The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1904-04-29

Oh the DdttIeSnlp PROVIDED IN the naval
appropriation bill, or wait until thel
war in the Far East demonstrates thel
comparative utility Of the big seal
fighter and the torpedo boat or subj
marine craft, was a question raisedi
in the Senate to-day by Mr.. Hale. of
Maine, on the adoption of the confer
ence report. 1t was developed that
the language of the bill was permits
sive, n that the President and secre-I
tary of the navy could defer actionI
if they deem it advisable. Mr.. Halel
declared that if he were secretary o
the navy he should not dare to go on
now and commit the government to-
the building of an immense battleship,
for ii would not surprise him if thel
events of the Russian-Japanese war;
demonstrated that the s15O,O0O 600
paid for big battleships were a bad
investment for this government. Sew
eral Senators counseiled delay until
the question of the best craft for sea
fighting had been brought to an issue.
. Mr.. Bacon-"I desire to call atten-
ton that when this naval bill was I'M
Sd55OSlGu nat
the improvement in submarine engines
was such that it would be
lively a short time before the battle-t|
ship. however it might be protected
against the ordinary projectile, would
be out of date and obsolete"
Mr.. ale-"T was wise
in his suggestion. But events since
then have advanced with such start
ling rapidity that the suggestion be-.
comes more apparent. The trouble
with the lofty battleship, is that when
n is hurt, she can fight no longer.
All structures may be hurt, may be
Splintered, may be damaged, but they
keep on fighting. But, if an explosion
place through hurried firing in
a turret, it is more than likely to ig-
mite the magazine and h whole ship
is blown into the air and everybody
on board killed. Aside from the &C.
curenceS in the East, where the large
Russian battleships have been dis
abled and put out of service, we have
had three explosions on our own bat
tleshipS within a year. And it is only
the breadth of a hand hat prevented
the battleship Missouri from being en-
tirely destroyed. Just such an acct
lent as that is likely to occur in any
turret, at any time, during n battle"
Mr.. Bacon spoke on the D~olliver
resolution on the question Of the cap
itaI investigated in trust" combina-
tons in comparison with investments
dependent of trusts" He then O.
issu with Mr.. Dolliver with the state
ment, as Mr.. Bacon construed, that
evidence of a good trust was the
fact that a trust was still alive"
Speaking CT the fate of his resolu-
lions, calling on the secretary of COM
merce and labor for certain trust"
or antitrust" information, Mr.. Bacon.
said it was sufficient notice to him
that the resolutions would not be
adopted. when Mr.. Aldrich asked to
have them 30 to the committee on fl
nance, and he said: For I know that
the Senator from Rhode Island is he
mouth-riece of his party in the Sen
ate on all matters of tariff"
Mr.. Aldrich said he had made the
motion for the purpose of putting the
resolutions in some sort of shape
Mr.. Bacon continued to discuss the
sale in foreign countries of American
products at a less price than the same
products are sold in the United
States. He said he should give con-
crete Illustrations and proceeded to
speak Of sewing machines solo in he
United States at $25. n SIS in
England.
Can the Senator give the name of
the company" asked Mr.. Aldrich.
He has said he would give concrete
Gases"
L can give the name and later will
do So"
Mr.. Bacon then read a letter from
Charles NJ. Schwab to H. c.. Frick.
giving the cost of manufacturing steel
rails, which Mr.. Bacon said showed
that the trust needs no protection
against English manufacturers. The
letter said rails could be sold at a
profit at SIS per ton.
1t Will be very different TO convince
Mig iron producers of Alabama and
surrounding states. who have been re-
ScivinG SIS and $50 for their iron"
said Mr.-AIdrich. that the statement
~ correct"
That is information given by Mr..
Schwab. in i private letter." said Mr..
BaSon.
claimed Mr.. AldriCh. he can be mis-
axe as we'll as any n else. What
he states there is absolutely untrue
and absurd"
Mfr. Aldrich declared Mr.. Schwab's
letter to he merely a part Of a stock
jobbine affair. to which Mr.. Bailey re-
piled that Mr.. Schwab is as reputable
and truthful as any man who ever
flched money from the pockets of the
peonIe through a protective tariff"
hr. Bacon also Co1tended that Mr.
Schwab stood at the head and front of
the SIHSl lluuSlTN- anu lleIcIpIe spun
by authority. He asserted that the
discrimination against the American
people on steel rails alone had amount
ed to no less than $50. 600, 600 under
the Dfngley law.
The military academy bill, the last
CT the general appropriation meas
ures. was laid before the Senate and
was under consideration at the hour
when memorial services for the late
Representative Thompson, Of Alaba-
ma. were begun.