Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-02-11
MONEY FOR THE NAVY
Appropriation Bill Reported
to the House,
INCREASE IN WARSHlPS
PUBLIC SENTIMENT FAVohs
POLICY OF UPBUILDING NAVY.
Money for Gun Factory in This
City and the Marine
Barracks.

crease IN the navy the coluHhittee
the policy of the administration. The pro-
gram calls for one first-class battle ship
two first-class armored cruisers, three
scout cruisers and two golfers. The battle
Ship of 16,O coo tons. is to cost SI,To,oOo the
two armored cruisers, of 14,J0o tons eich,
are to cost 81, 900 each; the three scout
cruisers, of g. $50 TONS are to cost S2,2jooJo
each, while the golfers are to cost $1,2J0,-
900 each. The committee says:
This is a moderate and reasonable pro-
gram and one that we believe Will be APP
proved throughout the country.
The committee recommend the construc-
ton of more than the usual number of
cruisers, in view of the fact that last year
we provided for five large battle Ships
This will give a better proportion to our
navy.
IF we judge public sentiment Alright it
is in favor of the continuance of the policy
of building up our navy. If we stopped
now we would be left behind the leading
countries of the world.
1.-The American people will not indorse
the policy of sacrificing the American navy
for internal improvements. nor is there any
such necessity.
Foremost and above all must stand con-
siderations of national defense, the main
tenance of our foreign policies and the pro-
lection of American citizens everywhere.
The American people are not willing to
lessen their influence on this hemisphere
nor forsake their interests on the other.
Items of Local Interest.
There are a number of items in the bill
of interest to Washington 1t was hoped by
the department officials that the committee
would determine upon definite plan for
the permanent increase of the facilities at
the gun shops in this city The bill makes
provision for the ordinary expenses and
purchase of the normal quantity of new
machinery, but further than this is silent
as to the congressional policy toward the
navy yard foundrieS.
The sum of $1Jo,oo0 is appropriated for
an addition TO the marine barracks in this
city, including the erection and furnishing
of a band room mess hall, mems kitchen
and mems gymnasium. is stated the old
building was constructed about 1872 and
has already been condemned by two boards
of medical officers Is
Appropriations for the gun factory here
include: For a 1o-ton wrecking car, $500;
machinery for existing shops, $l@0o0; re-
pairs to boiler plant, $4,000; repairs to
cranes machinery. locomotives, etc, &c.,
0G0
In explaining the increase for ordnance
and ordnance stores the report says: -:
There is an increase for ordnance and
ordnance stores of s59o. 900. s1Go.e90 for new
machinery at the Washington gun factory,
and smaller items for tools. etc, at the
navy yard. and also $12500o for reserve
guns for auxiliary cruisers, and sl25,G}9 fer
reserve guns for ships of the navy. These
last two items have usually been carried IN
previous appropriation bills until last year,
when they were not recommended because
there was already sufficient money hereto
fore appropriated to carry on the work for
the present fiscal year. but now 1t becomes
important to appropriate for them again
1.-THE increase in the items for ordnance
and ordnance stores can be explained by
the fact that We are putting more ships
into commission, which necessitates a
larger expenditure than previously. large
part of this appropriation is used Tor target
81 Too for frst a &C
battle ship costs in the neighborhood Of
$40. 900 to $1,000 per year If we have but
two practices d year, as now, the cost VIII
be approximately 1886 90. When all the
ships now building are in commission 1t VIII
cost 81, 70o, 900. This may seem to be large
expense, and yet none can be more essen
tial for, to put it in the terse language of
the President, The only shots that count
are the shots that hit.
Naval Stations in Cuba and Philippines
The bill appropriates $685., 900 for the ma
val station at Guantanamo, Cuba, and
SSe2 395 for station at Olongapo. Philip
pine Islands. With regard to these stations
the report says
I'm accordance with the Platt amendment
and the constitution of the republic of
Cuba the two governments agreed upon the
lease of two coaling stations and naval sta
lions in Cuba-one at Bahia Honda, on the
north coast OF 1uDd, dDOul Sixty HlileS
west of Havana, and the other on the
southern coast of Guantanamo, about forty
miles east of Santiago.
1T is proposed to do nothing toward the
development of the station on the northern
coast, but in regard to Guantanamo there
is great necessity for the development of
this naval station Last years bill carried
an appropriation Of 800, 600 for necessary
expenditures incident to the occupation and
utilization of the naval station at Guam
tanama, and this year the deficiency bill
appropriation of S200,GJ0 for the same
purpose. THIS amount has been and will
be used toward the purchase of the land,
which will be in the neighborhood of s13T-
600, and toward the development of the
station.
The appropriations recommended amount
to $3S5,GOo, and are toward the establish
ment of a dry dock so 1853: dredging $780,
600; sea wall, $4,000 water system $50 OOO
and grading $2J,G01.
The harpor is excellent one with
plenty of water both in area and depth. 1t
could not be better located 10 conserve the
interests of our country On this hem sphere
first. for the protection of our interes. in
the West Indies; second. for the defense to
the Panama canal; third for the nh n
tenance of the Monroe doctline.
The third important prov. s on under pub
lie works is an appropriation OF 1862 1896 for
the naval station at Oiongaro, Subig bay,
when the Philippine Islands came into
| tie possession of the United States we took
| the old Spanish naval station at Cavite and
| made some improvements thcreon in the
way OF establishing coai.ng plant and
| buying machinery and tools for the shons.
| 1t is the intention of the department. as
soon as practicable. to transfer what we
have at Cavite to Subig bay, so that we will
| have but one naval station in the east
In view of our great interests in the east
| 1000 miles away from home, with a large
| fleet there at all times to protect those in
| terests. 1t would seem almost criminal neg
| ligence on the part of Congress not to pro-
| vide naval station where our ships could
| be locked and repaired. The rapidly de-
| veloping complications of the whole east
| ern situation demand that our navy should
| be made as effectual as possible
The fourth important provision under
| public works is the clause providing for
/ the consolidation of power, light and heat
plants In the various navy yards so far as
| practicable in the discretion of the Secre-