Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-05-17
Some Remarks on That Sub
ject by Mr.. Cannon.
NAVY YARD ADDITION
CONSIDERATION OF THE NAVAL
APPROPRIATION BILL.
Action by the House on the Various
Items as Reported for That
Branch of the Service.

In the absence of Speaker Henderson at
the Rosecrans exercises at Arlington Mr..
DaIzell (Pa.) today acted as Speaker of the
House Consideration of the naval bill was
resumed and the bill was read for amend
ment.
A fight against an appropriation of $780,
ooo in the naval appropriation bill for the
purchase of strip of rfver-front land ad-
joining the Washington navy yard was
made by Chairman Cannon of the appro-
priations committee. Mr.. Cannon giving
notice that he would reserve point OF
order against the provision pending ex-
PLANTATION of what it was intended to pur
chase. which he asked Mr.. Foss to make.
How much land do you intend to buy,
and how much land does the government
now own at the Washington navy yard?''
asked Mr.. Cannon.
Mr.. Foss could not answer either of these
questions specifically. He read, however,
the statement of Admiral O'Neil. who says
that the yard is already overcrowded, and
that there was already necessity for more
buildings. The amount asked for by the
department to purchase this land was $751;
ODo. Mr.. Foss explained that the commit
tee had cut off the $4,000 and left the
amount $lDp.BO0.
Now why did you do that" asked Mr..
Cannon. IF the committee saw fit to cut
the amount down." he continued Il think
the whole matter can wait until next year.
Mr. Cannon then went on to make a gen.
tral criticism of any proposition to buy land
In Washington. As illustration, he re-
ferred to the proposition to buy seventy
acres of land year or two ago for the use
of the Government Hospital for the Insane.
The first price asked for that land" he
continued. was S2o000O When they
could not get that, they cut the price in
half. and then they cut it to one-third. /
want to say that there ought not to be any
additional land bought in Washington un-
til some one has gone to the bottom of it,
Point of Order Not Sustained.
Mr.. Caunons point of order, which he
then insisted on, was overruled by Mr..
Sherman. in the chair. on the ground that
the land was adjacent to the navy yard,
and that previous rulings on this point
were all In one line. \ proposition to
purchase additional land adjoining gov
errment land was not new legislation. and.
therefore. the provision of the bill in ques-
ton was germane and in order.
MIR. Fitzgerald IN. W offered amend
meut appropriating s2o0,oeo for barracks
for enlisted men. He said the Columbia is
wholly unfit for service, according to eX-
pert testimony. and that seamen were run
ming great risks in being housed in this
ship The amendment went out on point
of order
Mr.. Butler Pa) offered an amendment
which was agreed to. appropriating So
0pp for the continuance of the erection of
storehouse for naval supplies at League
Island navy yard
Too Many Stations.
Ms. Jones (WashD offered an amendment
of SfDeD for a key wall at the naval sta
tor Puget Sound Wash.
Mr. Cannon remarked that there were en-
tirely too many of them. 1t was necessary
to divide little dough among too many
chickens and all this was because of the
fact that too many members are interested
In existing stations.
Mr.. Foss concurred in the last remark
saying he would like 10 see many wards and
stations discontinued but as this was i'm
possible in view of local interest it be-
hooved Congress to do the best it could I'M
der the circumstances in the interest of fru-
gality and good service.
MIR. Gaines fTenn.) suggested that if the
appropriations were to be reduced. il would
be we'll to begin by cutting down the appro-
priations for the insular possessions of the
United States
Mr.. Wheeler (KyD declared that those
items Of the bill had nothing to do with the
foreign policy of the United States saying
he thought there was no item in the bill
that should go out.
will the gentleman tell me what is the
foreign policy of our government" asked
Mr.. Gaines.
Nobody but God Almighty and a few
republican leaders know" responded Mr.
Wheeler.
The Jones amendment then was agreed