The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-12-27

cial. l.)-House bill No. 649o, drawnAby Capt. Richmond Pearson Hobson and intro- duced by Congressman A. A. Wiley of Alabama, by request, has naturally at tracted very wide attention.
 It is commonly called the two billion dollar naval bill, but Captain Hobson speaks of his measure as the American Naval Supremacy bill. It calls for ap- populations totalling S2, l00,OOO,OOO to be expended in the construction of new naval vessels during a period of twenty two years, beginning the current year with So0,000,000. and increasing the amount from year to year.
 The text Of the bill follows:
 Hobson's Bill.
 "A bill authorizing the construction of such additional vessels as may be nee- essary to create a navy adequate for the purposes of the Unlced states.
 Be 1t enacted by the senate and house of representatives of the United States or America in congress assembled.
 Section |. That the sum of nifty mil lions of dollars is hereby appropriated out of the moneys of the treasury not other wise appropriated, to be expended in the construction of additional war vessels to be laid down during the current fiscal
 
 uf the navy.
 That the sum of sixty millions of dol lars is hereby appropriated out of the moneys of the treasury not otherwise appropriated, to be expended in the con struction of additional war vessels, to be laid down during the next fiscal year under the direction of the secretary of the navy.
 That the sum of seventy millions of ic aI of moneys in the treasury, not otherwise appropriated, to be expended in the con struction of additional war vessels, to be laid down during the following fiscal year under the direction of the secre- tary of the navy.
 That the sum of eighty millions of dollars is hereby appropriated out of the moneys in the treasury, not otherwise appropriated, to be expended in the con struction of additional war vessels, to be laid down during the following fiscal year under the direction of the secre- tary of the navy.
 That the sum of ninety millions of dollars is hereby appropriated out of the moneys of the treasury, not otherwise appropriated, to be expended in the con struction of additional war vessels to be laid down during the following fiscal year under the direction of the secre- tary of the navy
 That the sum of one hundred millions of dollars Is hereb appropriated out of the moneys in the treasury, not otherwise appropriated, to be expended in the con struction of additional war vessels, to be laid down during the following fiscal year under the direction of the secre- tary of the navy.
 That the sum of one hundred and ten millions of dollars is hereby appropriated out of the moneys in the treasury not otherwise appropriated, to be expended in the construction of additional war yes- sels to be laid down during the follow- ing fiscal year under the direction of the secretary of the navy.
 That the sum of one hundred and twenty millions of dollars is hereby ap- propriated out of the moneys in the treasury, not otherwise appropriated to be expended in the construction of ad- ditional war vessels, to be laid down dur ing the following fiscal year under the direction of the secretary of the navy.
 That the sum of one hundred and thirty millions of dollars is hereby ap- propriated out of the moneys in the treasury, not otherwise appropriated to be expended in the construction of addl- tional war vessels, to be laid down dur ing the following fiscal year under the di- rection of the secretary of the navy.
 That the sum of one hundred and forty millions of dollars is hereby appro- priated out of the moneys in the treas ury, not otherwise appropriated to be expended In the construction of addition al war vessels, to be laid down during the following fiscal year under the direction of the secretary of the navy.
 That the sum of one hundred and fifty millions of dollars is hereby appro- priated out of the moneys in the treas ury not otherwise appropriated, to be expended in the construction of addition al war vessels to be laid down during the following fiscal year under the di- rection of the secretary of the navy.
 That the sum of one hundred and fifty millions of dollars is hereby appro- priated out of the moneys in the treas ury not otherwise appropriated, to be expended in the construction of addition al war vessels to be laid down during the fiscal year 1914-1915, under the di- rection of the secretary of the navy.
 Total Appropriation.
 That the sum of one billion five hun dred millions of dollars is hereby appro- priated out of the moneys in the treas ury, not otherwise appropriated to be expended in the construction of addi- tional war vessels, to be laid down during the fiscal years 1915-1916 to 1924-1925, in elusive, one hundred and fifty millions of dolalrs to be available each fiscal year. Sec. g. That the purpose of this act is to enlarge consecutively the United States navy and establish Its supremacy upon the navigable waters of the world. in order to promote the welfare and protect the interests, and secure the peace of the United States at home and abroad, and to advance everywhere the cause ot peace and of justice among the nations of the earth.
 Sec. 8. That the types of vessels and numbers of vessels in each type, and the characteristics of each vessel shall be determined by the President in con ference with the secretary of the navy" In transmitting his copy of the bill to Congressman Wiley, Captain Hobson sent him the following open letter, in which the measure is discused in detail
 Hobson's Letter.
 Greensboro, Ala, Nov. 25 l9O3. ''Hon. A. A. Wiley. M. C.. House of Representatives, Washington, D. c.
 Dear Sir: I have the honor to re- quest that upon the converting of con gress In regular session. you introduce f'by request the enclosed bill, providing for the consecutive increase in the yes sels of the United States navy
 '"rhe question of proportonate increase in auxiliary material and in personnel is left for additional legislation.
 '"The provision leaving the determine ton of the types of vessels, the number of each type. and the characteristics of each vessel. to the President under pro- fessional and technical advice, is intend- a1 to ;peure homaopaneous fleets and 1fn