The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-05-04
Several Members Engage in a
Lively CoHOqu7
DEBATE 70 CONTINUE TODAY
Appropriation Carried BY the Bill Is
$21, 100000 Less Than Asked for
and Is Less Than Was Ap-
propriated Last Year.

Washington, May S-The naval appro-
prlation bill, which carries nearly hun
dred million dollars for the naval estab-
lishment, was taken up by the House to-
day.
Beyond the explanation of the bill by
Mr.. Foss of Illinois, chairman of the COM
mittee on naval affairs, and the running
fire of questions which his presentation
called forth, there was little interest
shown in the early part of the debate
that ensued.
Toward the close OF the day, however, a
lively colloquy occurred between Mr.
Bates of Pennsylvania, Mr.. Williams or
Missppi Mr.. Clark of Mississippi, and
Mr. Payne of New York over certain
statements made by Mr.. Bates In relation
to the price OF steel rails. 1t is expected
that general debate will run tomorrow,
the bill being taken up by sections on
Saturday.
At the beginning of the session of the
House today Mr.. Littlefield of Maine pre-
sented a resolution authorizing the COM
mittee on expenditures of the Agricultural
Department to send for persons and
papers in the proposed investigation of
that department.
Mr.. williams of Mississippi, reserving the
right to object, said while this investiga-
ton was exceedingly important 1t was
not half as important as providing schools
for the children of the Indian Territory
| toJ i.,t he sta fahood hill The
resolution went over
Mr.. Foss of Illinois then moved that
the House resolve itself tno the commit
tee of the whole for the consideration OF
the naval appropriation bill.
Calls for Quorum.
Mr.. Williams called for a division or
the vote and then raised the point of nc
| quorum.
The doors weref tdered closed and the
sergeant -at-arm was ordered to bring in
the absentees.
Almost an hour was consumed before a
quorum was reported present. the f1nai
vote on going into the committee OF the
whole being ayes 2ls; nays o.
! Mr. Foss of Illinois, chairman of the
naval committee. said in explaining the
provisions of the bill that 1t carried VII
| 600. 900 less than asked for by the Naval
| Department, and was very considerably
less than appropriated In last years Dill
| Sneaklng of the personnel of the navy,
! Mr.. Foss said In January last the mum
| her in the navy was 81. All OF the 4l,Ooo
| men seeking enlistment last year, S,o,o
were rejected. He said that the depart
ment was putting forth every efort TO
increase the efficiency Of the navy ana
| "Americanizing" It. Getting rid of the
foreign element, as he called 1t, was the
| particular effort of the department As
a result of this effort 95 per cent of the
petit Officers are citizens of the United
states and 80 per cent of the enlisted men
1 are naturalized.
Mr.. Foss said that the highest naval
| opinion of the world was that 'he pae-
| tleship was the real fighting ship. lie re-
| ferred to the Dreadnaught of the BRUSH
navy, and said;
1--WE have provided In this bill for
great battleship more powerful than any
| ahoat."
Underwood Asks Question.
How many American harbors could
| the Dreadnaught enter?" asked Mr.. Cn-
| derwood of Alabama.
"It could easily enter New York., re-
| piled Mr. Foss, 'and possibly some othef
harbors. 1t has % feet draft, and ! think
| the New York harbor is about ~ feet.
We'll" said Mr.. Underwood, 1T could
| not protect or enter any of the harbors
| I'm the southern or gulf states. 1t must
| necessarily have large base or sup
plies
1T would not be necessary for such a
ship to enter any harbor,' replied Mr
| Foss. 1T would protect the coast py
meeting the enemy at sea
| . hto Mr. Williams the MINOR
ity leader raised the point of nc
| quorum"
THE chair held the point of mo quo
| rum" in order and there was scurryins
of pages to committee rooms and lunch
| rooms to bring in the absentees Wthih
| a few minutes a quorum was counted by
| the chair (Mr Crumpacker of Indiana).
Mr. Meyer OF Louisiana followed Mr.
| Foss. He said he was greatly pleased
/ with the moderation shown in bringing
ir the naval bill, and felt that the naval
| committee had done splendid WORK ana
that there were few points OF dinerence
| between the members.
| Again Mr.. Williams suggested the abb
| sence OF quorum and the business OF
the House stopped until the absentees
| were brought In.
| Mr. Crumpacker after five minutes de-
lay counted a quorum.
interesting coIIoquy.
An exceedingly interesting colloauy oc-
| Cured during the address OF Mr.. Bates
| OF Pennsylvania. He had been taking
about the dumping" process when the
democrats were using as an example Oh
| what the tariff does for the foreign mar
ket as against the home market.
He gave as a reason for selling steer
rails In Canada and Mexico cheaper tnan
! In the United States. that there were
sold under the sharpest composition.
Mr.. Williams of Mississippi asked Tor
the authority that the English sell cheap
| er than at home.
Mr.. Bates replied that information came
from Mr.. Gary of the United States Steel
corporation. ~,
IAN interesting Witness" replied Mr..
Williams II challenge tbs gentleman TO
give me another witness"
Then the name OF Tom Johnson of Ohio
was injected In the debate. Mr.. Clark
asked II the second largest manufacture
OF steel rails In this country when sit
| ting ON the floor Of the House as a
member had not said that steel rails
could be made at s12 ton .if you take
Off the tariff and make plenty Of profit
selling them at s16?'
Mr.. Bates said he thought that was
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