Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-03-03
MAY SIT ALL NIGHT
HOUSE WAITING FOR CONFEREES
ON TWO BILLS.
Little Prospect Of Getting Together
on Naval and Public Build
ings Measures.

The prospect of reaching an agreement
on the naval bill and the omnibus public
building bill became precarious this after
noon, as several meetings Of the conferees
resulted in no conclusion.
The omnibus public building bill Is one
of especial interest to the District of Co.
lumbia as it contains several propositions
for buildings 1t authorizes an increase In
the cost of the municipal building from
81, 100000 to 100000.
1t also authorizes an improvement on
the bureau of engraving and printing to
the extent of $215.O00. 1t authorizes the
Secretary Of the Treasury to acquire the
square south of the post Office a site for
an addition to the post Office building, in
Guiding space for the mail bag repair
shop.
1t authorizes the purchase of a site FOR
the hall of records. bounded by E and F,
18th and 10Th streets.
The conferees the omnibus public
building bill thus far have failed to agree.
The Senate conferees are insisting on the
Senate's disagreement to the provision
made by the House amendments authoriz-
ing appropriations for sites, while the con-
ferees for the House refuse to recede on
this.
Disagreement On Naval Bill.
President Roosevelt stated this morning
that he would be strongly inclined to call
an extra session of Congress should the
naval appropriation bill fail of passage
through the inability of the House and
Senate conferees to come to an agreement
on the controverted question of the size Of
battle ships
This statement was made by the Presi-
dent to members of the House and Senate
naval committees in the presence Of the
Secretary of the Navy, after the serious
nature of the tie-up had been laid before
him.
The House conferees Messrs Foss, Day.
ton and Tate, are standing firm for the
House provision for three new battle ships
of 5000 tons displacement, while Senators
Hale, Perkins and Tilman are convinced
that the Senate provision for four battle
ships of $4,000 tons displacement should be-
come law.
1t is known that rather than see the
Senate provision prevail the House con-
ferees have declared that they would let
the bill fail. A resolution continuing the
appropriations for the naval establishment
could be passed by both houses in case of
the failure of the bill, but the greatly need
ed increase in the personnel of the navy
which the bill makes provision for would
not be effective, nor would any new con-
struction be authorized.
There are very strong opinions enter
tained by naval experts on the subject of
the size of battle ships. The House COM
mittee on naval affairs has fortified itself
since the naval bill passed the Senate with
the unanimous opinion Of the naval board
Of construction in favor of the 16OO0-ton
ships. Secretary Moody and Admiral Dewey
are understood to be about the only naval
officers who favor the lighter draught ves-
sels
The question Of the inability of several
shipyards in various parts Of the country
to build anything but the lighter draught
vessels is said to have considerable to do
with the position of the Senate conferees
on the subject. The President, it is stated
is in favor of the heavier ships.
Short Time in Conference.
The conferees on this bill have spent but
a short time in conference so far, as SEN
ator Hale is member Of several other con-
ference committees, which has taken up his
time.
With the exception Of the naval bill the
outlook for finishing up the business of the
session seems better than in many previous
Congresses on the eve of adjournment. II
is believed that the House can conclude all
pending business without the slightest en-
barrassment, in spite of the democratic fill
buster, which is still maintained.
The program late this afternoon was to
report does not come in, taking short re-
cesses, in order that action on the naval
bill may not be delayed when the confer
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