The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1906-02-21
go 80 y ~ -.
HEAPP|'R;0PR|AT|ON.
Bill Up IN The
HOUSE
Probabilities That But One
New Battleship Will Be
Authorized.
by 3. c. Snyder.

i Washington, D. c., Feb. 21.-Rep-
resentative Littaueri has \ intro
duced bill to establish the metric
system as the government standard.
Last year when similar bill was un-
der consideration some thirty or more
business men from all parts Of the
country appeared In opposition and
their arguments against the adoption
of the change were 80 strong that the
measure was not even brought to e.
vote. This year the hearings are con-
fined. 80 far to listening to those who
favor the change, and It is worthy Of
note that most Of them are men who
favor the change from an academic
standpoint. AS a rule the great man
ufacturing interests Of the country
oppose the change. It is argued that
to introduce the metric system in this
country would mean q practical revo-
luton in the manufacturing indus
tries and that the cost would aggre-
gate hundreds Of millions OF dollars.
Ten or fifteen years ago a bill Of
similar import was passed by the
house "by unanimous consent" when
no one was looking. But on the fol-
lowing day a motion to reconsider was
adopted by practically a unanimous
vote and then the measure was "laid
upon the table,
The committee on naval affairs Of
the house Of Representatives is now
considering the Naval Appropriation
bill. But 1t will be some days before
the items providing for an increase In
the vessels in the navy is reached. 1t
seems to be a .foregone conclusion,
however, that unless the Chinese war
scare changes the situation very ma
terially within the next few weeks,
that there will not be more than one
new battleship authorized. But, while
battleships, which cost four or five
millions each, are not attractive to
the members Of the committee, there
is q growing disposition on the part
of these gentlemen to increase the,
fotilla of submarine torpedo boats.
The action Of the president of
the United States last summer
in taking short trip on one
OF these vessels, attracted more atten-
tion to this new type of fighting vessel
than was ever accorded to them be-
fore. Since that time reports have
come from England to the effect that
the British admiralty has decided to
materially increase the number of gun
boats of this type, because their ef-
fectiveness has been demonstrated be-
yond question.
Then, too, France, after series of
experiments during which a number IF
different type of submarine have been
tested, has decided to follow the Eng.
slish lead and to place in commission
a series of units of five or six SUBJ
marines each, all of the same type,
though of different displacement. Since
the first of those vessels was pur-
chased for the United States navy, the
builders Of this style of torpedo boat
have made remarkable strides towards
perfecting Vessels Of this type Today,
the submarine can dive quicker and
stay under the waterS longer, besides
making greater speed, than ever be-
fore. What is far more important is
that many of the officers Of the navy
department, who were first disposed
to decry the building, of submegeable
vessels are today the most earnest adj
vocates Of this particular means for
coast defense. One Of the strongest
cards in favor Of the building of SUBJ
marines, which is having its effect
with the naval committee. is the fact
that dozen boats Of this character
can be constructed while one battle
ship Is being designed, and it is now
admitted that Commander Wainwright
was right when he said three years
ago that the, submarine offers the
most effective means of harbor defense
I,Nf tare = .ttsa IS