The Mena weekly star., 1907-10-31
LARGE NAVAL ESTIMATES
Secretary Metcalf's Report Will Probably Cause Prolonged
 Debate in Congress.
MORE BATTlesHIps ARE RECOMMENDED
The Widening of the Panama Canal and Enlistment of 5000 More Blue. jackets Among the Other Things the Naval Secretary Will Ask of Con. gress at Coming Session.

Washington, Oct. 27.-Naval matters occupied the attention of the cabinet during considerable part of Fridays meeting. Secretary Metcall has just completed the compilation of the es- inmates for the maintenance of the naval establishment and as these show a great increase as compared with the current fiscal year, thereby promis- ing to cause much debate in congress at the approaching session, the presi- dent and the secretary of the navy are giving their most earnest atten- tion to them. The secretary advanced proposition to increase by s5,000,00 the standing appropriation for the pay ment of enlisted men in the navy According to his estimate this increase would admit 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 sub mitted to congress.
 Another matter not entirely naval in character deemed worthy of report by Secretary Metcal- because of it's in- fuence upon the character on naval vessels to be constructed in the future was the recommendation of the 18th milan Canal commission brought to Washing ton 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. Some naval officers whose views were reflected by Secre- tary Metcalf held that a width of 100 feet in the locks would be quite suf- fcient to meet all naval needs within the next half century, but 1t 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 commission upon this important subject and so the subject was laid aside for the present.
 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 of the board and these were touched upon incident to the con- struction of the width of the canal flocks. Not only the naval general board but the naval board on con struction headed by Admiral Con- verse, the chief naval constructor and the secretary of the navy himself must impress their views in formal reports upon this matter of new construction before the president will have in hand all of the material upon which to base his own recommendation to congress. It 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 au- thorized by this congress. the presi- dent has somewhat embarrassed him. self, but as several of the battleships which were last year supposed to be perfectly serviceable, have since rath- CT unexpectedly been shown to be of obsolete type, it is not apprehended that the president will have any diff fculty in recommending to congress. for 1t is now quite certain that no less than two and probably three bat tleships of the first order will be recommended in the estimates.