The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-05-17
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1ea,ass tWrs eussae I~svsaMIiases fss
lhe tTU,y euGs SaSy, hut NfsReat eeeH
waagfvafos, Say "a Tha Houea Com.
mites On Naval Affairs and ,he advccataa
n no proVoead hiaasat baOiaatlp seoas
casftsd that psopouitloe thfoueh Ne easn.
mites ~ ths whole to-day ~ only . ssnah
majority. Tho paragraphs ~ ~ naval
bill covefing what h technically e~hafacesre
ised - 'lncfeass ~ the navy' weFe the Only
part ~ ths naval appropriation hill remain.
Inc IA hs considered by the couhnfisses OF
ths whole when the Houas msi.
Mr.. Burton (lep.. Ohlo), p%urwnans 10 the
suggestion made In his speech several days
ago. moved TO strike QUE the authorization
for "one tirst class bastisship, carrying ~
heavy arrnor and a. powerful armament
a. any known vessel Of Its class, 70 coee,
exclusive Of armor and armament, not
exceeding six million dollaFs.' He pointed
ont that construction Of the navy vas pro-
oeeding out n all proportion 10 chs increase
Of the personnel, without which. 90 Presi-
dent Roosevelt aaid In hin message. bettlc-
bUlVa WOubu w wv tthHn ~ - ~"
present rate Of progress tho naval strength
Of United states In 1910 would be exceeded
by that OF 0reat Britain alone. Further.
the proposed battleehip, in the ordinary
course Of events. could not be constructed
for several years, and In that time conditions
might be changed by the work OF the
courts Of arbitration and the reduction OF
aEmaments by other nations. There was
plenty Of time after this Congress to deter
mine the question Of further construction.
A forceful plea for at least present sus-
pension Of tho policy OF naval construction
was made by Mr.. Tawney rep. Mimi,
chairman Of the Committee OF Appro-
priations. He dissented at the Outset
from the views Of advocate s Of the battle
ship. that the size Of the American Navy
nation. The United States should have a
navy sufficient for it's needs INC in accord
snoe with its ability to pay for it, ire
spective Of the policy OF other countries.
At present, in his opinion, there was no
necessity for additional authorize ton.
There are now twenty eight vessels in
course of construction, which would not
be completed until 1910, possibly not until
1912.
Upon the subject Of ability to pay, Mr..
that stirred the House. According to
them and his interpreted ton OF them, the
expenditures on account Of wars past and
arat ions for wars that nay come In
the veal 1905 will be .6375 per cent. Of the
entire revenue Of the Government. They
were SIS, O00, 900 in excess Of the entire
revenues in 1897, just previous to the war
by Mr.. Tawney were pensions and the cost
OF maintenance Of national cemeteries.
COMMITTEES on Military Affairs, replying to
Mr.. Tawney. aaid these figures should not
20 without explanation. When the gentle
man asserted that army and navy eHpendi-
lures were over 90 per cent. of the nations
the subject. He included pensions to make
up the total. "1hese are not a part Of the
cost Of war; Mr.. Hull claimed. but an
expression Of gratitude to the men who
made IL possible for US 70 have a great
Mr.. Bartholdt ,(Rep, MOI offered the
amendment Of which he gave notice in
general debate, reading as follows;
Provided. however, that II at the second
Hague conference, to be held within the
next twelve months. any measure should be
adopted for the limitation Of the naval
forces Of the great Powers or for the settle
ment OF international controversies by ju-
dlcial decisions and by means Of arbitration
treaties the Secretary OF the Navy shall
have discretion to defer the const ruction Of
the ship herein provided for,
And he supported the proposition in a
brief speech, reciting again the progress
Of peace movements.
After further discussion the Bartholdt
amendment was rejected without division
and the motion Of Mr.. Burton to strike out
the provision for the new ship was defeated,
los to 1885,.
On motion Of Mr.. Hayes (Rep,, CALI a
differential Of 4 per cent. in favor OF Pacific
Coast bidders was authorized to be made
by the Secretary Of the Navy in awarding
contracts for the vessels provided for in
tho bill. The proposition to invest a mill
ion dollars in the purchase OF submarine
boats under a competitive test to be made
within six months from the passage Of
the bill renewed on the floor the long pro-
tracted contest between submarine boat
builders.
Mr.. Underwood dem, Ala offered an
amendment authorizing the Secretary OF
the Navy to accept plans for a boat, il sat
ished Of their improvement over those OF
boats offered for competition. and MIR.
Gardner (Rep,, Mass moved to extend the
period within which IN competition shall
take place to twelve months. Mr.. Under
and that Of Mr.. Gardner was agreed to.
To the appropriation for armor and arma-
ment a provision was added on motion
of Mr.. Tawney that contracts shall be
awarded to the 10 west and best bidder
having In view results and expeditions
delivery"
The bill was reported to the House carry
alton recommended by the Committee on
Naval Affairs omitted by the Committee OF
the Whole being that Of sl0o, 900 to begin
the construction Of q steel floating drydock.
Action on the passa &c Of the bill was post
poned until tomorrow.