The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-01-15
Will. OPEN |: / J. N
BIDS; TODAY 0 / Ny
Contracts to be Awarded for tho
# Construction Of Two ~
Battlcships N.
NEWPORT NEWS MAY GET ONE N ::
Probable That No River and
IIarbor Bill VIII be Passed at
Present Session Of Congress

f1rron Our Regular CORRESPONDENCE AN
WASHINGTON, p. c., jan. l4.--Ihc
SECRETARY OF tho Navy will open bids
TO- morrow for the construction OF Two
battlcships. The vessels are TO be OF
1900 tons burthen each, and IRE 10 DC
named the Idaho and the Mississippi, re-
spectively. The time In which they are
to be completed Is forty-two months
and the cost price IS not to exceed
thlrty-flvo hundred thousand dollars dollars
each.
Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry
dock Company, said to-nlght that ~
thought his company stood All excellent
chance To got one OF the contracts. NO
yard will be awarded moro than ono
ccntrnct. There will be several COM
I etitors, including the Cramps.
h Six war vessels are In course OF con. Z
.tructIon ut the Newport News YARD
now. Mr. C.. B. circuit, president OF Inc
Newport News Company. Is IN the CITY.
also to be present at the opening.
NO RIVER AND I1ARBOlt BILL, 4,
IT is pretty well settled thatst there Will
,,a no river and harbor bill introduced
ut the present session OF Congress- II
is because of this fact that the resolti-
ton introduced by Senator Martin, pro-
Sy,dng for Il survey Of the channel 70
the Norfolk navy-ynrd, Will not pass me
House. 1t. went through the Senate It,
is understood that Il bill VII be passed
making an appropriation TOR the con-
tinuance Of work which would surfer by
reason Of neglect to make such appro-
printion. Under this head will be In
cluded tho work on the james River At
Richmond, and considerable other work
around Norfolk.
the decision OF tho louise Republicans
not TO allow any g:sl.cral BILL Tor the
Improvement OF rivers anu harbors 70 SO
through Indicates that there VIII nc
!. bill making very large appropriations 1oT
TIE enlargement OF tho navy. Represen-
tative Rlxey, the. :eniCr minority mem
Fer Of tic Committee on Naval Affairs
said recently that l.e expected the COM
outteo to recommend tl:n appropriation OF
tabcut s35,0COnO0 for the construction OF
seven batt,,ships. The members Of the
&C mmittee have all along realized that
large river and barber bill would en-
danger the naval appropriation But now
that it seems settled that there VIII pc
no river and harbor biz, It seems vary
probable that the naval bill will be got
ten through without my trouble.
EARLY ADJOURNMENT.
Tho fact that there will be no river
ana hurbor bill also makes tho adjourn
,-,ent OF Congress Akely to occur much
earlier than. was axpested. The nppro-
prjaton bills, will be-, aott ten out pr the
/ way, in the Housc In pretty short order
anu while they will be longer In getting
through. the Senate, there Is no reason
why the two bodies slpulG not get Through
with them in the { ourse of q few weeks,
After they shall have passed there WIZ
rot DO many measures oil general Interest
t. keep tho Congress hore. OF course,
tie Senate will have TO devote several
" eelss to discussing the Panama canal
treaty, but It could very well dispose OF
ether matters and take UP the treaty In
ezra session, allowing the members OF
session wousl have to be called by the
President. But thal Is not much talk
hi ard Of session Of this kind. aud there
2, little probability Of ones being called.
WOOD NOMINATION.
THE discussion on the nomination Of
General Wood to be Il major,general IN
the army will take fllp great deal OF
5tirne In the Senate alsu. The opponents
OF the confirmation do not hope to be
SUCCESSFUL though rhty believe there is
!, chance that enough " the Republicans
, can be brought to see the dangers to
tho service Of appointing q man from
tivil life, practically, to position IN
which he will remain until called to the
command of the army III the course of a
few years, to defsat tho whim OF the
| ~ esidcnt.
Senator Daniel said to-day that he
| would vote against the confirmation OF
the appointment. He spoke with consid-
crab., heat In. discussing the matter.
! declaring that It wns al outrag'e to pro-
| pose to put Wooden the head OF the
army, as would be done in the course OF
a few years IL he vera made major
| Enneral NJ MS. L--L.L H.Ll.