New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-05-17
FOR GIANT BATTLESHIP,
House ApproUes Presidents Naval
Construction Programme.
IFrom &c Trihune nnr.nn. !


washington. May 16.-One battleship. CAS- big
as the biggest" and the Presidents entire build
ing programmes for the navy, as provided for in
the Naval Appropriation bill. were approved by
the House to-day.
Debate over the provision for a monster battle
snip lasted several hours. and was characterized
Oy unusual earnestness on both sides. An
amendment offered by Mr. Burton, Of Ohio. TO
strike out the paragraph Of the bill relating 20
Uatteship construction, about which the fight
centred was rejected by a vote OF 1O3 to 185.
On this vote party lines were not strictly drawn.
aoout twenty Republicans voting with Mr. Bur
ton' ana a proportionate number OF Democrats
Standing by the majority who favored the bait
tleship appropriation. A substitute amendment
orIered by Mr.. Bartholdt, OF Missouri. making
the battleship appropriation contingent on the
action OF the coming Hague conference In limit
ing armament or arranging for the settlement OF
all International disputes by arbitration was
also voted down
A feature Of the bill which caused sharp dis
cussion was the appropriation OF S1.oo0,OO0 for
submarine torpedo boats It was anticipated
that the time limit Of six months set for the
competitive tests OF these boats would cause
some protest. and when the provision was read
Mr. Underwood, Of Alabama, offered an amend
ment which he said had the approval Of the
navy Department. vSsting in the Secretary OF
tne Navy complete authority for the selection Of
IheSe boats. Speaking on this amendment Mr..
sullivan OF Massachusetts, accused the Naval
AIa1rs Committee OF extraordinary inter-
est IN presenting a proper amount of compe-
tltlon IN the tests Of submarine boats Mr. Par
sons. Of New York. said that the time limit did
not seem to be fair to at least of the sub
marine boat building concerns. At this juncture
Mr.. Gardner, OF Massachusetts,, offered an
amendment to extend the time limit within
which the tests may be made to twelve months
Chairman Foss. of the Naval Committee, an
nounced5 that he would accept the amendment,
and 1t was agreed to-
The House remained in session until o'clock
to dispose OF the bill. and before adjournment
the previous question ordered on all amend
chains, on which a separate vote will be taken
tomorrow.
Mr. Williams. the minority leader satirically
suggested amendment that, in view OF the
British having decided to name their mon
ster the Dreadnought, 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 Dreadnought to a duel to the death, and that
the President and his Cabinet, with the excep-
ton Of the Secretary Of Agriculture, who is
-combatant, be invited to places on the quar-
terdeck evidences of the strenuous life; the
sea fight to take place off Newport. The amend
ment was ruled out Of order but Mr. Williams
had considerable fun out of IL.
I'VE have a navy far in excess Of our needs
was one Of BourSe Cockran's utterances. He
said that the United States had demonstrated
in every war IL has ever had that 1t was able to
meet the enemy when the time came.