The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-03-13
new WARSHIPS.
How Congress Has Provided U.
S. With Fighting Machines.

Washington, March 13.-During the
closing days of the second session of
the Fifty-seventh congress there was
fought out a proposition on the result
of which win be based the future pro-
gramme of the United States in the
construction of its war vessels. On the
surface it appears to be but differ
ence Of views between legislators as to
the size Of battleshi3s which they
thought would be effective. but behind
It IS the story of somewhat unusual in
terest, especially in connection with the
tactics employed by both sides to at
tain their several ends.
The original provisions in the naval
appropriation bill as reported by the
house committee and passed by this
house provided for three frst-class bat
tleshlps of 5000 tons and one armOred
cruiser OF 1850 tons This provision re-
celVed the support Of all the officers OF
the navy, including the secretary and
the board of construction. 1t 50 hap
pened, however. that as the apDropria-
ton bill was first to be considered by
the house, under the constitution. Secre-
tary Moody consulted largely, if not en-
tlrely, with the members of the house
in regard to the building programme for
this and other years Senator Hale. who
has been the head OF the senate naval
committee for many years, is reported
to have been more or less piqued by the
tactics pursued by Secretary Moody ana
/
programme recommended by him.
Another reason IS given for his at
| tltude. The bill provided for $4,000 ton
ships, for the construction of which
there are but a Comparatively small
number of ship yards which possess the
necessary facilities In Maine there is
q ship yard which can build vessels up
to 10000 tons and which is at present
attempting to construct much larger
vessel, the work Of which, however, it
IS SAID IS not progressing to the COM
plete satisfaction of the navy depart
ment and the contractors. But, Senator
Hale determined that 1900 ton ships
should be constructed, and when the ap-
preparation bill reached the senate he
secured the adoption of an amendment
for four vessels of this character and
two armored cruisers Of $500 tons each
instead of the ships provided for in the
house bill.
Then the senate and house locked
horns and a fight of the most stubborn
character was inaugurated For years
all modern navies have increased in size,
the armOr and armament of its vessels
as each succeeding type is evolved. The
United States reached its highest point
when the Connecticut class was design
ed so that the Oregon and ships of her
class are now considered second class
battleshipS. England has gone a step
further and proposes to build ships of
Is 600 tons displacement. Consequently,
when Senator Hale proposed a return
to battleships of the 1900 ton class the
OFnclalS OIL Ene navy IhOuShT 1t would be
| a step backward.
Another very important consideration
is, that. whereas a 600 ton battleshiD
is relatively much more effective than d
1900 ton battleship, it requires as many
officers to man the smaller vessel as to
equip the larger one and almost as
many men for its crew, so that the cost
of maintaining the smaller and less eff
hcient vessel is practically the same as
that of keeping the larger one in com
mission.
With the United States navy rs short
of officers and men as it is TODAY. and
the great efforts to increase the number
of officers and men. the possibility of
having to man several additional vessels
in order to secure the same fighting
strength as contemplated was regarded
by officers of the navy with grave ap-
prehension.
1t was not until almost the closing
of congress that the house committee
sprung its trump card in calling before
it the members of the board of con-
structi0n to secure their testimony as
to the relative efficiency of 1900 ton
vessels and 10000 ton vessels. The tes-
timony of these officers of long expert
ence and training and charged with the
grave responsibilities of their high Office
was so conclusive that Senator Hale
could not but recede from the position
however. in securing a compromise for
two L 600 ton battleships instead of the