The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-02-20
Fitzgerald Objects to Commit
 tees Recommendation
SAYS II IS UNNECESSARY
If the United States Is Plunged Into War 1t Will Be the Fault of the Present Chief
 Executive.

Washington. February 19.-The house today began consideration of the naval appropriation bill ten hours being allow ed for general debate. During the gen eral discussion Mir Fitzgerald. democrat of New York declared that our naval programme was to procure naval force greater than that of Germany. He fur ther said:
 Tn all sections ofthe country the con viction right or wrong, Is firm that the present occupant of the White House is apt to involve us in war with some other nation,' adding that the same belief had been held with respect to the head of another great nation. which may ac- count" he went on, flor the fact that at dinner on Lincoln's birthday at Grand Rapids, Mich. the highest compliment that Baron von Sternberg thought that he could pay to President Roosevelt. was to declare that he very greatly resembled the emperor of Germany" President To Uncertain.
 Mr Fitzgerald said further that If the prevailing belief is justified, and if the President Is to be given four years of power in his own right, now that the great representative of the conservative force of the republican party. the late Senator Hanna from Ohio. is gone to his reward, 1t may be wise for us to outdo even Great Britain in our naval pro- gramme, should he the President not be made to feel that the sentiment of the country is for peace and not for strife.
 The house upon converting passed the bill authorizing the construction of pipe lines for oil and gas through the Indian territory amending 1t so as to limit the period of grants under the bill to twenty years on the suggestion of Mir. Williams who said the territory was, or at least he hoped t was on the eve of acquiring statehood
 On motion of MT. Foss of Illinois chair man of the naval affairs committee, the house went into committee of the whole with MT. Hepburn of Iowa In the chair, and entered upon consideration of the naval appropriation.
 The minority announced that they wanted five hours time for general debats and ten hours were agreed upon to be di- vided equally.
 Explains the Increase.
 Mir. Foss. speaking for the bill. said the aggregate appropriation would af- ford comfort to the economist and an in spiration to those who believed in the policy of building up the American navy. He then explained the reasons for the increase of GOO in this bill over the last, saying among other things that the increase of 5000 men provided by the bill made an increased appropriation neces- sary. More men should have been provid ed, but he said there was lack of Ia clities for training them.
 Taking up the new warships provided for, MT Foss said he believed the naval increase programme to be moderate and reasonable.
 Tn answering a question by Mir. Law renee of Massachusetts MT Foss said the sentiment of the naval authorities was that we should have this year more cruis=. CTS than battleships. This was to carry out the policy that our armored cruisers should be about half the number of bat tleships MT. Rixey of Virginia said the general board recommended one armored cruiser and three protected cruisers and that the bill provided for two armored and one protected cruiser. This was done on the recommendation of Admiral Dewey
 Necessity of Preparation.
 It emphasizes of the necessities of build ing up the navy in times of peace. and the impossibility of building ships in time or war Mir. Foss exclaimed: What would Russia give today If she could call back some of her sunken ships?
 '.If eternal vigilance Is the price Of liberty" MT. Foss declared. eternal prep arations for war Is the price of peace
 Referring Domingo, Mir. Foss said the time may come when the United States will say to San Domingo and Hayti that If they cannot preserve order the American navy will do 1t for them. The Monroe doctrine must also be looked for.
 The navy must be relied upon to back up American diplomacy. which he said never stood so high as it does today un- der Secretary Hay. In conclusion he said that whenever 1t becomes necessary to strike blow the United States should possess the power to strike blow such as Dewey struck at Mania.
 combatted Top-heavy Statement.
 MT Meyer of Louisiana. the ranking minority member of the committee, com batted the statement that the navy was top-heavy. He regards the building of a strong navy as a measure of peace. The fight on the sea with Spain, said MT. Meyer, was not contest with a great maratime power and 1t must not be pre- stunned the ships of Great Britain, France and Germany are not the equal of ours.
 MT Fitzgerald. democrat of New York. said that to whom ever can read the signs of the times the programme cf this government is plain.
 'I am aware that official denial will be quickly forthcoming he declared. "Nev-
  government in It's naval programme is unmistakably to secure a much larger naval force.'
 Referring to the statement of Admiral Dewey that the sea force should consist of 48 battleshps- MT. Fitzgerald said that confirmed his assertion that the naval programme is based upon the theory that our navy should be larger than that of Germany.
 It is time to call halt upon such talk of an infiammatory character that Is heard throughout the land. declared Mr. Fitzgerald, adding:
 Officials Are Chief Offenders.
 Public officials are the chief offenders by loose. indefinite and bombastic state ments. The naval committee in it's report/ Is not entirely free from the disease"
 Referring to the speech by Secretary Moody. and that of Mir. Rode of MnnS sota, concerning the Monroe doctrine, N Fitzgerald said that President Clevela never would have issued his ''univers praised Venezuelan message" if he Continued on Second Paael