The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1907-11-01
Navy COSTS more
Secretary Metcalf's Estimates Like
ly TO S.artle Congress by
Their Size.
MORE BATTlESHiPS ALSO
The Canal Must be Mad! Wider and
Mere Blue Jackets Erlisted
All CT Which Takes
Cash.

Washington, Oct 26.-Naval matters
occupied the attention of the cabinet
during considerable part of Fridays
meeting. Secretary Metcall Las just
completed the compilation of the eS'
Inmates fer the maintenance OF the
naval establishment and Us these show
a great increase as compared with tle
current fiscal year, thereby promis-
Ing to cause much debate in congress
at the approaching session, tho prosi-
dent and the secretary of the navy
are giving their most earnest attcA-
ton TO them. The secretary advanced
a proposition to increase by S5,0Oo.C9O
the standing appropriation for the pay
ment OF enlisted men in the navy.
According to his estimate this Increase
would admit of the recruitment CT
about 5000 bluejacket3 in addition 70
the present force. The proposition
was received with favor and T.A be
included in the estimates to he sub
mittod to congress,
Another matter net entirely naval
in character deemed worthy Ct report
by. Secretary MGtcal because OF its in
nucnce upon the character ON naval
vessels to be constructed in the future
was the recommendation of the lstii-
milan Canal commission brought TO
Washington a few days ago by Civil
Engineer Rosseau, looking to the
widening of the locks Of the P9nana
canal and this subject Was discussed
at some length. Some naval officers
whose views were reflected by Secro-
tary Metcalf held rnat a width of 100
feet in the locks would be quite SUI
ficient to meet all naval needs within
the next han century, but 1t appeared
that another element believes that the
locks would prove too narrow In tho
course of ten years. The president
decided to await a detailed report
from the canal commission upon this
Important subject and so the subject
was laid aside for the present.
Secretary Metca!f also has before
him the report Of the naval general
beard headed by Admiral Dewey u.'ol
the new construction required to meet
the plans Of the board and these
were touched upon incident to the con-
struction of inc width of the canal
hocks. not only the naval general
board Dut tic naval beard on con
structicn headed by Admiral Con,
verse, tho chief naval constructor and
the secretary Of Tire navy himself mist
impress their views in formal reports
ron this matter of new construction
before tho president Will have in had
all CT tho NATL rial upon which to base
his own recommendation TO congress.
II is pointed out that by reason of
the fact that he last year expressed
the opinion that one new ship would
DO all that should necessarily he all
thori2ed by this congress, the prcsi.
dent has somewhat embarrassed him
self, but as several Of the battleships
which were last year supposed to be
perfectly serviceable, have since rath-
or unexpectedly been shown to be Of
obsolete type, it is not unprecedented
that the president viii have any dill.
fculty in recommending to congress.
for il is now quite certain that no
less than two and probably three bat
tleships Of the first order viii be
recommended in the estimates.