The Savannah morning news., 1904-02-26
TOO MANY SHIPS
SOME ARE SAYING
HOUSE BUSY ON THE BILL.
THAT is DESIGNED TO ADD To THE
STRENGTH OF THE NAVY.

Some of the Members Wanted the
Provision for the BattIeship
Stricken out-others Were Against
More Cruisers-The Bill, However,
VIII Pass, Carrying All the Ves-
sells as Provided for Therein-NO
Favor for Pacific Coast.
Washington, Feb. 25.-The building
programme of the navy, as contained
in the pending naval appropriation bill,
occupied the attention of the House
throughout the day, and the fight is
by no means over.
The minority members of the Naval
Committee, who under the leadership
of Mr. Meyer of Louisiana, first gave
Endorsement of the measure, are cam
paigning for a reduction in the num-
Der of ships to be authorized. The
amendment to strike out the one bat
tleship, made yesterday by Mr.. Bur-
ton of Ohio, was defeated. The cruis-
ers then were put to the test and
enough friends for them were found
for their retention.
Construction of the ships in govern
ment yards proved to be a fruitful
topic for discussion, and an amend
ment by Mr.. Bell of California, re-
curing one collier to be built in a
government yard, was adopted.
A proposition for preferential of
per cent. lin favor of bids from the
Pacific coast was defeated after Mr..
McDermott of New Jersey had deliv-
cred a humorous speech in which the
shipbuilding trust and the state of
New Jersey were. put forward for the
charitable consideration of the House.
Don't give up that ship" was the
plea made by Mr.. Meyer of Louisiana,
who addressed himself to the pending
amendment of Mr.. Burton to strike
out the provision for a battleship au-
thorized In the naval bill. Mr.. Meyer
took Mr.. Rixey of Virginia to task
because in the debate yesterday he
hard ipdorsed the Burton amendment.
Admiral Dewey. Mr. Meyer said, had
emphasized before the committee the
necessity for battleships, recommend
ding them as preferable to cruisers.
Backs Dewey's, Judgement.
rs not Admiral Dewey president of
which were disregarded by the COM
mittee?" asked Mr.. Rixey.
Yes replied Mr.. Meyer, but l
would rather take Dewey's judgment
than that of the board. He stated he
was in the minority. but he also was
in the minority in famous trial few
years ago, and the country has in
dorsed his position"
W. w. Kitchin of North Carolina
es,fI tI,a4 L.
Burton had not been answered in any
way, although his Republican col
leagues had pulled" the Republican
platform of Ohio on him and declared
him to be out Of line with his party.
Mr.. Kitchin named various foreign
governments and asked Are you
afraid of any of those nations?" His
answer was. NO" He said the only
cause for fear was in the present oc-
cupant of the White House. adding,
land he will not be there long"
Mr. Kitchin moved to strike from the
bill the provision for two armored
cruisers. His motion was defeated, 65
to 1875.
Rixey Ruled out of order.
An amendment by Mr. Rixey of vir-
ginia limiting to a maximum price Of
1898 a ton the amount to be paid for
armor plate and in the event that ar
NOR could not be obtained at this
price then the Secretary Of the Navy
was to expend $4.OO0,O00 i'm the erection
of an armor plate factory to be erect
ed on land owned by the government,
was ruled out Of order.
Mr.. Williams Of Mississippi attack
ed the provision for per cent. d'f-
ferential to Pacific coast builders. IL
was degeneration Of reason and dis
ease of Imagination" developed by the
Republican policy Of protection, he de-
clared. which could extend that protec-
tion 10 a local industry in one part
OF the United states against another
part OF the country
Mr.. Cushman OF Washington asked
Mr. Williams 70 reconcile his OPPOSE
ton with his own vote for sl,00o,000 20
destroy cotton worms" In the South.
he said he always had admired the
gentleman's political somersaults
The House adjourned until to-mor-