Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1908-04-15
WEDNESDAY EVENING. APR. i5, 1908.


CONTRARY, it is said, to the advice
Of the republican leaders and of some OF
his best friends In the House, President
Roosevelt sent TO Congress yesterday the
much. discussed special message urging
thu appropriation Of sufficient millions
I, provide four bOttleships instead OF
two, as now provided in the naval ap-
preparation bill. 1t is believed on every
hand that the presidents persistence In
urging four battleships was ill-adVised'
The House leaders claim to have the sit
nation 80 we'll in hand that Capt. Hob
sons amendment for four bsttleshiPs
will be dedicated, while in the senste
there is not the slightest doubt that even
IL The president won his fight in the
House for four ships he would be de-
fe,.ed ia the Senate. Indeed, there is q
possibility that Mr.. Burton, of Ohio, the
presidents silly and champion in ell
other matters, may carry his fight against
four battleships TO the extent Of fighting
even the present House provision for
two ships, and that the end of it all may
BE- only one bstlleship this year. Il
seems absolutely certain that Congress
will not sgree with the president that The
"most vital and immediate need" OF the
country at this time is four bsttleshipS'
The message was not read 10 the HIuse
until late in the afternoon. Its treat
meat in the Senate was discourteous al
m ,st to the degree Of offensiveness. The
m ,ssage was delivered in the Senate
while Mr.. Foraker was making his ad
dress attacking the presidents injustice
TO the colored soldiers. The time TO-
reading the message could not have been
more inopportuue. The galleries were
in an uproar, for the cheering blacks,
wrought almost 10 frenzy by Mr.. For
aker's tribute TO the colOred soldiers were
n,isily trooping out of the galleries, some
still cheering the Ohio Senator. % the
Aoor of the Senate Mr.. FUraker's col
leagues were shaking his hand and con
CIRCULATING him on his address. The
sound of Mr.. Fairbanks gavel vainly
seeking to restore order could scarcely be
heard above the din. Amidst all this con-
fusion the reading of the message was be-
gun. One or two senator's asked Tor or
der that they could hear the message,
but the rest gave absolutely no heed.
The reading clerk, tskipg advantage OF
the nose and confusion, read the first
few lines Of the message, then skipping
all the rest of the page turned to the
second page. Here Sglin he read only
a concluding sentence and with flourish
concluded with the signature. ''Theo-
dore Roosevelt" A Senator moved to
adjourn, aud 10 twlnSiing the session
was over. The debate on the naval ap-
preparation bill wcs on 10 the House
when the message arrived and it quickly
became noised about that the anticipated
document had reached the House.
All sorts of questions were asked oil
chs floor leaders as to when the read
Ing of the message would begin, but
q typographical error in the print
of the message WAS seized upon by
these opposed to the four battleshiP
plan TO delay thereading in the hope
that the provision relating to the battle
ships would be frs. reached and thereby
discount any effect the message might
have in bringing members over TO the
Presidents view. II looked at one time
as if it would be necessary to return the
message to the president so That ne
might make the necessary correction,
and when this was avoided, further delay
was caused by the necessity of a change
which would transform the committee
of the whole into the House proper and
then return TO the committees method
OF proceeding. Consequently, the bill
was not laid before The House until just
before the close of the days work. IL
was enthusiastically received by the
advocates of a larger navy. The "antls"
later gave vent to their feelings by APP
plauding petition from number Of
citizens Of New York city, which wss
read, protesting against the "exiraY' =
gance OF spending over 500, 600, 600 for
four battleohips" Congress is getting
very FESTIVE under Mr.. RoosevelpO con-
slant interference and dictatiOD, and a
revolt against him may occur at any
time.
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In the House of Representatives yes