The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1908-04-28
PRESIDENT DEFEATED AGAIN
TIE SENATE TURNS DOWN HIS
BATTLESHIP PROPOSITION.
u, the Decisive Vote Of 80 TO N II Rejects
the Piles Amendment Providing for
-Four Battleships-ST Republicans
and Is Democrats Vote Against II.

WASHINGTON. April 27,-By the decisive
vote Of 50 to Is the Senate to-day defeated
President Roosevelt's programme for four
10000 ton battleships and subsequently
affirmed the action Of the Naval Committee
in providing for the construction Of only
two such powerful armorolads,
TO those who had watched the progress
of the contest the action Of the Senate was
no surprise. except in that the vote Of the
advocates Of the larger number Of battle
ships was three or four short Of conserva-
i've calculations. Events demonstrated
that Mr.. Roosevelt was not fortunate in
the personnel Of some Of his leading sup
porters, and this may have had a bearing
on the vote-not as 10 the defeat OF the
Project, however, for that was inevitable
in spite Of the Presidents special message
advocating four ships, the hints from the
White House Of vetoes and the unofficial
Efforts Of the President to gain allies, but
in tho meagre showing Of the minority,
less than one-third Of the total vote cast.
To-day's action Of The Senate indicates
very clearly that the leaders intend to
adhere strictly to the decision to hold down
appropriations and not to undertake any
comprehensive legislation within the brief
rsriod over which the present session will
extend.
Of the fifty Senators who voted against
four battleships thirty-two were Republic
cans and eighteen were Democrats. OF the
twentv-three Senators who voted for four
battleships nineteen were Republicans and
four we're Democrats. The vote in detail
follows;
For the Piles amendment Republicans
tnkeney, Beperidge. Borah. Bourne, Briggs,
Brown, Burkett, DUPONT, Flint. Fulton,
Gamble, Hansbrough, Hepburn, Lodge, Piles,
smith Mich, Smoot. Sutherland and War
ucr.
Democrats; McCreary, owen, paynter and
TAYLOR.
against the Piles ameDdment- Republicans:
Atdrich, Branda gee, Buckley, Burnham,
Burrows, Carter, Clapp, Clark tWyo), Crane,
Cullom, Curtis, Dick, Dillingham;. Dixon,
Foraker. Frye, Gallinger, Guggenheim. Hale,
Hemenway, Kean. Long, MoCumber, Nelson,
Nixon, Perkins, Plat, Richardson, Stephen
son. Stewart, Warren and Wetmore.
Democrats Bacon. Bankhead, Clay, Culber-
son, Daniel, Davis, Foster, Frazier, Gary,
Gore, Johnston, Money, Newlands, Overman,
Simmons, Stone. Taliaferro and Teller.
The following pairs were announced, but
did not in all cases represent opposing views
on the amendment: Elkins (Rep.) with
Bailey DEM, Depew Rep.) with McEnery
CDem.), SCOTT Rep. with McLaurin Dem.l
Pcnrose (Rep.) with Warren DEM, Dolliver
(Rep.) with Rayner (Dem,), Milton DEM
with Tillman DEM, Knox (Rep) with
Hopkins Rep.). Three Senators we're alb
sent and not paired. Kittredge and La Fol-
lotte, Republicans, and Smith (Md.), Demo-
crat.
OF these Senators whose pairs were an
nounoed, Clarke OF Arkansas. Milton OF
Florida and MoEnery Of Louisiana, Demo-
Gratis, and Hopkins Of Illinois and Dolliver
or Iowa, Republicans, were announced as
heing in favor Of the bill, and Tillman Of
South Carolina and Martin Of Virginia,
Democrats, we're announced as being
against it. II is not known how the others
would have voted. A sharp dispute arose
lc,ween Senators Daniel and Beveridge as
10 the attitude Of Senator Martin Of Vir-
ginia. Mr.. Beveridge insisted that the
absent Senator was In favor Of the Piles
amendment, but Senator Daniel, colleague
,fMr. Martin, insisted that he was opposed.
Finally Mr.. Beveridge yielded.
For nearly eight hours to-day the Senate
struggled with the battleshlp problem.
1t was II O'Clock when the debate was
opened by Senator Stone Of Missouri.
It was nearly 7 O'Clock when Senator Hale,
chairman Of the Naval Affairs Committee,
had the last word just preceding the roll
call. The galleries were crowded through
ont the discussion. In the diplomatic
gallery was the British Ambassador, the
Hon. James Bryce, and a representative
Of the Japanese Embassy. Other attaches
dropped in and out during the debate.
In the Senators gallery were Ms. Fair
banks, vito Of the Vice-President; Mrs.
Oveman, wife Of the Senator from North
Carolina; Mrs. Smith, wife Of the Senator
from Michigan, and other distinguished
members Of Official society.
Senator Stone Of Missouri declared
that II was more important TO build
up a great commercial feet than a great
war feet The Senator expressed himself
as unalterably opposed to diverting money
needed for internal improvements to the
business Of building upa great navy. There
is no need Of charging the navy by leaps
and bounds
He condemned Senator Bevendge's
warike speech as q most unfortunate
uttsrance on the floor Of the Senate. Talk
Of this kind, iterated and reiterated, Is un-
~fortunate-lt lie more, 1t is wanton and
wicked"
Senator Clapp Of Minnesota made a SEN
sAtional ~arraignment Of Mr.. Beveridge.
He said he had felt the keenest interest In
Mr.. Beveridge when the latter first came to
The Senate, but that he had watched his
career in the Senate with disappointment.
He accused Mr.. Beveridge OF setting up a
man Of straw that he might knock it down
in the presence Of the galleries, He said
there was amanifest purpose on the part Of
The Senator from Indiana TO mislead the
PEOPLE,
Senator Beveridge had been pacing the
Senate chamber anxious for the oppor.
unity TO close the debate for those who
advocated four battleships. His oppoT-
tunity came Just after 5 o'clock. Those
who had expected him to reply sharply
TO his critics we're disappointed. His
speech was conservative.
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