Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-02-26
SUBMARINE BOATS
Question Considered by the
House.
ADMIRALDEWEY'SVIEW
BELIEVES THAT THE NUMBER
MAY BE SAFELY INCREASED.
Mr.. Hill Would Leave the Number to
the Discretion Of the Secretary
Of the Navy.
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES

Upon converting today the attention Of
the House of Representatives was directed
toward the orient by the chaplain, who
asked In his prayer that disputes between
nations Of the earth may be settled by the
peaceful methods of arbitration
The House went into committee of the
whole. with Mr.. Olmsted (Pa.) in the chair,
and resumed consideration Of the naval ap-
preparation bill.
Mr.. Roberts CMass.), in support of his
amendment authorizing the purchase Of
five instead Of two submarine torpedo
boats. which was pending when the House
adjourned yesterday. quoted Admiral
Dewey as saying, in personal letter to
him under date of February IS, that in view
OF the effective work OF torpedoes in the
tar east 1t was his judgment that the gov
ernment had waited long enough before
constructing submarine boats, and that the
number specified In the bill could well be
increased
Mr. Hill Comm. following, commended
for his amendment authorizing the secre-
tary to purchase subsurface torpedo boats
without specifying as to number, leaving
II In the discretion of the Secretary to
purchase what number, if any. he may
deem advisable within the limit of $780,
ooo nxed by the amendment Of Mr.. Rob-
Mr. Hill read from the report of an army
BOARD OF which Major Murray of the artil-
lery corps was president. dated January a
1913, winch board was appointed to wilt
ness ana report on the tests of the SUBJ
marine torpedo boat Protector. Mr. Hill
called attention to the statement of the
board that this type of boat would be
most most valuable auxiliary to the fixed mine
defense and to the further statement of the
board that under conditions where chan
hels could not be mined 1T will give the
nearest approach to absolute protection
known to the board"
He also called attention to the state-
ment of the board relative to the ability
to pick up cables, and to the fact that the
board recommended the purchase Of five of
the boats for different harbors Of the
United States. Mr.. Hill contended that
the widest discretion should be vested in
the Secretary Of the Navy that the best
types may be secured if others are to be
purchased.
Mr.. Dayton (W.Va) opposed increasing
the appropriation fixed in the bill until
further reports from military boards were
made
Mr.. Sibley (Pa-) asked If the Navy De-
partment had not been hostile to SUBJ
marine development.
Mr.. Dayton replied that the department
was not antagonistic to the extent indi-
Gated by the inquiry.
Mr.. W. W. Kitchin On. c. spoke for the
amendment authorizing the purchase of five
Subma rine boats.
Mr.. Hill proposed a substitute amend
ment Incorporating in the bill the IAN
guage contained in the last naval appropri-
alton act, except that the maximum is
fixed at $S50,O00 instead of 100000 This
authorizes purchases within the discretion
of the, Secretary. and provides for compe-
tEon.
Mr. Roberts (Mass.) declared, hotly. that
he desired to resent the insinuafIon of Mr.
Dayton that he (Mr. Roberts) was the rep
resentative of any particular type of sub
marine boats. He then criticised Mr.. Hill
for his enthusiasm for certain type Of
torpedo boat.
In closing the debate on the amendment
Mr.. Fcss declared that what Wis wanted
was the best boat. to be determined by
actual comparison or competition. He
quoted Secretary Moody as declaring that
he was satisfied to have the appropriation
for two submarines which was not ex-
pended reappropriated. .-
Mr.. Foss said that he favored the sub
stitute offered by Mr.. Hill saying that
the bill.
Mr.. Loudenslager IN. - interrupted to
declare that the Hill substitute was clev-
erly drawn to prevent the purchase of any
submarines. because there were only two
makes of these boats, and should one
company refuse to put their boat in compe-
tition none could be.
Amendment Lost.
Mr.. Roberts amendment authorizing the
purchase of five submarine torpedo boats
was lost by a vote of As to 1O6 when Mr.
Hilfs amendment Incorporating the Ian
guage Of the last appropriation authorizing
the Secretary of the Navy to purchase sub
marine torpedo boats and providing for
competition, but increasing the limit Of ap-
preparation from $4,000 to $3.50, was
adopted by vote of 81 to 50.
Mr.. Livernash proposed an amendment
providing that no money paid out for con-
Struction under the bill shall be paid to
any contractor until he has covenanted
with the government that no laborer or
mechanic shall be required to work over
eight hours. a forfeit of s. a day being
provided for each man required to work
beyond that time.
Mr.. Foss raised a point Of order against
the amendment.