New-York tribune., 1906-03-28
BIGGEST BATTLESHIP.
MAY COST SIO,OOO,OO0.
House NaUaJ affairs Committee
WI Report IN FaUor Of 1t.
From The Tribune Bureaul

Washington March 2T-The House COM
mittee on Naval Affairs agreed to-day 10 author
tze the construction of a battIeship of the
greatest power and efficiency" not to exceed
s100OO,O0O I'M cost Under the provisions
adopted the Secretary Of the Navy is directed to
secure plans from the board Of constructors Of
the navy and also from the shipbuiIding con-
Germs for the proposed Ieviathan. the tonnage Of
which is to be determined by him: Exclusive Of
armor and armament. the amount specified for
the ship is S6.0OOOOO This is 81. 100000 more
for the construction Of the hull and machinery
Of a batteship than has ever been authorized in
the American navy, the largest ship having cost
$4400,000. Authority for shipbulIding concerns
10 compete in submitting designs is given TO en-
able the best possible type to be selected. It is
generally understood by members of the COM
mittee that a ship Of over 49, 900 tons will result
from the appropriation. and some are confident
that the amount appropriated viii make possible
the building of the largest and most formidable
battleship in the world.
The entire building programme for the navy
for a year was agreed upon to-day. Three tor
pedo boat destroyers. to cost S75OOO0, are
authorized; s1.OO0OOO is TO be expended by the
Secretary Of the Navy for submarine boats in
his discretion; new steel floating drydock sim
liar 10 the Dewey, to be located at Salouon
Island, near Sparrows Point Maryland is or
dered; also a drydock at Bremertou. Wash and
100000 is appropriated for repairs to save the
old frigate Constitution at the Boston Navy
Yard. The last provision received the hearty
support OF all the committee Secretary Bona
parties suggestion that so much Of the materials
Of the ship as be shown to have belonged to
the original Constitution be transferred to a new
vessel and the remaining hulk shot to pieces was
rejected. and the appropriation Of 100000 was
Incorporated in the bill, so that "OId Ironsides"
may be put in good order and kept in Boston
Harbor
The recommendations Of the Navy Department
Tor the Increase of the navy were not carried
out IN full Secretary BOnaparte had recon-
lnended two batLeships to cost S1JOOOO0O: in
stead OF allowing four torpedo boat destroyers,
three were authorized and in the matter OF
submarines one additional was allowed over
the Secretary's recommendation The question
Of submarine boats caused a good deal of dis
cussion in the committee because Of the dispute
as 70 the relative merits Of the Holland and Lake
designs and the difficulty which has attended
the making Of contracts heretofore. To enable
the Secretary Of the Navy to obtain the best
possible type Of boats the question Of contracts
is left to his discretion. There is no provision
In the bill for armOred cruisers
The total Of the Naval bill as now agreed
upon is 99I5OOOO. This is S20OOOOOO below
the estimates submitted by the Navy Depart
menL The current law aggregates S1O3O 100000.
The preparation OF the Naval bill is now practt-
cally complete. and the appropriations for the
considered in the House within week or ten
davs