Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-04-10
NAVAL BILL TAKEN UP
General Debate to Close at 5
P. M. Tomorrow.
Mr.. F0SS EXPLAINS ITEMS
New Navy Has Cost to Date Over
$1,000, 600, 900.
DESERTI0Ns GROWING FEWER
Remarkable craftsmanship Shown
in Recent Target Practice
at Magdalena Bay.
DESERTIONS GROWING FEWER

In pursuance of the program of business
mapped out by the republicans through
the adoption Wednesday of a special rule.
the House of Representatives today began
consideration of the naval bill. Under the
terms of the rule general debate will close
tomorrow at o'clock pm.
Chairman Foss of the committee on
naval affairs explained the details Of the
bill. the main features of which have been
published
Mr.. FOss corrected the committee re-
port embodying the naval program Of
England. Instead OF estimating for two
battleships. four armored cruisers. ono
large ocean-going destroyer and some
ocean-going destroyers. England in her
estimates just submitted to parliament
had provided, he said. for one battleship.
one large armored cruiser eight fast pro-
tected cruisers and sixteen torpedo boat
destroyers.
In the opinion of Mr. Foss. based on in
formation from the Navy Department,
there were today in the service men of
better class than ever before. Deser-
tions. he said. were growing fewer every
year. AS regarded aliens in the service,
he said the number was decreasing each
year. At present there was very small
percentage of that class among the en-
listed force.
Excellent Marksmanship.
The Workmanship Of the men. Mr Foss
declared. had constantly improved, and,
referring to the recent target practice of
the Atlantic fleet at Magdalena bay. he
said that If he were to divulge the con-
f1dential reports the records would be
shown to be even better than those Of
any navy in the world.
Mr.. Foss dWelt at length upon the mn.
Ject of the pay of the officers and men.
and said 1t should be increased.
comparing the old navy with the new
which, he said. had fits birth March 3,
1851 Mr.; Foss declared that. up to 1sDo tas
policy Of battleship construction ,had bseP
to build ships to hug The shefe and for
defensive purposes only.
Ihe Spanish war. however. had open.
ed up larger door Of greater oppor-
tunity, and a navy had been built up
the high seas as well as on the coast
i1nes The new navy. he said, had cost
to date $1.244.651. 900. of which $780,
100000 had gone into ships. while the
balance had gone to the maintenance Of
the naval establishment.
Froper Naval construction.
Mr. Foss referring to the recent con.
gressional hearings regarding criti-
cisms of American battleship construc-
tion declared that the conclusion had
been reached that American warships
had been honestly and properly con-
structed and compared favorably with
vessels of foreign powers. He paid a
glowing tribute to Rear Admiral Con-
I 4
greatest living naval authority Ad
miral Converse. he said. had declared
the American ships to be equal to the
ships Of any navy in the world.
Foresees a Two-oceansNavy./
Discussing the sending of the Atlantic
fleet to the Pacific. Mr.. Foss said that de-
spite the criticisms it called forth 1t had
been productive of inestimable value to
the country "Of what use is it, he in
quired, Ito build up a navy unless it can
travel in fleet formation on long cruises
where the men can be properly trained?"
Had Admiral Rojestvensky. he said. made
at least one cruise with his fleet to the
Sea of Japan in a time of peace there
might have been different story to tell
about the contest with the Japanese navy
in that memorable battle.
Mr. Foss commented upon the fact that
the trend of Americas development was
westward, and he foresaw a two ocean"
navy for the country.
Conservatism Claimed.
Defending the naval committee against
criticisms. which. he said. had been
heaped upon 1t because 1t had not au-
thorized larger naval program. Mr..
Padgett Tenn, declared the committee
had taken a stand against extravaganza.
y,nA
been conservative.
A reference to the Lilley charge that
the committee had been Influenced was
made by Mr.. Henry. Conn.,. when he in
auired how the committee could have
been conservative in cutting IN half the
departments recommendation for battle
ships and doubling the number OF SUBJ
marines
Mr.. Padgett said that the increase in
submarines involved only q million and
a half dollars, whereas one battieship
alone would cost ten millions. The Pres
ident. he said, further. had called atten-
ton to the woeful deficiency in and lack
of submarines. The Secretary Of the
Navy had emphasized the necessity for
more submarines, and 1t was made clear
that more of those vessels should be dis
tributed along the coasts.
idea Of War Ridiculed.
Coming to the question of possible
war with Japan. Mr.. Padgett declared
that it would soon become frazzled and
the agitators would switch of to some
thing else.
WHO is going to strike us?' he asked.
mo nation on the face of the earth il
going to voluntarily strike the govern
ment of the United States" The very
power Of the American government. he
said. the intelligence of its citizenship.
the magnitude of its resources. its man.
hood and its civilization. stood as its sur.
est guarantee of protection.
Marrow Escape of Actor Sully.
KINGSTON. n. Y. April 1O.-Daniei
Sully. the actor. had narrow escape
from being killed here. and as ii is was
quite badly injured. Mr.. Sully lives in
Woodstock. He had been in this city
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