The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1905-02-17

Washington. February ,s.-The ques
ton OF what the policy Of the govern
nnent should be with respect to the up
building OF the navy was again thresh-
ed out in the House today, during the
consideration on the naval appropria-
ton bill. the time developing nue.,
opposition to the proposed addition OF
| two battleSnips to the naval establish
| ment. AS on Yesterday. the defense
| of the Philippines played an importan:
part in the discussion. while the events
| OF the war In the far east. from a nava
Point OF view were given prominence
by the advocates Of an increased navy
The House met an hour earlier than
| usual and with the exception of a
| brief period the entire time was con-
sumed with the naval bill
Mr.. Beall, of Texas, in opposing large
| appropriations for the army and navy
charged that the United States had
gone mad over the spirit of miiitarism
which was sapping the substance of
the people. The government was pay
Ing as much attention to ceremonies
romp and power" as any government
on earth and he said it was the most
| extravagant government in the world
| A plea for economy in the appropria-
] ton was made by Mr.. Sparkman, of
| Florida, who prophesied that not in the
next generation nor possibly in the next
| century would this country become In
vo1ved in a war between any OF the
great world powera
| Entertaining similar sentiment, Mr..
Perkins. of New York, ventured the
assertion that no gun on any ship now
in commission or on the two battleships
proposed by the bill. If they were au-
thorized, would ever fire a hostile shot.
He provoked a sharp discussion by de-
caring that warships disintegrated IN
side of twenty years.
Mr. Brick, OF Indiana, took issue with
him and cited the Texas. while Mr.
Rixey, of Virginia, maintained the cor
rectness of Mr.. Perkins position by
stating that high naval officers had
declared numbers of the warships now
in commission to be obsolete and Of no
account. The statement was fatty con-
troverted by Mr. Dayton. OF West Vir-
ginia, who declared that there was not
a single naval officer who would say the
| ships in the American navy were anti
| quated and out Of date.
The principle OF upholding the Monroe
doctrine through battleships was de-
| ciared by Mr.. Thayer, of Aassachu-
setts, to be unnecessary since" he
said, I'VE are protecting II by the die
| tum of the gentleman at the other end
of the avenue who don't require any
battleships or law whatever to back
him up."
Mr.. Butler. of Pennsylvania, turning
to the subject Of the Philippines, elicit
ed Democratic applause when he said
| he hoped there would be found some
honorable way to get rid of them. He
advised this government ID keep wat:1
on Japan. He said that bile we were
now friendly and loving each other
aid agreeing" the war with Russia
| would be over some dav AID then 1t
| would be discovered that the fighting
man ot the earth lives in the islands OF
Japan. five days from the Philippians
| and thirty FIVE days from the Unite
States"
| Mr.. Cochran. of New York, oppose
the idea Of q large standing army or a
big navy Referring to the Venezuelan
dispute with England Mr.. Cochran de-
| cared that the greatest triumph eve.
| won in the history Of the United States
vas when Secretary Olney wrote a
dispatch affecting the greatest power
| in the world when the navy was about
cne-fifth it's present size.
| The House voted down an amendment
/ offered by Mr. Rfxey OF Virginia
striking out the proposed increase oi
three thousand men for the navy, al
though on a point OF order by him the
provision permitting their immediate
enlistment was stricken out.
The House, without completing tho
till, adjourned until tomorrow.