New-York tribune., 1907-10-26
CABINET TALKS OF NAVY
Either TzcO or Three Ne50 Battle
ships Probably To Be ASked.

Washington Oct 25-The first formal meeting of
President Roosevelts Cabinet since the early part
OF June place to-day. Those present were Sec
retary Root Postmaster General Meyer, Secretary
Garfield, Attorney General BOnaparte. Secretary
Metcalf and Secretary Wilson. Discussion of naval
matters took up considerable part of the meet
ing.
Secretary MetcaIf has just completed the complia-
ton of the estimates for the maintenance OF the
naval establishment. AS these show great IN
crease as compared with the current fiscal year.
thereby promising to cause much debate IN con
gress at the approaching session. the PRESIDENT anu
the Secretary of the Navy are giving their MOST
earnest attention to this.
The Secretary advanced a proposition TO increase
by s. 600 90 standing appropriation for the pay
ment of enlisted men in the navy. According u
his estimate this increase would ADMIT Oh the io-
cruiting OF about three thousand bluejackets IN
addition to the present force The proposition was
received with favor. and Will be includeu /" '"o
estimates 10 be submitted 10 Congress
Another matter not entirely naval In CHARACTER
but deemed worthy OF support by secretary NAe'
calf because Of its influence upon the Character
OF naval vessels to be constructed In the Iu'Nie,
was The recommendation of the IsthTnian Canal
Commission. brought to Washington feW Gays
ago by Civil Engineer Rosseau. looking TO the
widening of the locks of the Panama Canal some
naval officers whose views were reflected by Sec
retarv MetcaIf held that a width OF one hundred
feet the locks would be quite sufhcient 10 meet
all naval needs within the next half century o"I
that another element belleNeS iO'AS
would prove narrow in the course OF ten years.
The President decided 10 await detailed report
from the Canal Commission upon this important
subject.
Secretary Metcalf also has before him the report
of the Naval General Board, headed by Admiral
Dewey upon the new construction required 70
meet the plans Of the board. and this was touched
upon Incident 70 the construction of the width
Of the canal locks Not only the Naval General
Board but the Naval Board Construction,
headed by Admiral Converse the chief naval con-
structor and the Secretary Of the Navy himself.
must express their views in formal reports upon
this matter OF new construction before the Presi-
dent will have IN hand all of the material upon
which TO base his own recommendations TO Con-
gress
II IS pointed out that by reason OF the fact that
he last year expressed the opinion that one new
ship would be all hat should necessarily be au-
thorized at this Congress. the President has some
what embarrassed himself. but several OF the
battIcshIps which Were last year supposed TO be
perfectly servceabie have since rather Unexpectedly
been shown be of obsolete type II is not appre-
hended that the President will have any diniculty
in explaining TO Congress the necessity for amend
ing the original estimate for II is quite certain
that no less than two. and possibly three battle
ships OF the first order will be recommended IN
the estimates.