Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-02-16

Washington, Feb. 1.-THE naval APP
preparation bill, carrying, in round
numbers, s96OOO,OOO, passed the House
today.
An effort was made by Mr.. Burton of
Ohio, to reduce the number of battle
ships authorized in the bill but it was
defeated by vote of ia to 146.
Speeches We're made for and against
Mr.. Burton's amendment by Messrs.
Burton, Ohio; Kitchen, North Caro-
lima; Slaydcn, Texas; Crumpacker,
Ind; Hull, Iowa; Sulzcr. New York:
Waldo, New York; Weeks, Mass;
Longworth, Ohio; Grosvenor, Ohio, and
Foss, Illinois.
A number Of committee amendments
We're adopted and then the bill was
passed.
The postoffice appropriation bill was
taken up and an agreement was made
that general debate should cease at II
O'Clock onon Tuesday.
Washington, Feb 15.-When the
House resumed consideration Of the
naval appropriation bill today the gal
leries We're crowded in anticipation Of
an Interesting debate on the para graph
increasing the fighting strength of the
pointed, nor did it have long to wait.
The first speech was made by Burton
Of in, I e !, i'll, IN
pared the AmcricaE navy with the
Japanese, to the advantage of the for
mer.
Hardly had the first para graph Of the
section been read approprating the
necessary money for two first class
batlleships when Burton, the champion
Of the reduction of the navy in the in
tercst of international peace, instead
of in increase. offered an amendment
striking out the provision for an addi-
tional ba.tieship Of the Drcadnought
type. thus limiting the number to the
one which was authorized at the last
session of Congress.
Speaking in support of his motion,
Burton called attention to the inevita-
bic tendency OF advancing civilization
| in conflict towards peace. the untiring
endeavors of nations not involved in
conflict to prevent war between other
countries. between which controversy
arise. He spoke of the growth of &rbi-
| tration as Il means Of settling disputes
| and the intolerabic burden of maintain
| ing armies and navics, which must soon
| lead to a concert of action and Il linn
| tation Of armament.
He said that in the United States. il
| recent years, the expense Of the mill
| tary and naval establishments hat
| grown to be five times as great as il
| 1887, only 20 years ago, an increase
| out of all proportion to that of other
expenses of the government. He de-
| preciated the war talk in regard t
| Japan and cOntrast2d the size of thu
| navies Of the two countries showing
| that with ships now under cOnsidera
| ton navy Of the United States woult
| be nearly two-thirdS larger than tina
| of Japan and was at present a hal
| larger.
| Finally he said that the United
| States. of all the nations of the world
should take the lead in the move fo
| q Limitation of ornaments lookins
hopefully forward to the time whei
| peace anu ARMY SHcuItl eAlSI among
the whole human race.
Continuing Burton said: mo ma
ton on the globe is threatening us; NJ
nation on the globe will think lightly o
| engaging in war with us"
He declared that 'in England today
King. prime minister, Parliament an,
the great majority of the people ar
ready and anxious to stand with us il
movement for the limitation of arma
ment" and concluded with the declara
ton that greatness does not consis
in the strength of government. but il
the happiness and the opportunity o
each individual citizen. a thing ia
| prefcra BILE. far more to be desired tina
! the triumph of war or the empt
| glories of imperial dominion
The speech was loudly applauded.
| Crunmpacker of Indiana said he ia
} vored the big ships for the protectio
of the Philippines. II believe" he sale
that the Philippines are the swor
of Damocles hanging over the head c
this republic" and he contended tina
they impose responsibility which W