The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1906-05-05

III Inc 9G111S1S
.cHAiEaaaN FosssTEsLssoFTts
EFFoRIs MADE oAMEEt-
CAME THE ssEsfcE-
WASHINGTON. May 5. The Ma
val Appropriation biIL which carries
nearly hundred million dollars for
the naval Establishment was taken NJ
by the House Thursday.
Beyond the explanation of the bin
by AIR. Fose. OF Illinois. chairman OF
the Committee on Naval Affairs, and
the running IRE OF questions which his
presentation called forth. there was
little interest shown IN the earlier
part of the debate that ensued
Toward the close of the day. how
ever. a lively conoouy occurred be-
tween Mr.. Bates. OF Pennsylvania: Mr.
Williams, Of Mississippi: Mr.. Clark.
CT Missouri. and Dir. Payne. Of New
York. over certain statements made
by Mr.. Bates In relation to the price
of steel rails.
The discussion took on a wide tar
If range, forerunner of stiIl further
tariff discussion as the session nears
It's close. The speakers to-day. except
Mr.. Foss. Mr.. Myer da) and Mr.
Knowland (Cal9, dicussed feature
of the bill. contenting themselves un-
der the latitude furnished by general
debate with discussing subjects in
which tney have peculiar personal
interest
Chairman Foss. in explaining the
bill. said the Navy Department ask
ed for 1000 additional men. but the
committee, after exhaustive hearings,
decided to provide for the present
quota of $1,000 men. the prosperous
times making it difficult TO enlist men
in the Navy, as the rewards for labor
are much greater in civil life
Speaking Of the personnel Of the
Navy he said in January last the num-
Der in the Navy was 31.54.. OF the
II 900 men seeking enlistment last
year. 1000 were rejected He said
that the department. was putting forth
every effort to increase the efficiency
of the Navy and Understanding 1t
Getting rid Of the foreign element as
he called it, was the particular aim OF
the department AS result OF TINS
effort s5 per cent of the petty ohcers
are now citizens of the United States
and 80 per cent Of the enlisted men
are naturalized.
Never has the Navy been in SO
splendid a condition as now. said Mr.
Foss. land its esprit has never been
equaled-"
The Navy, he said, was getting a
splendid class of young men from the
farms Of the Middle West, full OF
spirit, energy and vitality. and these
men were making the very best sea
men the Navy has had Mr.. Foss said
that the highest naval opinion of the
world. growing out of the recent naval
conflict between Japan and Russia.
was that the battleship was the real
fighting ship. He referred to the
Dreadnaught of the British Navy. and
said: I'VE have provided in this bill
for a great battleship more powerful
than any afoat-
How many American harbors could
the Dreadnausht enterc" asked Mr-
Underwood Of Alabama '--a3
1T could easily enter New York
replied Mr. Foss. and possible some
other harbors It has IS feet drauEht.
and think the New York harbor IS
about 40 feet
-wei.- said Mr.. Underwood. ii
couldn't protect or enter any Of the
harbors in the Southern or Gulf
States. 1t must necessarily have q
large base Of supplies.
1T would not be necessary for sncA
a ship to enter any harbor- replied
Mr.. Foss. 1T would protect the coast
by meeting the enemy at sea
NJ Williams pursued his tactics OF
filibustering in the interest OF the
Statehood bill and several times dur
ing the debate made the point OF
mo quorum