The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-02-26
NAVAL PROGRAMME NOT
CHANGED BY THE HOUSE
Burton's Anti-Battleship Amend
ment Defeated and Cruisers
Left Untouched.
FEATURES OF THE DEBATE

WASHINGTON, Feb. 25-The building
programme Of the navy. as contained in
the pending naval bill, occupied the atten-
ton of the House throughout the day. and
the fight is by no means over. The minority
members Of the naval committee. under the
leadership of Mr.. Meyer. of louisiana, who
first gave their Endorsement to the meas
ure. are campaigning for reduction in
the number of ships to be authorized. The
amendment to strike out the one bsttleship
made yesterday by Mr.. Burton, of Ohio,
was defeated. The cruisers then were put
TO the test. and enough friends for them
were found for their retention. Construc-
ton Of the ships in government yards
proved to be fruitful topic for discussion,
and an amendment by Mr.. Bell. of Califor-
mia. requiring one collier to be built in a
government yard was adopted. A PROPOSE
ton for a preferential of 4 per cent. in
favor of bids from the Pacific coast was
defeated after Mr.. McDermott. of New Jer-
sey. had delivered a humorous speech in
which the shipbuilding trust and the State
of New Jersey were put forward for the
charitable consideration of the House.
Mr.. McDermott. of New Jersey. enter
tanned the House by a five-minute speech
proposing that all the ships provided for in
the bill be built in the State of New Jersey.
New Jersey, he said, was one of the original
thirteen States, and, therefore, more en-
titled TO consideration than California. ut
is situated he continued, that when
you look from one side of IL you can see
the great city of New York. New Jersey is
needed to construct these ships is built the
people OF Pennsylvania and New York can
come there in the early morning and re-
main until the summers sinking sun goes
out OF sight, watching the progress being
made on those ships So you will have the
eyes of three States looking upon these
ships in the course of construction TO see
that they are properly built laughter,
while nobody but the Chinese can watch
the progress of much work at San Fran
cisco. There Is another reason why these
ships should be built in New Jersey. 1t is
reason that appeals 10 economy and, per-
haps to charity. The receiver of the great
shipbuilding trust is now resident of New
Jersey, and the principal yard is there.
What are you going to do when you find
property owned by men who thirteen
months ago were known princes OF
finance to-day lying PROSTATE boys jumping
over the machinery the wood going TO rot
and iron going TO rust in the great Nixon
ship yards in New Jersey? May i not, then.
with a voice more pregnant than that
which comes from California appeal In
you all. Democrats and Republicans tn
come 10 the rescue OF that trust and have
your ships built there?" Long applause
and laughter followed Mr.. McDermott's re-
marks
navy top heavy and that there were
now too many ships. guns aud men was
made a text for remarks by Mr.. Aludd, of
Maryland. He believed the statement OF
MIR. German was important in view of the
senator's probable candidacy for the presi-
dency. In Maryland. he said. Mr.. German
had no great record for economy.
Mr.. w. w. Kitchin. of North Carolina,
said that the facts presented by Mr.. Bur-
ton had not been answered in any way,
e'though his Republican colleagues had
pulled" the Republican platform or Ohio
on him and declared him to be out of line
with his party. Mr.. Kitchin named various
foreign governments and asked after each:
Are you afraid of any of those nations %
His answer was no He said the only
cause for fear was in the present occu-
pant of the White House. adding: And he
will not be there long
Mr.. Gillett said the present condition of
the war between Japan and Russia justified
the building programme in the bill I'VE
see Russia" he continued, that enormous
power, menaced and Inundated by a power
a quarter a tenth her size. Is not
the only clear reason for this because Rus
sia's power on the sea is not commen-
surate with her power land2 What
would Russia give to-day if she had fol-
lowed another programme for her navy
during the past ten yearS2" asked Mr. Gil
lett. The chances which Japan had TO win
in this war he declared to be about equal