The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-04-28
SENATE TURNS DOWN
 THE BATTLESHIP BILL
President Roosevets Navy Programme Defeated in Upper House By Overwhelming Vote-Debate On Amendment Lasts Three Days to Exclusion of All Other Matters
 Naval Salaries Are Increased

Washington, April 27.-By an over whelming vote President Roosevelts four battleships programme failed in the Sem ate, just as it did in the House. The amendment for four battleships was in- troduced by Senator Piles and the fight for it's adoption was led by Senator Beveridge. Twenty-three votes were cast for the increased programme, the num- Der largely being made up of recently elected senators. Fifty senators voted to of the Senate naval committee in favor of building only two battleships.
 The debate on the battleship amend ment lasted three days to the exclusion of all other matters. It was begun by Sena- tor Beveridge with an eloquent appeal for the support of the President and sug- gestion that the larger navy might be needed for war.
 Members fo thme committee up braided the Indiana senator for this yelled hint of war with another country and sought to make him admit that he meant Japan. At times the discussion came near becoming acrimonius; especially
 
 and Beveridge. The formers references to MT. Beveridge excited Senator Smith of Michigan to protest against the Senate chamber being made a slaughter house for the young senator from Indiana.
 It was developed by Senator Allison during the debate that there is well defined understanding among the Senate leaders for the Authorization of two pat tleships each year until the American navy is regarded as sufficient to meet any demands that may be made upon 1t. AS finally passed. the bill carries appropria- tions aggregating s123 115, 659 and provides for the construction of two battleships and two colliers and the purchase of three additional colliers, the construction or submarines and other necessary crart ana increases the pay of officers and ehllsleu men. as well as increasing both pay and the strength of, the marine corps.
 "Down In Texas"
 MT. Clapp of Minnesota suggested that down in Texas on the border of Mex ico. when a festival is held they require the men to check their guns as a means of keeping peace rather than securing peace by having every one armed.
 Referring to conditions in North Caro- lima, Mir Carter of Montana said that there were cake walks there where the gentlemen were on the same theory re- uuird to check thir razors.
 Mr. owen of Oklahoma inquired whether in the case of war, other nations could he induced to check their navies.
 Mr Clapp replied that he believed that thev would check their rate of construe- tion in view of what this country was doing.
 MT. cs9ter then reviewed naval con structfon in recent years, saving It had been intended to build two battleshlps annually so that the navy might grad ually be built up without any eVldence of frenzy. He thought the senator from Maine (Mr Hale) was Justified in saving last Friday that the Senate was ready to vote.
 And vet" he added "the senator from Indiana proposes to catechlze tne senator from Maine and show that ne is ieopardiZing the ancient and honor- able reputation of the Senate as re- f1ective body"
 "Senators,' he added, ''are very much like folks. Some folks deliberate with out speaking and other folks speak without eliberation, and still others deliberate and speak
 Senator Flint of California supported the provision for four battleships
 One Fortified Fort.
 On the Pacific coast or o0Uo HileS, hS said. there was but one fortified port, and if there was a need for a navy anywhere it was on that coast. lie wanted four battleships to permit fleet to be there.
 Senator owen of Oklahoma reviewed. the naval programmes of the nations or the world and said that unless the United States increased its naval con- struction it would take the third or fourth place among the naval powers.
 q would not only be willing to vote money to build up the navy but 1 would vote a fund of f0,OOO,00O to promote peace," declared MT. Owen, explaining that he would then carry on a propaganda for peace.
 Mr. Hale said the committee in re- commenting two battleships would eX- pect to provide that number annually and keep the navay the second in the world.
 Senator Foraker referred to the Presidents recommendation in 1905 for one battleship and read his recent mes- sage in which reference was made to this former belief that The Hague conference would result in fixing some limitation of armament. MT. Foraker said he could find nothing in the mes sage of 1905 which indicated that the President had any earnest expectation that armaments would be limited.