New-York tribune., 1906-05-04
NAVAL BILL TAKEN UP.
Debate in House Turqas to the Tariff
Question.

Washington May S-The Naval Appropriation
bill, which carries nearly so0OOOOOO was taken up
by the House to-day Beyond an explanation Of
the bill by Mr.. Foss. of Illinois, chairman of the
Committee on Naval Affairs and the running FIRE Of
questions which his presentation called FORTH there
was little interest in the earlier part of the debate.
Toward the close OF the day, however, a lively
colloquy occurred between Mr.. Bates, of PennsyI-
vania; Mr. Williams, OF Mississippi Mr. Clark, OF
Missouri, and Mr.. Payne, Of New York, over GER
tain statements made by Mr.. Bates In relation to
te Price OF steel rails. The discussion took wide
tariw range, forerunner of still further tarR dis
cusslon as the session nears its close. It Is exc
PeeIeo that general debate will tomorrow, the
Olu Oelng taken up by sections Saturday
Mr. Foss said that the Navy Department asked
ior 800 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 the
rewards for labor are much greater in civil life
Speaking of the personnel of the navy he said in
January last the number was a.547. OF the 1900
men seeking enlistment last year, 5000 were re-
jected. He said that the department was putting
forth every effort to increase the efficiency Of the
navy and to "Americanize'' it. Getting rid OF the
foreign element, as he called it, was the particular
aim Of the department. AS a result OF this effort
s5 cent of the petty officers are now citizens Of
the United States and 80 per cent OF the enlisted
men are naturalized.
Never before has the navy been in so splendid a
40 A4OWs Salu OSSp ana It's esprit mas
never been equalled." The navy. he said. was get
ting a splendid class of young men from the farms
OF the Middle West full Of spirit energy and vital
lty, and these men were making the very best sea-
men the navy has had. The highest naval opinion
OF the world growing out of the recent naval con-
fict between Japan and Russia. was that the bat
tleship was the real fighting ship. He referred to
the DreadnOught OF the British navy, and said
We have provided in this bill for great battle
ship more powerful than any adOat'
How many American harborS could the Dread
nOught enter?' asked Mr.. Underwood. Of Alabama
''It could easily enter New York" replied Mr.
twenty-eight feet draft. and / think the NeV
York harbor is about forty feet
We'll" said Gdr. Underwood, ut couldn't protect
or, or enter any OF the harbors in the Southern or
CUT States; 1t must necessarily have large base
nt.. 1T would not be Necessary for such ship e
protect the coast by meeting the enemy at sea"
oes Inc g. DIailng OF great osttieshiP said Mr
that we purpose to look after our interests. not
here or another continent"
Mr.. Meyer. Of louisiana. followed Mr. Foss. He
the Naval Comffe had done sDend G worF IsS ana
that there were few points OF difference among
the members
Mr.. Bates spoke Of the dumping process which
the Democrats using as an example Of what
the tariff does for the foreign market as against
steel rails in Canada and Mexico cheaper than in
the United States that they were sold under the
Mr.. Williams. Of mississippi. asked for the au-
thority that the English sell abroad cheaper than
at home.
Mr. Bates replied that the information came from
Mr.. Gary, OF the United States Steel Corporation
An interested witness" replied Mr.. Williams. Il
challenge the gentleman to give me another wit
ness
Then the name Of Tom Johnson OF Ohio. was in-
jected into the debate Mr. Clark, Of Missouri asked
IL second largest manufacturer OF steel rails in
this country when sitting on the floor of the House
member, had not said that steel rails could be
made at so a '1f you take of the tariff, and
make plenty of profit 20 sell them at $16''?
Mr. Bates said he thought that was one Of the
extravagant statements the gentleman from Ohio
loved to indulge in.
for the Wilson Tariff bill despite large protective
duty rails at that time.
Mr. Clark replied that Mr.. Johnson 'voted against
the Wilson bill. and begged me the door Of this
House to vote against It, and wish to heaven
had" daughter and applause on the Republican