Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1905-03-02
THURSDAY EVENING, MAR. ?, 1905.


and Representatives. 1t was forced
through BY all the power the adminlstra'
ton could bring to bear upon the mem
bers. many of whom, even Senator Hale,
the chairman Of the naval committee,
giving the bill but half-hearted support.
The enormous amount OF money carried
By the bill and the large amount which
will be required annually to support the
navy must be a continuing heavy burden
upon the already oyertaxed people. In
discussing the bill in the Senate on Mon
dav Mr.. German said
The number of officers and men, in
Guiding sailors in the navy and the Of
fjcers and men in the marine corps, is
greater now than the entire army, navy
and marine corps in 1885. | find upon
examination that the total strength OF
the navy and marine corps, officers and
men. 10 November 1904, was Al, FOL,
and that the total number of officers and
men in the army, navy aud marine corps
in 1885 was SO, 985; and there cannot
be. under the conditions which exist,
an excuse for this increase in a time OF
profound peace The appro-
priations per annum for the naval estab
lishment are at the present time hun
dred million dollars or more, and are
soon TO be. under this system, 5000, OOO,-
600. IS stated by the distinguished Sen
ator from Maine (Mr. Hale) | want
TO call the attention of the Senate and OF
the country to the fact that while we
all agree that navy OF the proper size
is absolutely necessary, aud nobody OPP
poses il. vet the extravaganza OF the
present system and its totalcOst are enor-
NOUS. During the time from
1862 to 1865, when the resources of the
government were taxed as they never
had been taxed before, and trust will
never be taken again, all the exPendi-
lures for the Navy Department on every
account, including the construction and
purchase of ships, amounted to $Sl4,-
00O. O00. Now, sir, in time of pro-
found peace, with nothing to disturb us
on any side, with no necessity to block
ade any port, except that of some poor
Central or South American republic, we
have expended on the Navy Department
for the fiscal years Of 1901, 1902, 1903
and 1904 less only by million dollars
than the expense incurred during the
four wears of the civil var. Mr.. Pres-
dent. the mere statement of the case is
amply sufficient to show the extravaganza
of this great expenditure.
Mr.. Martin said: 81 agree with the
Senator from Massachusetts, Mr.. LODGE
that there is necessity for the United
States to maintain q strong navy. | be-
lieve there is no higher duty that this
government owes to its people than to
protect them in every land in which
thew may be carried in the legitimate
pursuit OF business or travel. | realize,
too, that the navy is the best guaranty
that the nation can have of peace. ]
realize, too, that the policies recently
entered upon by this government have
accentuated and brought into greater
prominence than ever before the necessi-
ty of maintaining a great navy. Enter
tanning these views, Mr.. President |
have not been one of those heretofore
found criticisiDg naval appropriation
bills. During my service in this body
have voted for every measure increasing
onr navy and perfecting and promoting
Its efficiency and its strength. When
the naval bill was before this body a
wear ago much criticism was INDUCED
in. | dissented from that criticism at
that time. and | supported the bill then
before the Senate. / did so with much
reluctance. If am not mistaken, the
distinguished chairman of the committee
on naval affairs himself then, as he has
done again today, indicated by his re-
marks that he felt the time was close at
hand when we could properly and wisely
halt in this march toward an ever-in-
creasing navy. | noticed in his remarks
before the Senate on Saturday and again
today statements which indicate that he
has besitated much in standing here as
the chairman of that great committee in
advocacy of the increases in the navy
contemplated by the pending bill. His
conservatism leads him to distrust the
wisdom of this continual march toward
greater expenditure and greater increase
in the navy. realize that the great
power of the navy rests in that class of
ships and think it is incumbent upon
the United States to maintain itself in
the first class of naval powers in respect
TO the number and the power of its battle
ships but, Mr. President, it seems to
me that the position which | have de-
sired to see the United States attain has
already been attained. | have desired
10 see the United States second in naval
power only to Great Britain. appre-
bend that no one in this country COM
templates the construction Of a navy for
our country which shall equal in power
the navy of Great Britain. 1t is unnec-
essary to attempt any such task it is en-
tirely inexpedient to attempt it; and
feel that | may say, without fear
of contradiction, that today the
United States is second only to Great
Britain in the fighting power OF its
navy and in the fighting power of its
battieships and its armored cruisers.
BY reference to pamphlet prepared by
the clerk of the naval committee it will |
be observed that we now have under cen
struction or authorized fourteen first-class |
battle ships; and it will be remembered |
that each one of those battleships costs
about IS, 000,00 We have uuder con-