The San Francisco call., 1904-03-08
MAKES A PLEA
FOR THE NAVY
Senator Patterson Speaks
of Americas Sea Prowess
Before Passage of Bill
NEED FOR WAR VESSELS
Appropriation Measure Pro-
viding for the Army Being
Read in the Upper House

WASHINGTON, March THE Sen
ate to-day passed the naval appropria-
tion bill, which has been before it for
the last four or five days, and then took
up the army bill. The principal ques-
ton debated in connection with the
naval bill related to the price and
method of supplying armor plate for
battleships, and it grew out of an
amendment suggested by Mr.. 'Patter-
son providing for a Government armor
plant. He ultimately withdrew the
amendment, but offered several others,
all of which We're laid on the table.
The reading of the army appropria-
tion bill had not been concluded when
the Senate adjourned.
In speaking of the continued growth
of the navy, Patterson said the COM
pletion Of the naval programme would
place the United States ahead of Ger
many and Russia in actual tonnage
and ahead of France and next to Great
Britain in effective fighting tonnage.
And my judgment" he continued,
sis that American sentiment will not
permit the United States at any time
in the future to fall behind in naval
power any nation that it has passed.
American sentiment not only will jus
tify but it will require the United
States to continue second to Great Brit
ain"
Patterson said that while he did not
believe in holding the Philippines he
was of the opinion that the majority
of the people was against him and
ho% h. 60 lie
tant when the people of that archipel-
ago would be given freedom.
Teller said the United States should
have navy adequate to the protec-
ton of our national interests, but he
failed to see the urgent need of the
extensive additions, and expressed the
opinion that no more ships should be
ordered until we completed those in
process of construction.
Bacon did not accept the view Of
Patterson as to- the retention of the
Philippines, saying that he hoped the
conscience of the American people
would be aroused over the injustice Of
the present situation.
Allison said that the appropriation
for armor and armament in the pend
ing bill did not apply to the ships
authorized by the bill, but was a gen
eral provision applying to vessels al
ready authorized.
Patterson said he had no disposition
TO interfere with the provision for arm
or for the ships now building, and
he withdrew his amendment and sub
stituted another in the language of
the naval appropriation act of 1900, pro-
viding that if armor could not be Sc
cured at just and reasonable rates the
Government should erect an armor fac
! tory at a cost net to exceed 81, 900 900.
+ On motion of Hale the amendment was
+ laid on the table.
/ Patterson then moved amendments
1 limiting the price to be paid for armor
TO $400 per ton, prohibiting purchase Of
armor from trusts and fixing an eight
I hour day for work on the armor pro-
vided for. All of them were laid on
j the table.
The bill was then passed and the
army appropriation bill taken up.
While the bill was being read for the
committee amendments there was a
discussion of the usefulness of the pro-
! visional regiment of infantry in Porto
! Rico Messrs. Foraker and Quarles said
! that the committee had considered that
the Porto Ricans. being acclimated, had
! been especially fitted for service on the
/ isthmus of Panama.
Teller, who had started the discus
sion, replied that it would not be fair
/ to use the Porto Ricans for duty
considered too hazardous for native
! Americans. At the request of Spooner
/ the amendment was passed over for
! further consideration.
Without completing the reading of
the bill the Senate at 5:24 o'clock went
into executive session and adjourned
/ at 5:2S D. m.