The midland journal., 1907-11-01
PLANNING FOR A
STRONGER NAVY
Cabinet at First Meeting Considers
Estimates.
PAY FOR MORE BLUEJACKETS.
Secretary Metcalf Would Increase by
$1,000, coo the Standing Appropria-
tion for the Payment of Enlisted
Men-This Would Permit Recruiting
of 8, 600 Additional Sailors.

Washington Especially. - Naval
matters occupied the attention of the
Cabinet during a considerable part
of Fridays meeting, which was the
first of the autumn Secretary Met
calf has just completed the compila-
tion of the estimates for the main
tenance of the naval establishment,
and as these show great increase
as compared with the current fiscal
year, thereby promising to cause
much debate in Congress at the ap-
preaching session, the President and
the Secretary of the Navy are giving
their most earnest attention to them.
The Secretary advanced a propo-
sition to increase by $5,000,000 the
standing appropriation for the pay
ment of enlisted men in the Navy.
According to his estimate this in
crease would admit of the recruit
ment of about 5000 bluejackets in
addition to the present force. The
proposition was received with favor
and will be included In the estimates
to be submitted to Congress.
Another matter not entirely naval
in character but deemed worthy OF
report by Secretary Metcalf because
of its influence upon the character Of
naval vessels to be constructed in the
future was the recommendation OF
the Isthmian Canal Commission
brought to Washington a few days
ago by Civil Engineer Rosseau, look
ing to the widening Of the locks OF
the Panama Canal, and this subject
was discussed at some length.
Some naval officers, whose views
were reflected by Secretary Metcalf,
held that width of 100 feet in the
locks would be quite sufficient to
meet all naval needs within the next
half century, but it appears that an
other element believes that the locks
would prove too narrow in the course
of 10 years. The President decided
to await detailed report from the
canal commission upon this import
ant subject.
Secretary Metcalf also has before
him the report of the Naval General
Board, headed by Admiral Dewey,
upon the new construction required
to meet the plans os the board, and
these were touched upon incident to
the construction of the width of the
canal locks. Not only the Naval GEN
Ct dl DOdI0, Dut LAO 4N1FoA DOSAA ~ 49,
Construction, headed by Admiral
Converse, the chief naval constructor,
and the Secretary of the Navy him
self must impress their views and
informal reports upon this matter Of
new construction before the President
will have in hand all the material
upon which to base his own recon-
mendations to Congress.
1t is pointed out that, by reason OF
the fact that he last year expressed
the opinion that one new ship would
be all that should necessarily be
authorized at this Congress, the
President has somewhat embarrassed
himself, but as several of the battle
ships, which were last year supposed
to be perfectly serviceable, have since
rather unexpectedly been shown to
be of obsolete type, it is not appre-
hended that the President will have
any difficulty in explaining to Con-
gress the necessity for amending the
original estimate, for it is now quite
certain that no less than two and
probably three battleships of the first
order will be recommended in the
estimates.