The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-05-17
INCREASE OF THE
 NAVY DISCUSSED Williams Suggests Unique Name for New BattleShip "SKEERED O NOTHIN'" Proposes That After Its Completion It Be Entered In a Duel to the
 Death With the English
 Dreadnought.

Washington May 1G-Shall the United States have a battleship the peer if not the superior of any battleship in the world. carrying as heavy armor and as powerful armament as any known ves- sel of it's class. was the question which presented itself to the House today when hte further consideration of naval appro- priations was assumed.
 The first paragraph under increase of the navy provides for an appropria- ton of s6o00,OO0 for battleship that will be superior to the Dreadnaught provided for by the English government exclusive or armament and armor. The first against this provision fas precipitated by Mir. Burton of Ohio who moved to strike out the paragraph. In support of his motion MT. Burton said that the present pro- gramme of the navy In the way of build Ing new ships had already been provided for until January 1910 and in view of the delays which may cover a period of two years, the programme of the navy was outlined until 1912
 He further insisted that the relations between the governments of the world A'4ofAS PN NshStis Cildustu DtlOTt lJlS COiiltS around, and that the leading nations might decide In favor of a reduction of their nayies and in favor of interna- tional arbitration.
 Williams Satire.
 Mir. Williams of Mississippi minority leader. at this point satirically suggested ar amendment that in view of the British having decided to name their sea monster Dreadnaught the American sea monster be named "Skeered O Nothin," as being typical of the national spirit, that on its completion the captain In command be authorized to challenge the Dreadnaught to duel afoutrance Cto the death), and that the President and his cabinet, with exception of the secretary of agriculture, who is a non-combatant, be invited to places on the quarter deck as evidence of the strenuous life. The sea fight to take place off Newport
 The amendment was ruled out of order. but MT. Williams, as well as the House, had a good deal of fun out of 1t.
 MT. Bartholdt of Missouri offered an amendment giving to the secretary of the navy discretion to defer the construction of the sea terror provided in the bill in the event the Second Hague conference should adopt a resolution for the llmita- tion of the naval forces of the great powers.
 MT. Slayden of Texas spoke in favor of arbitration "We ought at once to agree to treaties of arbitration with every civil i1ed government On earth he said We ought to begin by making such treaties with all the other American republics. It yypll1d hp an acto of poDnroctty nd 1u9tfpa for a great strong government to weaker states that are sincerely trying to de- velop the same political ideas"
 New York's Fear
 MT. c. B. Landis of Indiana, asked MT. Cochran if 1t was not true that during the Spanish-American war, New York had not sent out q prayer for the entire navy to be stationed off the Atlantic coast to protect the metropolis of Amer ica from invasion by the Spaniards.
 ,Oh. fairy tales, well told, always amuse the thoughtless," replied MT. Cochran.
 The amendment proposed by MT. Bar tholdt was defeated The Burton amend ment, was then defeated the vote by tellers being. yeas, 1O3; nays, 13.
 An amendment offered by MT Tawney was agreed to providing that no part of the appropriation for the construction of new ships shall be expended for ar mor for vessels authorized except upon contracts let by the Secretary of the Navy to the lowest responsible bidder, having in view the best results and most expeditions delivery
 Mr. Rixey of Virginia presented an amendment calling on the Secretary of the Navy for a report armor plate The amendment was defeated.
 MT. Rixey presented an amendment linn iting the cost of armor plate to sS9S per ton. The amendment was defeated, 6S to 116.
 A , :55 D. m, the bill was completed and the committee rose.
 The previous question was then ordered on the bill. After some sparrng over the parliamentary status of the bill the House at 6:10 adjourned until noon to- morrow.