Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-02-21
BILLION DOLLAR ESTABLISH
MENT WILL BE UNCLE SANS
SOON.
BIG BILL is DISCUSSED
Much Interest Is Being Taken In
Washington In the Naval Appropria.
tion Measure Which Comes to a
Vote soon-Laraest Ever Presented.

vote Soon-Larqest Ever Presented.
[BY HAROLD ]. MAHIN.l
Washington Bureau of Courier.
Washington, Feb. 20.
It is rumored that the senate is
going to pass the river and harbor
bill after all. 1t is said the plan is
to cut out both battleships in the
navy bill, thus saving enough to
justify the river appropriations.
The house has revolted against
Speaker Cannon's refusal to give
a rule to bring UP the public build
ing bill. A petition asking for the
same was signed by 80 per cent of
the members and sent to Speaker
Cannon today. The threat Is
openly made that the house will
vote down the battleships if the
public buildings are cut out Can
non is strong for the battleships
and may yield the point. Pressure
is being brought for the public
buildings in the senate also and
the chances look much better.
Congress has been looking forward
with particular interest for week to
the vote on the naval bill, which is ex.
pected to be reached this afternoon.
The naval committee has authorized in
the bill an appropriation for two new
battleships costing nearly S5O00,O 900
each. The President is very anxious
to see the battleships item passed. In
fact he wanted three authorized but
compromised on two. On the other
hon1c fhnrA ie = Il 1Ac.
the part of the majority of the demo.
Gratis and some republicans to cut out
at least one of the battleships and the
leaders Of the opposition were saying
this morning that they had votes
enough to do it.s7 Z = -
The naval bill has had an unusually
hard time this year. The dem ocrats
have attacked 1t vigorously on the
ground that 1T evinced trend toward
imperialism and was in line with the
Presidents big stick" policy. In view
of the fact that there is great cry
for economy this year also there are
some others who are inclined to re.
gard the discouraging rumors to the
effect that the public building and
river and harbor bills may not pass
as indicating that these two important
measures for internal improvement
are to be sacrificed to this hundred
million dollar naval bill
Iowans for Smaller Ships.
Neither of the two Iowa members
of the naval committee, Bob Cou.
sins and Judge Wade,ar very strongly
in favor Of the new ships. Mr.. Cou.
sins favors a big navy to certain ex--
tent but he is believer in smaller and
less expensive ships. He points to the
wonderful results secured by the Jap
anese with their little torpedo boats
as vindication of his ideas. He was
in favor of authorizing some swift ar.
mored scout ships that cost less than
half as much as battle ship. Judge
Wade too favors good navy but it
is understood that he is now willing
and ready to act with the minority in
cutting out the battleships if it can
be done.
Record Breaking Bill.
3 The naval bill this year carries an
appropriation of $1O6 100000 and this
is more than $4,000 below Secretary
Morton's estimate of his needs. This
is the first time the appropriation for
the navy has ever run over a 100000,
600 and that fact has aroused much op-
position. The immense cost Of fight.
ing ships and the large amount neces-
sary for their maintenance makes the
naval bill a good target for those who
wish to annoy the administration. For
instance the largest and costliest bat
tleship, the Oregon, cost Sc, $4,000
and it annual expense of maintenance
lis $50O,OOO The least expensive bat
g yI,s a
202,121.
.l Navy Is Good One.
The United States has pretty good
navy already. In tonnage it is the third
among the great powers of the world
and its fighting ships, that is big bat
tleships and all exclusive of torpedo
boats and smaller ships, are worth
s109,66S,2S2. This includes thirty-one
battleships costing $6S,500,0O0; thir-
teen armored cruisers costing $685.
100000; two armored cruisers costing
$S,8OO,OOO, and three unprotected
cruisers costing $3,SO0,0OO
Besides these ships there are thirty
two battleships and cruisers now in
the course of construction. 1t takes
nearly four years to complete battle
ship and these now building are those
authorized by various congresses dur
ing the last four years They include
six 16,000-ton battleships averaging
about $4,400,000 each; three $4,000
ton battleships, two 14,6O0-ton battle
ships; two 13,000-ton battleships; two
14,500 armored cruisers; five 14O0O-
ton armored cruisers and various
smaller ships.
1t has recently been calculated that
with all the ships already completed
and those building and the various
other features in the naval establish
ment Uncle Sam will find himself pos
sessed of a Billion Dollar Big Stick. ;,