Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-10-26
S5,0OO,0OO FUR TARS
Cabinet Favors Increase of Ap-
 propriation For Sailors.
TO ADD 5000 BLUEJACKETS.

Experts Differ on Widening of Panama
 Canal Locks-President Is Told That
 TOO Foot Plans Will Be Obsolete In
 Ten Years.
 | Washington. Oct. 26.-The first form
 al meeting of President Roosevelt's ! cabinet since the early part of June l has taken place. Those present were Secretary Root. Postmaster General
 Meyer, Secretary of the Interior Gar field, Attorney General Bonaparte,
 Secretary of the Navy Metcalf and Secretary of Agriculture Wilson.
 The accumulation of routine matters in the departments represented at the cabinet meeting necessitated a session
 which continued for two and a half hours. The financial situation was dis cussed at some length. Naval matters also occupied the attention of the cab inet for considerable time.
 Would Add 5000 Sailors.
 Secretary Metcalf has just complet- ed the compilation of the estimates for the maintenance of the naval es- tablishment, and as these show 3 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 it their most earnest attention. The secretary advanced proposition to increase by S5,00O.00O the standing ap- propriation for the payment of en- listed men in the navy. According to his estimate this increase would ad- init Of the recruitment 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. sup port 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 few days ago by Civil Engineer Rosseau, looking to the widening of the locks of the Panama canal, and this subject was discussed at some length.
 Experts Differ on Canal Widening.
 Some naval officers whose views were reflected by Secretary Metcalf held that a width of 100 feet in the locks would be quite sufficient to meet all naval needs within the next half century, but it appeared that another element believes that the locks would prove too narrow in the course of ten years. The president decided to await a detailed report from the canal com mission upon this important subject, and so the subject was laid aside for the present.
 Secretary Metcalf has also had be- fore him the report of the naval gen eral board, headed by Admiral Dewey. upon the new construction required to meet the plans of the board. and these were touched upon incident to the con- struction of the width of the canal | locks. Not only the naval general | board, but the naval board on con- struction, headed by Admiral Con verse, the chief naval constructor, and he secretary of the navy himself, | must impress their views in formal re- ports upon this matter of new con- before the president will have n hand all of the material upon which o base his own recommendations to congress.
 Warships Obsolete.
 it is pointed out. however. that by 'eaSon of the fact that he last year ex- pressed the opinion that one new ship would be all that should necessarily 'e authorized at this congress the pres dent has somewhat embarrassed him. elf, but as several of the battleships which were last year supposed to be serviceable have since rather been shown to he of ob- olete type, it is not apprehended that he president will have any difficulty n explaining to congress the necessity or amending the original estimate, or it is now quite certain that no less han two and probably three battle hips of the first order will be recom- 1pndn6 in tho estimates