New-York tribune., 1905-02-16
NAVAL POLICY DISCUSSED.
Building of Battleships Opposed
and Defended an the House.

Washington. Feb. 15.-The question of what
the policy of the government should be with
respect TO the upbuilding of the navy was again
discussed in the House to-day. the debate de-
veloping much opposition to the proposed addi-
ton of two battleships The defence of the
Philippines once more played an important part
IN the discussion. while the events Of the war
IN the Far East from naval point Of view We're
made prominent by the advocates of an in
creased navy. The House met hour earlier
than usual, and with the exception of brief
period the time was consumed on the Naval
bill
Mr.. Beall. of Texas. declared that the United
States had gone mad over the spirit Of militar-
ism, which was sapping the substance OF the
people. The government paying as much
attention to Ceremonies ponp and power as
any government on EARTH and he said it was the
most extravagant government in the world. He
compared the heavy army and navy expendi-
lures of this country with those of other ma
tions and in referring to Russia said that she
spent more. but Russia is a despot1sm, gov
ernment hated by its own people and desplsed
by the people of the world" and that she main
tained her existence by the power of her arms.
He referred to the Presidents speech in New
York on Monday night, in which it was main
tanned that, while the United States should at
all times cultivate friendly relations with other
people and talk pleasantly to them, the upbuild-
ing of the navy must go There was never
nation that played the bully among other
nations Of the world, Mr.. Beall remarked that
there was not some other nation ready to engage
in a death struggle with it, and. he predicted
history viii repeat itself with us
The apprehensions of Mr.. Littlefeld regard
ing an enormous deficiency were not shared by
Mr. Gaines. of West Virginia, who produced sta
tistics furnished by the Secretary Of the Treas
ury to show that the revenues would be ample
to meet the requirements.
A plea for economy in the appropriation was
made by Mr. Sparkman. Of Florida, who proph-
esied that not in the next generation, nor pos
sibly in the next century. would this country
become involved in war between any OF the
great powers.
Entertaining similar sentiment Mr. Per-
kins. of New-YorE. said that no gun on any
ship now in commission the two battle
ships proposed by the bill. if they were author
lied. would ever fire a hostile shot He pro-
voked a sharp discussion by declaring that war
ships disintegrated inside of twenty years
Mr. Brick. of Indiana, took issue with him and
cited the Texas, while Mr.. Rixey, of Virginia
maintained the correctness of Mr. Perkins's po-
sition by saying that high naval officers had
declared most of the ships now in service TO be
obsolete and of no account The statement was
fatty contradicted by Mr.. Dayton, of West Vir-
gtnia, who declared that not a single naval Of
fcer would say the ships in the American navy
were antiquated and out of date
The principle of upholding the Monroe Doc
trine through the battleships was declared by
Mr. Thayer, of Massachusetts, to be unneces-
sary "since" he said I'VE protecting II py the
dictum Of the gentleman at the other end or the
avenue, who doesn't require any battleships or
law whatever to back him up"
NIf. Butler of Pennsylvania, upheld the pro-
posed increase in the number of battleshlps, say
ing that until all selfshness had disappeared
men would strike and countries would strike.
The Spaniards he said. did not dream such men
as Captain Clark and Engineer Milligan. of the
Oregon, lived. In the hurry OF business Con-
gress had forgotten a duty 1t owed 10 those Two
men. Mr. Butler elected Democratic applause
when he said he hoped some honorable way to
get rid of the Philippines would be round he
advised the government to keep watch Of Japan.
He said that, while were now friendly and
loving each other and agreeing, the war with
Russia would be some day and then II
would be discovered that the fighting man Of
the earth lives in the island of Japan five days
from the Philippines and thtrty-hVe days from
the United States"
Mr.. Lucking. of Michigan, while believing in
maintaining the present effectiveness Of the
navy, opposed the idea Of unlimited expendl-
lures for ships. He believed nation in the
world would attack this country unless insulted
70 the last degree. incidentally he charged that
the United States Steel Corporation was furnish
ing steel TO build UP the British and other navies
at about one-third the cost to the United states
Mr. Cochran, of New-York, opposed a large
standing army a big navy. Referring to the
Venezuelan dispute with England, he declared
that the greatest triumph ever won in the his
tory Of the United States when Secretary
Olney wrote dispatch affecting the greatest
power in the world when the navy was about
one-ffth its present size.
The House voted down amendment offered
by Mr.. Rixey striking out the proposed increase
of three thousand men for the navy, although on
a point of order the provision permitting their
immediate enlistment was stricken out.
The bill IaiG aside, and. following the
presentation Of the conference report on the
Omnibus Claims bill the House adjourned until
II o'clock tomorrow.