The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-03-04
SENATE IS STILL
 ON THE NAVY BILL United States Ranks Third in
 Naval Strength COMMITTEE WANTS MORE Senator Hale Enters Into an ExpIana- tion of the Pending Measure and
 Makes Remarks on
 Japan's Strength.
COMMITTEE WANTS MORE

hours today the senate While teennlcal- ly engaged on the naval appropriation bill discussed a wide range of subjects, in- cluding the policy of the United States in the Philippines and the RussoJapan- ese war. The principal participants were Messrs. Hale, Bacon, Lodge. Depew, Pat terson, Perkins and Money. MT. Hale in charge of the naval bill criticized the plans of the naval board as tending to an establishment beyond the needs of the country.
 At the request of Mir Beveridge. the senate at the begnnirf of the session set aside the special order for the day, the consideration of Alaskan legislation, in order to permit the consideration of the naval appropriation bill
 The reading of the committee amend ments to the naval bill was begun, but before it had progressed very far. MT. German asked for statement In ex- planation of the bill from MT. Hale fin charge of the measure. He said that while the increase in the navy is the largest ever made. it must be understood that proposed additions are only part of a general scheme for improvement.
 Hale Explains the Bill.
 MT, Hale explained the bill. He classed Great Britain first. France second and the United States third in naval strength, saving the popular impression that Ger many outranked this country, was mali cious. Mir. Hale acceded to a proposition by Mir Perkins that in effectiveness of appliances, the United States stood next to Great Britain. This was due to the Tact that we had been able to take ad- vantage of the mistakes of European powers.
 MT Hale said that Japan was the small est of the naval powers with the exception of Austria, but had an advantage in be- farav far.aest naval operation in which she might become involved
 Tn your navy" said Mir. Hale "there Is talk of putting many of our vessels such as the Oregon, Indiana and others or the same class, on the retired list"
 T hope they won't retire the Oregon" said MT. Stewart
 No State Room Facilities.
 Well, they ought not to-" replied MT. Hale. But she has not the stateroom facilities that meet the fancy of naval oHlcers She has the same number of 13- Inch guns and the same fighting ca- paeity. Nothing suits the navy officers ex- cept the largest battleships"
 He expressed the opinion that the pres ent war in the orient would show that other vessels are more valuable than large battleships, but admitted that no definite conclusions could be drawn until the smoke lifted
 Mir Hale said he had no censure for the officers of the American navy. but the naval officer is the naval officer pure and simple, and the American navy bounds his complete horizon. To him the navy is everything, and the naval board has run too much in the direction of enor- nous ships. In some respects the naval officers are like the farmer who wants to raise the biggest pumpkin. They don't WI nj ,sit it,4t, the United States"
 Contemplates 68 Battleships.
 The naval board programme contem- plated sixty-eight batueships and twenty- four armored cruisers, and when that state was reached an appropriation of S200O00OOo year would be necessary for the navy. He thought 1t probable that an appropriation required next year would be $l20 000,000 If. however, the scale could be kept down to the present rate of in- crease, the appropriation would not be increased "We should" he said "get along with 5000 GOO year"
 MT. Perkins defended the officers of the navy saying they were entitled to the credit.
 MT Hale admitted that the American of ficer was a man of merit but congress has It's responsibilities and should know where the money is going. "I am" he said, mot to be deterred by criticisms of want of patriotism I want power full navy. It is necessary, on account of the conditions. We have got to have shibs in the Philippines for instance. It is differ ent from what 1t Is with Japan, who will do her fighting at home. In case of war we should have to spend hundreds of mill lions in the Philippines But there is dan ger of going farther than necessary"
 Caused By Philippines.
 MT. Hale admitted that the last exten- sive additions to the n. y had been made necessary by the acquisition of the Phil ippines and said that he. for one would like to get rid of those islands. Still so long as we have those islands, we must protect them. Likewise, he said. 1t now would be necessary to maintain navy sufficient to protect the Panama canal
 MT. Lodge spoke at some length on the need of a good navy to protect our trade and uphold the Monroe doctrine. He did not believe the torpedo beats would super cede the battleships, and said that in our war with Spain the torpedo vessel had been a complete failure There had been one very successful attack by the Japa- nese torpedo boats, but this was due large ly to the poor gunnery of the Russians and the darkness.
 laps Will Want Philippines.
 MT. Money said that if we were to per sist in our policy of subiugation we would find necessary a greater navy than the people were willing to support MT Money spoke of the prowess of the Japanese and quoted high authority as predicting that in few months tfe Russian fleet would be overcome. Then would soon follow the success of the Japanese on land. They would secure Korea and probably part of Manchuria Next they would go to the Phllinnines It Mas not the European na-