New-York tribune., 1908-02-11
Eight Submarines and Ten Destroy
ers on NaudI Programme.
rFrom The Tribune Bureau.l

From TIE Tribune Bureau
Washington. Feb. 1O.-Two first class battle
ships. eight submarine boats and ten torpedo
destroyers will constitute the main features
of the naval programme next year. Ihese rec
concentrations are embodied in the appropriation
bill which has been ordered reported by the
Naval Affairs Committee of the House The to-
tai amount of the appropriations will be $lO1,-
OOOOGO which is about $4,000 600 less than the
estimates but even with this reduction, in the
face of the urgent pleas for economy. the bill is
considered generous.
President Roosevelt has been greatly in favor
of programme which would include four yes
sells of the Drcadnought type, but the majority
of the committee, while realizing the force of
the Presidents contentious felt that in view
Of the great reduction in estimates called for
from ali quarters this not the time for so
extensive programme. However, on that ques-
ton the committee not unanimous. three
Democrats and two Republicans voting for the
four batteships. The vote stood 13 to D. Those
who voted in accordance with the Presidents
recommendations were Representatives Lilley,
Of Connecticut Republican,; Thomas, Of Ohio
CRepu blcan); Meyer, of Louisiana Democrat);
Talbot, of Maryland CDemocraD, and Hobson,
Of Alabama DemocraD.
Representative Hobson announced after the
meeting that he intended to make minority re-
port recommending authorization of four battle
ships. But the authorization, merely, is not
enough" he said. TT should include actual
appropriation so that the work of construction
would begin without moments unnecessary de-
lay Even SO, it would be three years before
these vessels could be made ready to go into
commission, and this country has no time to
lose"
The attitude of the majority expressed by
has
shown tha. it is more profitable in the end to
recommend in the beginning what you know the
House will stand for. A recommendation for
four battleships could not be put through at this
session"
Under the head Of new authorizations the
committee included two battIeships to cost s19,-
600, 600: ten destroyers, ss.5OOO00; eight sub
marine torpedo boats, s3,o4o 900; total, s30,54o-
600. or 600 less than the total for new
authorizations asked for by the Navy Depart
Tnent.
The new authorization estimates rejected COM
prised two battleshps. s19,000,000; four scout
cruisers 10000 000 one ammunition ship, ST.,
100000; repair ship. s20o0o0o; two mine
laying ships (cruisers to be converted), s500000.
The committee unanimous in regard to
the destroyers but the question Of submarines
aroused a heated argument The bill provides
Holland on their past showing. unless other
companies, notably the Lake concern, demon
strate to the satisfaction Of naval experts that
their boats are superior. This pronounced
hardship to the competitors of the Holland
Company by severa! members Of the committee.
and before the vote the room rang with fiery
speeches. The provision was sustained by a vote
of 10 to s. It was then suggested that the boats
be chosen by competitive test, but this was
rejected by the same vote.
The bill makes no provision for Golfers, al
though a special bill will probably be drafted
later for that purpose does it appropriate
any money for mine laying vessels. The esti-
mates for navy yards were all cut, save that
providing for the Puget Sound yard, which re-
ceived the amount asked for by the department.
No appropriation was made for the improve
uent Of Pearl Harbor, Subig Bay Manila, but
ii is understood that these places will be pro-
vded for in a special bill. One hundred thou
sand dollars was added TO the estimates for
auxiliary vessels. which will have to be tested
before they are bought by the Government.
The doubling Of the departments estimate of
four submarines was largely Influenced by let
ters and petitions from Pacific Coast chambers
of commerce. more than a score of which
received by members of the committee. These
boats by the adoption of amendment offered
bv Representative LoudensIager, Of New Jersey.
are 10 be of the Octopus type, in accordance with
the report of the Mark board, before which last
wears tests off Newport were made. The effect
of this amendment if the House and Senate con-
cur in the committees report may be to nulllfy
the court decision by which the Secretary OF
the Navy gained the right to consider the Lake
+yne of boat as an after-competition competi-
tor
III