The Washington times., 1902-04-29
$77659,386.63 Carried by
the Appropriation Bill
Reported Yesterday.
SECRETARY WANTED MORE
Departments Request Cut Down by
Twenty seven Million Dollars - At
Least One War Vessel to Be Construct
ed in Government Yard.

The naval appropriation bill. the last
OF the big appropriation measures. was
reported to the House yesterday by Chair
man Foss. Of the Naval Committee. 1t
was ordered printed and placed on the
| calendar. The amount recommended by
the bill is $T.s59 .3S663. which is s2T, ,405.-
2sS less than the estimate submitted by
| the Secretary of the Navy
The report which accompanied the bill
Is very exhaustive and goes fully into all
the details After discussing the pro-
vision directing the Secretary of the Navy
TO have constructed one Of the two bat
tleships authorized. or an armored cruis-
er in one Of the Government navy Yards
the report takes up the subject of ships.
Cost of Ships.
The cost OF the six ships provided for
in the bill will be approximately 500. .50O.-
600. For armor and armament, $4,000. 900
is set aside.
The reduction of si.G0O.00O in the esti-
mates for the construction OF machinery.
for which the bill carries s13. .s03 01O. is
ascribed to the reports OF the chief OF
construction and the chief Of engineers.
OF material. strikes. and other causes the
work on the vessels now in process OF
construction has not progressed as rapid
ly as was anticipated.
A table is given, showing that eight
battleships, six armored cruisers, nine
protected cruisers. four monitors. fifteen
torpedo boat destroyers. nine torpedo
boats. and seven submarine torpedo boats
were in process of construction on Janu-
airy I. 1909.
In view Of the necessity for increasing
the number of officers for the new ves-
sells now in course of construction. the
bill provides for the appointment of 500
additional cadets. to be appointed at the
rate Of 125 each year for four years. For
the first year each Senator will be al
lowed to make an appointment. and the
President will have six. a sufficient num-
ber being allowed to members and dele
gates to bring The total up to Us each
year. During each successive year the
President shall appoint SIX and enough
will be allowed to members and delegates
to Bring the total up to 125 each year.
Ration for Enlisted Men.
The present ration. which has been
without change since 1t was
established in July. 1851, Is increased so
as to give the enlisted men much better
food, the changes being such as to bring
the cost per diem UP from Il TO % cents
10 30 cents per man. Among other things
the enlisted men of the engineering and
iynamo forces en- night watch are allowed
coffee and bread and meat as an extra
unch.
Estimates by the department for naval
station at San Juan dc Porto Rico, to
est s613,0OO, and Of 81 .443.0 900 for naval
tation at Olongapo. p. L.. were rejected.
md the committee wished to secure more
efinite information as 20 the best loca-
ion for the station.
Awaiting more light en- the subject the
ommittee also declined to make an ap-
ropriation of s550,000 for the housing
nd storing of torpedo vessels at New
-ork, Boston. Charleston, and the pur-
hase of additional land at New York to
ost s.. 600. .000.
The total value of the real estate and
hattels of the navy yards and stations
$ given at s71.4o9,1S2.
Increase in the Navy. ,+.,
A view OF the program of rebuilding the
avy appended to the report shows that
ince 1882 there have been added to the
avy seventy-nine vessels, costing S124,-
DO 091 and that fifty-nine vessels are now
nder construction 10 build, which will
est $50. .SS0,013. The navy will then have
IS vessels costing s235. .OS2, ,209. OF these
essels the report says:
Our naval prowess lies almost entirely
our eighteen battleships. eight armored
ruisers, and twenty-o protected cruis-
rs. The rest of our ships would cut but
tile figure in actual war. Ships of the
attle line practically. alone determine
,e naval strength of nation
A comparative table is given of the
Continued Third Page.)