The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-02-28
BATTLESHIPS STAY IN BILL.
SENATE VOTES MONEY FOR NAVY
AFTER A SHARP DEBATE.
LodEr Defends Administration Policy.
Telling Hale We're Not bullying Little
PowerS-COursc I'm Santo Domingo
Necessary. but Annexation Would lie
all Eiil--T8o Scout Ships Added.

WAsHISoToN, Feb. 27.--The Naval APP
preparation bill was passed by the Senate
tonight after an interesting debate, in
which there was more talk about Santo
Domingo and bullying little Powers
The effort to cut down from two TO one the
number Of battleship5 authorized by the
House was unsuccessful.
An amendment was adopted providing
for an investigation of the recent armor
plate contracts. The Senate amended
the bill also by authorizing two scout ships
At 81 900 900 each, aud increased the cost
Of building the naval GOLFERS authorized
by the House.
Senator Hale added more TO his remarks
Of Saturday, advocating halt on big ap-
preparations for the navy, and there was
much talk by other Senators in regard 70
the Treasury deficit and the necessity for
ratrenchment
4 spirited defenos Of the Administrn-
tons Slnto Domingo policy was made by
Senator Lodge, who maintained that the
United States could not escape its respon-
abilities concerning Latin-American re-
publics. He assured the Senate that he
would regard the annexation OF Santo
The greatest Assurance of peace, Mr.
Lodge held was big navy; it was assurance
also that the open door '"oud lie main
tanned in China. Mr.. Lodge paid his com
puents to Mr.. Hnle's sarcastic reference
10 bullying little Powers and denied that
the United States pursued any such policy.
Mr. German began the debate by saying
that the increase Of the expenses Of the
navy staggered every one who studied
the subject and the sources of revenue.
He said the only answer to criticisms OF
this great increase was that OF Mr. Hale
on Saturday when he said this country
was entering upon the world Power"
policy of Great Britain. Mr.. German said
he did not intend 10 discuss the policy
OF taking possession of neighborlug repub-
lies, but he pointed out that the Admins
TRITON wns now using the naval officers as
collectors Of revenue in nearby republics,
after the English style. No doubt these
new duties called for the increase in the
navy and the Marine Corps.
He denounced the expenditures for the
navy as something enormous. The total
cost OF the navy in the four years of the
OWL war was 1914. 900, 900. while the cost
of the new navYfrom 1901 TO 1904 inclusive
hae been $4,000 900, not counting the
pending bill Pubic improvements ware
bsing paralyzed he declared, because Of
the great army and navy appropriations,
Notice had already been served that the
Public Building and River and Hhrbor bills
could not pass IL greatly Increased by the
Serate.
Mr.. McCumber Rep., N. d. said he
m 6pI 80 },
Nth his party on the naval bill. He de-
scribed the estimates of the Navy Depart
Ineut az -audacious demands" The cry
was for economy on every hand, and the
legitimate needs OF the Government had TO
be neglected because OF the demands for a
bigger navy. 1t was practically certain
that not single battleship would ever be
used
Mr.. Perkins asked II the money used for
hattleships was not a good insurance Of
peace. One years war. he said, would
eat up the money used for years in building
battleshps which serve as a bond Of peace
That IL an imported idea" replied Mr.
McCumber. why do we need navy TO
preserve peace? No nation in the world
will make war against us unless we ure the
sggressor. To what extent has our in
feriority in naval matters in the past con
tributed to a lack Of respect for us as a
nation, Our coasts are our forts. We
do not need a navy as European countries
do
Mr. Scott asked IL the North Dakota
Senator was sorry we had a navy when he
read the report of Dewey's victory at
Manila Bay Mr. Blackburn pointed out
~ ~ lot
ship under his command at the battle OF
Manila Bay.
Does the Senator think retorted Mr.
Scott. that Dewey would have lost the
battle il he hadfad a hattleship:' Laugh
ter
Mr.. Carmack offered nm amendment
striking cut one hnttleshp. Mr.. Black
burn made a speech on the amendment.
He said ct the outset that he did not have
any hope OF cutting out one battleship.
II was the first time he had opposed an in
crease OF the navy. II this bill should
pass without reduction, it would he neoes-
sary to increase the naval force TO $4,000
inen The ships already building will
require 81 600 men. The increase OF per-
sonnet in the bill raises the total TO 5000
men.
Mr. Blackburn declared that in Canada
the United States held hostage for the
good behavior of England. No war with
England would occur on this account
Neither Germany>nor France would cross
the Atlantic TO make war on the United
siates H. thought It safe and wise to drop
for one year the appropriations for the
Increase Of the navy
Mr. Carmack found fault with the naval
blll as an obstacle 10 appropriations for
rivers and harbors and public buildings.
The Good Roads bill was also held up be-
Cause the money was needed for the navy
Mr. Hale took the position that one battle
chip n year would be sufficient to keep the
navy up 10 the proper standard. There are
now twenty-six new battleships. built and
building and this number in his opinion was
a. gneat as the United States needed for all
purposes Mr.. Hale said he was impatient
when be- saw hundreds of millions given 10
tho navy and not a dollar to the merchant
marine -Four hundred and odd thousand
tons were building for the navy, while the
private shpyards were inhabited by bats
and owls
Mr. Hale declared that navy and army
Officers were always alive to the pomp and
psnoply Of war, Tho navy board fairly
NI1ocatnd Congress with thpir estimates