The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-02-23
BURTON OPPOSES
THE NAVAL BILL
Rixey Gets in Good Words for
German
NAVY Is LARGE ENOUGH
Williams of Mississippi Attempts to
Procure Adjournment to Observe
Washington's Birthday, But
He Is Unsuccessful.
NAVY IS LARGE ENOUGH

Washington, February 22.-The naval
appropriation bill encountered opposition
in the house. Mr.. Burton of Ohio, chair
man of the rivers and harbors commit
/ tee, announced in a vigorous speech, that
4 he could not support bill which declares
that the United States, which in his view,
should be the leader in all works for
peace, is going TO double, treble and
quadruple its naval estimate and all under
the assertion that 1t is done for peace
He questioned the need of so great a navy
as the bill contemplates, asserting that
the Monroe doctrine and the supremacy
of this country on this side of the world
is secure and that the control of the Phil
lppines by this country had not been ques-
toned. He asked the minority why in the
view of the declarations in the Kansas
City platform they had not opposed
these expenditures.
An Unfair Attitude.
Mr.. Williams, minority leader, said the
inquiry put the democrats in an unfair
attitude, as the failure of the bill would
mean that ships under construction would
rot at the docks and the sailors would go
unfed.
! Mr.. Burton replied that he did not want
to be understood as opposing work on
ships under construction of the maintain
ance of the navy.
Consideration of the bill was pending
when the house adjourned 26 of the 70
pages having been read for amendment
under the five minute rule.
The anniversary of the birth of George
! Washington was observed by the chap
| lain
Our minds turn today" he said, ito
him we delight to call the father of his
country and the nation will pour out it's
gratitude for his character and deeds as
citizen soldier, statesman and follower
of Jesus of Nazareth, and every lover of
liberty the world over will sing his
praises, whose name has become a syn
onym for wisdom. purity and uprighteous-
ness"
Moves to Adjourn.
! Following the reading of the journal,
Mr.. Williams, the minority leader, in ac-
cordance with the notice he gave Satur-
day, moved that the clerk read the fare
well address of George Washington, and
that Immediately thereafter the house ad-
journ.
The point of order as made by Mr..
Payne was sustained on the ground that
the motion embraced two positions.
| Mr.. Williams then moved that the
| house adjourn, and pending that, unani-
nous consent be given for the reading of
| Washington's farewell address, Having
! coupled request with his motion, Mr..
| Williams motion was again held not to
be In order, when he asked unanimous
consent, that this being Washington's
birthday the farewell address be read.
Upon the demand of Payne for the regu-
lar order Mr.. Williams moved to adj
journ.
On roll call the motion was lost-93 to 95.
Three republicans, Messrs McCreary,
Patterson and Sibley of Pennsylvania,
voted with the minority for the motion;
otherwise there was party alignment
with the republicans opposing adjourn
ment.
The house then went into committee OF
the whole, with Hepburn of Iowa in the
chair, and resumed consideration of the
naval appropriation bill.
Rixey Speaks for German.
Mr.. Rixey of Virginia, member of the
naval affairs committee, said he was sur
prised that the secretary of the navy in
recent address should treat the support
of the navy in partisan way. lie added
that the secretary was reported to nave
| said at a recent banquet in New York
that he viewed with apprehensons the
| observations recently made by the sem
ator from Maryland, Mr.. German.
Mr. Rixey said it was difficult to under
stand why the observance of the senator
! from Maryland, who the secretary said
is easily the leader of his party, should
cause the secretary such serious appre-
henson. He said it could only be account
ed for by the fact that the secretary re-
4 ri will
meet in a few months to nominate their
candidates, and with his prophetic eye he
sees that this senator will be selected as
the standard bearer of the party to which
he belongs, and then at the general cleo
ton that follows this standard bearer will
be successful, and be transferred from
the forum in which he is at present a
minority to one in which he will be in
position to shape to some extent the poll
| icy of the country.
Only Temporary Measure.
Mr. Shook of Ohio opposed a ship sub
sidy and declared the bill proposing
committee to investigate the merchant
marine was only a temporary measure to
postpone action on the question until
after the election.
Mr. Burton of Ohio opposed the naval
| policy expressed in the bill as departure
| from the policies which have been alike
the honor and bulwark of the country.
| He said he could not support bill which
carries so great an expenditure for navy
| as the one under consideration. He asked
what was the necessity of so great navy;
what nation was threatening and what
nation was attacking us, and what ma
| ton had questioned the control of the
| United States over the Philippines.
Continuing he asked what country held
l,o oh uyhan Panama broke away from Co.