls and machinery
of ships already building there is an allowance
OF S22,OOO,OOO contracts due in the next nscdi
year. with $4.OOOO0O added for armor The
other important provisions have recently oeen
published in The Tribune, except an authorize
tion urged by officers and the Department that
this years and next years classes at the Naval
Academy be graduated ensgns.
The submarine boat controversy was the feat
of the meeting, Secretary Longs protest
having caused the advocates of the scheme for
forcing the Government to buy twenty more
Hollands at the rate of $4,000 each to reduce
their proposition to-day to seven boats at the
price
The three Admirals demonstrated conciu-
sivelv to the committee that the boats did not
cost more than $75, 600 each, and two OF them
believe that those for which the Government
is now paying $4,000 each could be duplicated
in lots of four for $4,000 each
ADMIRALS ATTACK SUBMARINES.
Admiral Bradford attacked the military fall
lacfes of submarine vessels detailing the history
of such boats He showed that submerged yes
sells involving essential features of the Holland
had been In practical use N this country Ior
seventy-fve years. and that Fulton long ago
navigated his Nautilus successfully on the
Seine for the enjoyment Of Parisians, out ne
demolished their supposed value as an engine
of war to the full satisfaction of the committee
Admiral O'NeiPs presentation equally con-
vincing, particularly In view of modern naval
tendencies, ,vhich insure short. decisive wars
settled on the high seas by great armored fleets.
harbors being already effectively defended by
forts and mines Admiral Melville devoted him
self to the insuperable mechanical defects or
submarine boats He showed that the Holland
could not with her present speed stem the
ordinary tides OF the entrances to New-fork
Harbor; that she depended on tugboats for
cruises to points Of attack and that no crew
could stand a voyage in her under her own
power without frequent stops for recuperation,
even when the cruise wholly on the sur
face. He also showed by the report OF one or
his expert assistants who had gone from An
napolis TO Norfolk in the boat, 145 miles. In two
and a half days. and had thoroughly examined
her. that there was not single novel develop
ment of utility about her makeup. not a prtnci-
pie or application that not the worlds prop
erty and no essential contrivance that was
patentable. Her appliances and auxiliaries
were all purchasabe in any large supply house.
there was not a distinctive invention about her,
and there was nothing in her hull or machinery
that was even ingenious. II the Government
was to be forced to build such boats. he said. II
ought to stop paying over 100 per cent royal
ties above the cost OF construction for an in
influence was exerted in securing appropriations.
At the close of the hearing Mr. Hauley pro-
posed that seven boats should be authorized 10
cost 81 1905 600 TO be contracted for when the
boats now building found to comply with
the contract requirements. This was defeated
by q vote Of to 3. the division of the commit
tee being follows
For Observation-Disclosures of New-Jer-
sey; Hawley OF Texas; Butler Of Pennsylvania;
Bull Of Rhode Island. and Vandiver. OF Mis-
souri,
Against-Foss, of illinois, Dayton. of West
Virginia; Mudd Of Maryland; Tate, of Georgia;
Meyer OF Louisiana; Rixey, OF Virginia; Kitchin.
OF North Carolina, and Wheeler of Kentucky.
Mr. Bull then moved that the Secretary of the
Navy have discretion to build more OF
the boats, and this as well a motion by Mr..
Ktchin to limit the cost of each boat to 100000
defeated.