The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1905-02-24
STRONG OPPOSITION
TO new BATTLESH|PS
Naval Debate i'm House Devel.
oped Much Antagonist
to President.
A VOTE WAS NOT REACHED
Gentlemen Especially Object to Build.
ing Two New Rattleships, Because
They Don't See Any Pros
pect of a Foreign War;

Washington, Feb. 1S.-'The question of
what the policy of the government
should be with respect to the upbuild-
ing of the navy was again thrashed
out in the house during the considera-
ton of the naval appropriat ton bill, the
debate developing much opposition to
the proposed addition of two battle
ships to the naval appropriation bill.
The defense of the Philippines played
an important part in the discussion,
While the war in the far east from a
naval point of view was given promi-
nence by the advocates of an increased
navy.
A plea for economy in the appropria-
lions was made by Mr. Sparkman of
Florida. who prophesied that not in the
next generation. nor possibly in the
next century. would this country be-
come involved in a war between any
of the great world powers.
Entertaining a similar sentiment, Mr.
Perkins of New York Ventured the as
Sertion that no gun on any ship now
in commission or on the TWO battle
ships proposed by the bill. if they were
authorized, would ever fire a hostile
shot. He provoked a sharp discussion
by declaring that warships diSinteg-
rated inside of twenty years.
Present Ships Are Good.
Mr.. Brick of Indiana took issue with
M l..
Rixey of Virginia maintained the cor
rectness of Mr.. Perkins position by
stating that high naval officers had de-
clared the ships now in service to be
obsolete and of no account. The state
ment was fatty controverted by Mr.
Dayton of West Virginia. who declared
there was not a single naval officer who
would say the ships in the American
navy were antiquated and out of date.
In defending the bill reported by the
naval committee. of which he is men,
Der, Mr. Brick said the United States
was world power Of irrepressible ex-
pansion. If Russia had had our battle
ships and the sea power she would still
be in Port Arthur today.
The principle of upholding the Monroe
doctrine through battleships was de-
clared by Mr.. Thayer of Massachusetts
to be unnecessary, "sinCe," he said, I'VE
are protecting it by the dictum of the
gentleman at the other end of the ave
nue. who doesn't require any hattleships
or law whatever to back him up"
Mr.. Butler of Pennsylvania upheld the
proposed increase in the number of bat
tleships, saying until all selfishness haG
disappeared men would strike anC
countries would strike. The Spaniards
he said, did not dream such men us
Captain Clark and Engineer Milligan
of the Oregon. lived He said that II
y
gotten duty it owed to these two mer
An Eye on Japan.
Mr.. Butler ELECTED democratic ap
plause when he said he hoped there
would be found some honorable way t.
get rid of the Philippines. He advised
this government to keep watch of ia
pan. He said that while we were NOV
friendly and loving each other an'
agreeing" the war with with Russi;
he
would be discovered that the fightin,
men of the earth live in the islands o
Japan, five days from the Philippine
and thirty-five days from the Unite'
States.
Mr.. Lucking. of Michigan, while be
lieving in maintaining the present eff
fectiveness of the navy, was oppose
to the idea of unlimited expenditure
Tor ships. His confidence in the presen
naval establishment, he said, was sue
that he believed no nation in the wor
would attack this country unless in
suited to the last degree. Incidental
he said that the United States Stee
corporation was furnishing steel t
build up the British and other navie
at about third the cost to tn
United States.
Mr. Cochran. of New York, opposed
large standing army or big army. Ra
ferring to the Venezuelan dispute wit
fnRldHu MI. tOthldll ueCldieu lildl
greatest triumph ever won in the his
tory of the United States was ''whe
Secretary Olney wrote a dispatch al
feoting the greatest power in the worl
when the navy has about one-fift
of it's present size
Mr.. Cochran discounted the efficienC
of battleships at Port Arthur and as
serted that it was the mines place
In position by rowboats that laid 10
vessels of that kind
Mr. Slayden, of Texas, opposed tt
proposed increase in the naval estaf
lshment by two battleships. The b
was then read for amendment.
The house voted down an amendmel
offered by Mr.. Rixey. of Virginia, stril
ing out the proposed Increase of 3.O
men for the navy, although on poi
of order by him the provision pc
biting their immediate enlistment w
stricken out. The bill was laid asid
and following the presentation of Il
conference report on the omnib
claims bill the house at $50 p. m a
iourned until tomorrow at / q. m.
Rising to question of priviles
Payne OF New York offered a resol
ton reciting the action of the sena
In adopting an amendment interprt
Ing the D1ngley act with reference
the drawback on wheat. and declari
such action Is an infringement of t
privileges of the house, and that Sc
bill with amendments be respectful
returned to the senate with MESA
communicating the resolution. The r.
fl,tion was greeted with applause, a