The San Francisco call., 1904-03-04
DEBATE TAKES
A WIDE RANGE
Senators Are Allowed Great
Latitude While Discussing
Naval Appropriation Bill
HALE IN CRITICAL MOOD
Expresses Opinion That War
in Orient Will Show True
Value Of Large Battleships

WASHINGTON. March S.-For al
most four hours to-day the Senate,
while technically engaged on the naval
appropriation bill, discussed a wide
range of subjects, Including the pol
icy of the United States in the Philip
pine Islands and the Russo-Japanese
war. The principal participants were
Messrs. Hale, Bacon. Lodge, Depew,
Patterson, Perkins and Money. Hale,
in charge of the naval bill, criticized
the plans of the naval board as to an
establishment beyond the needs of
the country.
Lodge, Depew and Perkins defended
the naval officers. Lodge declared a
large navy essential to the mainte-
nance of peace. Money said he did
not consider the total appropriation
of $96, ,000,0OO carried by the bill as
excessive under our present policy in
the Orient. He, however, criticized
the policy, as did other Democratic
Speakers.
Hale classed Great Britain first,
France second and the United States
third in naval strength, saying the
popular impression that Germany out
ranked this country was fallacious.
Hale acceded to a proposition by Per-
kins that in effectiveness of appliances
the United States stood next to Great
Britain. This was due to the fact that
we had been able to take advantage
of the mistakes of European powers.
Hale said that Japan was the small
est of the naval powers, with the ex-
ception Of Austria, but had an advan-
tage in being only a few hundred
miles from the farthest naval opera
tions in which she might become in
volved.
I'm our navy" said Hale, there is
talk of putting many of our vessels,
such as the Oregon, Indiana and 9TH
ers of the same class, on the retired
list"
Il hope they won't retire the Oregon, .
said Stewart.
well, they ought not to-" said Hale.
but she has not the stateroom facil-
tiles that meet the fancy of naval off,
GERS. She has the same number Of
1S-inch guns and the same fighting
capacity. Nothing suits naval officers
except the largest battleships."
He expressed the opinion that the
present war in the Orient would show
that other vessels are more valuab BILE
than large battleships, but admitted
that no definite conclusions could be
drawn until the smoke lifted.
Hale said he had no censure for the
officers of the navy.
But the naval officer is a naval off,
Ger said he, pure and simple, and the
American navy bounds his complete
horizon. To him the navy is right and
the naval board has run too much in
the direction Of enormous ships"
The naval board programme contem-
plated forty-eight battleships and
twenty-four armered cruisers, and
when that stage was reached an ap-
preparation of 5000 ,OoO a year would
be necessary for the navy. He thought
it probable that the appropriation re-
quired next year would be $780, 900, 600
If, however. the scale should be kept
down to the present rate of increase,
the appropriation would be increased.
At the suggestion of Hale an appro-
priation of 100000 for the restoration
OF the frigate Constitution was in
serted.
The Senate at 5:09 p. m. went into
executive session and at SIS %. m. ad-
journed.