The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1905-02-21
NAVAL BILL PASSED
Congress Voted $ee,ooo,ooo
For Defense.
TWO MORE BATTLESHIPS ORDERED
New York Representative Condemned
Action of President In Sending
Coincidence 10 Russia Regard-
Ing Late Assnssination.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 21.-The house
after seven hours session passed the
naval appropriation bill, carrying n to-
tai of $99,914 ,359. The provision for
two battleships, as reported by the
committee on naval affairs, was re-
tanned. Both the majority and minor
lty were badly divided over the propo-
sition, at least forty members of the
latter going over to the Republicans,
while about an equal number of Re
publicans voted In opposition, Several
important changes In the bill were
made. The proposed Increase Of 1900
men and officers for the marine corps
was stricken out, as was also the pro-
vision authorizing the construction of a
collier somewhere else than at the
Mare island navy yard In California.
of $4,000 was inserted for the proper
equipment Of the Mare island navy
yard.
Several times during the debate the
assassination Of Grand Duke Sergius
was referred to, the subject being
brought up by Mr.. Baker IN. ", who
condemned the action of President
Roosevelt in sending message of con-
dolence to Russia expressing the sentl-
ment that the government and the
American people viewed the act with
adherence. The people, he declared,
lid view with adherence the massacre
In st. Petersburg on Jan. %, but the
president, he said, had not seen fit to
send message of coincidence on that
occasion.
He was replied to by Mr.. Grosvenor
t0.), who took the ground that, regard
less Of the character Of the duke or the
question OF the right or wrong of Rus
sia's policy toward her subjects, the
president in sending the message he
did had done exactly what civilization
recognized as his duty.
With particular reference to that ac-
ton Mr. Grosvenor (0.) was bitter in
his criticism of Mr.. Baker. Mr.. Bakers
action he declared to have been UMPIRE
-cedented. Had adjournment been TAX
en-, he said, it would have been a
meaningless and stupid exhibition of
ignorance. The public and the world
knew that the American congress did
not sympathize with riot and unneces-
sary bloodshed. Whether it was neces-
sary or not there was no doubt
strong critical opinion in the country,
but he said no intelligent man would
suggest that congress express an opin-
ion on that subject.
Mr.. GrOsvenor spoke of Grand Duke
Sergus as a cabinet officer of the en-
peror. He denied that the president
fell short of his duty and said that as
regards the killing Of the grand duke ii
would have been little short of impro-
priety had lot the president sent his
message of coincidence,
The climax came later in the day
when Mr.. Baker read resolution on
the subject, which he subsequently in
troduced and which in effect was a re-
iteration of his remarks previously
made. He explained that his object in
so doing was because it had been sug-
gested that in that event a motion
would be made to expel him. He
shouted defiance to any member of the
house to make the motion as he deposS
tied the resolution and took his seat
amid the confusion and turmoil which
the incident had created.