The state herald., 1908-02-28
LARGE Navy
is NECESSARY
SENATOR PERKINS DEFENDS
GOVERNMENT POLICY AND
PLEADS FOR MORE SHIPS.
PRESENTS STATISTICS
OUR PACIFIC FLEET NEARLY AS
LARGE AS JAPAN'S
NAVY.

Washington n.-Senator Perkins OF
California Friday spoke in the Senate
in justification of expenditures for the
upbulding of the American navy and
of the policy of sending the fleet into
the Pacific ocean,
He reviewed the achievements OF
the navy and declared that II was the
most popular branch of the govern
ment service.
He gave statistics to prove that the
heavy expenditures on our navy since
1880 have resulted in gigantic growth
for our iron and steel industries, nee
essitating an enormous increase in the
number of men employed, with a cor
responding benefit to the nation.
When the fleet now on its way to
San Francisco is joined by the other
effective vessels on the Pacific" Sen
ator Perkins said, 1--WE shall have a
fleet of eighteen battleships, eight
armoled cruisers, thirteen protected
cruisers, thirteen destroyers, five tor
pedu boats and two submarines. The
battlcships and cruisers alone, aggre-
gate 4-j,172 tons, while the other naval
power on the ic-Japanese-has
only TSi, ,T0l tons in all classes of YES
sells The Pacific fleet will be amply
able to protect our interests in that
ocean"
Attention was called to the un-
broken record Of bravery which the
navy presents from its earliest begin
ming, and on the Pacific those who
man the vessels will have the examples
of Commodort Sloat, Admiral kim
bcrly and Admiral Dewey for inspira-
tiOn.
The senator sketched the growth Of
the uCw navy from 1888 to the present
day. when the United States has be-
come the second sea power in the world
SURPRISING France by small margin
IN the strength Of our fighting force
and for outstripping Germany, Russia
aud Japan.
And this lead, he said, the United
States is easily able TO maintain. ny
authorizing only two more battleships
Of the big gun type, this nation would
stil lead France by 10000 tons in sea
fighting force.
Reference was made 10 the change
In the character Of battleships which
resulted from the lessons of the naval
engagements during the Russo-Japan-
ese war, which taught the Importance
of big ships carrying big guns, so that
greater weight OF metal can be
brought within shorter battle line.
Hence all the naval powers are build
ing ships carrying only twelve,inch
rifles for offensive purposes and com
paratiycly few small rapid iire guns for
defense against torpedo boat attacks.
The cost of the vessels of the new
navy built. building or authorized Is
s309 $50. 100. while tho total cNpendi.
lures ON account Of naval establish.
ment since 1883 is sl,2ii,G5l .03g." said
Mr. Perkins. But this vast expendi,
ture rs not. ms may be claimed by
some. unproductiyc. The construction
of the ships Of our navy gave such
stimulus to the iron trade that more
iron mills were established, better ma.
terial wns produced, prices were low
cred and iron and steel came into gen
oTal use In all kinds Of construction,
SO that now we are the greatest iron
and steel manufacturers In the world.
In 1850 there were only 10000
wage Carnors In tho iron and steel In.
dustry Of the country, earning $4,000.
600 and turning out products worth
1896 600. 600. In 1905 there were S57..
900 wage earners earning siS2 900
and turning out products worth 81.
l7G!000,oo0. The average wage In.
creased from 800 TO $500.
The average wage OF workmen In
the iron and steel Industry will today
NOR" Than pay tho cost Of all the yes,
sells of our new navy built. building or
authorized; and onehalf the value Of
the iron and steel product for n single
year viii pay the entire cost Of the
naval establishment since 1883"