Evening star., 1904-02-25
Not All Voted !! Against Pro-
posed Battle Ship.
NAVA1 BILL IN HOUSE
DEFEAT gpE THE BURTON AMEND
MENf By SO TO 1876.
Proposition to Strike Out the Provision
for Two Armored Cruisers Also Lost
Agricultural Bill in Senate.

Don't give up that ship" was the plea
made to the. House today by Representa-
tive Meyer Q1a.), who opened the debate
on the naval bill, and addressed himself
to the pending amendment of Mr.. Burton
to strike out the provision for the battle
ship authorized in the bill. Mr.. Meyer
took MIR. Rixey tVa.) to task because in
the debate yesterday he had indorsed the
Burton amendment. Admiral Dewey, Mr..
Meyer said, had emphasized before the
committee the necessity for battle ships,
recommending them as preferable to
cruisers.
rs not Admiral Dewey president of the
board, the recommendations of which were
disregarded by the committee?' asked Mr..
Rixey
YES replied Mr.. Meyer 'but 1 would
rather take Admiral Dewey's judgment
than that of the board He stated he was
IN the minority, but he also was in the mi
nor1ty IN a famous trial a few years ago
and the country has indorsed his position. "
Mr.. Meyer, who is to offer a motion to
recommit the bill to the committee, with
instructions to eliminate the provision for
two cruisers and to make several other
changes. explained that If he were to fol-
lowing his own Judgment and desires he
would urge upon his colleagues the ac-
eeptance of the whole building program
But" concluded Mr.. Meyer, yielding
to the Judgment of many of my colleagues,
L a
more moderate program
Senator Germans announcement that the
navy was top heavy and that there were
now too many ships, guns and men, was
made text for remarks by Mr.. Mudd
(Md.). He believed the statement of Mr..
German was important, in view of the SEN
ators probable candidacy for the presi-
dency. In Maryland he said, Mr.. German
had no great record for economy.
Mr.. w. w. Kitchin On. c. said that the
facts presented by Mr.. Burton had not
been answered in any way, although his
republican colleagues had pulled the re-
publican platform of Ohio on him, and
declared him to be out of line with his
party. Mr.. Kitchin named various foreign
governments. and asked after each: "Are
you afraid of any of those nations?" His
answer was mo- He said the only cause
for fear was in the present occupant of
the White Honse, adding, ''and he will not
be there long.'fTi
The War in the East.
Mr.. Gillett (Mass.) said the present con-
dition of the war between Japan and Rus
sia justified the building program in the
bill ~ S~
I'VE see Russia he continued, that
enormous power, menaced and Inundated
by power not a quarter or a tenth her
size. Is not the only clear reason for this
because Russia's power on the sea is not
commensurate with her power on land?
w hat Wouiu tSus$5la give To-Day IL Sne naQ
followed another program for her navy
during the past. ten years?" asked Mr.. Gill
lett. The chances which Japan had to win
in this war; he declared to be about even.
Mr.. Brandegee Comm spoke for the bill.
Mr.. Fitzssran tN. V declared that be
fore the war ibetween Japan and Russia
broke out Russfa's navy was more than
double thatryf japan.
In ships. captnued Mr.. Fitzgerald, at
the scene of Notion the two powers were
declaredYo Be About equal But he added,
1t was the efficiency of Japans men be-
hind the guns that counted.
In closing the debate on the Burton
amendment Mr.. Foss pointed to the sour
rying to the interior of the country Of the
fIe GuenterS of summer resorts by the sea
during the Spanish war. The rich, he
declared, paid visit to the banks and
got their strong boxes and fed into the
interior.
The Burton Amendment Lost.
Mr.. Burton's amendment was lost on a
rising vote of 63 to 12S.
Mr.. Burton (Ohio) and Mr.. Bishop mich. }
were the only republicans to support the
amendment, while fully twenty democrats
voted against the motion
Mr.. w. w. Kitchin moved to strike from
the bill the provision for two armored
cruisers
Mr.. Foss opposed the amendment. and
Mr.. De ArnloDd (Mo.) expressed surprise at
the drift of affairs in this country as to
the naval program. We had, he said, de-
parted from old-time policies Now we
first found out how many and what kind
of naval ships Great Britain, Germany,
and then we tried to keep up to or outdo
them.
Mr. Kitchin's motion was defeated-e5
to 126.