The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-08-03
Bureau Chiefs WrangIe Over
 Naval Appropriations.
BILL IS VERY CONFUSING
Funds for Constructing Battleshlps of Smaller Size Provided for After Battle Between the
 House and Senate.
nx wArTERsoN sTEALEY.

washington. August 2.-(special.)-No surprise should be occasioned by the dir- ference of opinion which has developed among the bureau chiefs of the navy de- partment over the armament, armor, speed and coal carrying capacity of the new 13,OO0-ton battleship, for, that seri- ous difficulty of just such character would certainly arise, was clearly point ed out to theNlouse committee on naval affairs last session when the naval ap- propriation bill was under consideration.
 The story of how the appropriation for battleships of the smaller size was includ- ed in the appropriation bill is Of some interest The original provision Tor the increase of the navy in the appropriation bill as reported by the house committee and adopted by the house. provided Tor three first-class battleships of l6OOO tons' and one armored cruiser of 14,OOO tons. When the bill reached the senate, Sena- tor Hale of Maine chairman of the sen ate committee on naval affairs, secured the adoption of an amendment striking out this provision and, inserting one for four 12,OOO-ton battleships and two armor- ed cruisers of 95OO tons each.
 Senator Hale Piqued.
 It is said that in consulting over the. appropriation for increase in the navy, Secretary of the Navy Moody, formerly a member of the house, paid more atten- ton to the members of the house naval committee than Senator Hale thought warranted and that the latter was piqued thereat. At any rate, the house and senate locked horns over the question and then the house committee called upon the board of construction for its views and they were presented so forcibly that Senator Hale receded and compromised on two 1S,OO0-ton battleships in lieu of the armored cruisers provided for in the house bill.
 In a statement submitted to the house committee the board of construction said that 12,000-ton ships would have the armor and armament of armored cruisers in- stead of those of first class battleships. but they would have the speed of only the battleship, so that they would be, In a measure, a hybrid with the worst and not the best qualities of the two contributing classes.
 cc.. Little More.
 Rear Adm al o'Nen. president of the board of construction. pointed out that the Oregon class of II s50 tons trial dis placement were designss in 1890; followed by the Iowa of 11,363 tons displacement in 1892; the Kearsarge of 11.53s tons in 1895; the Maine, of 12,50O tons In 1898; the New Jersey, of 15,00G tons in 1900 and the louisiana, of 16,00O in 1902. The fact that the vessels of the Louisiana class have a displacement of more than half again that of the Oregon will give some idea of their formidable character, yet while the Oregon cost S6,575032 the IS 0O0-ton battleships cost only $,500, ,0OO difference of but $s2S 962 foE ship 6OOO tons heavier.
 The board fSther represented that whereas the 16,0O0-ton battleship is rela- lively much more effective than a 12,0OO- ton battleship, 1t requires as many officers and almost as many men for the smaller as for the larger vessels, so that the cost of maintaining them in commission is about the same.