The Washington herald., 1908-04-11
SHIPS OR BUILDINGS?
House Worried Over Attitude
of the President.
PORK BARREL IS IN DANGER
Four Battle Slips or No PubIio
Buildings Mr. RooseveIt's UItima-
tam = Buildings Wanted by All.
Representatives Would Pass the
Measure over a Veto.

Two legislative propositions involving
expenditures approximaung sJ0o0o,O00 are
giving tho Republican leaders In the
House ef Representatives a great deal
II concern. one is the proposal of the
administration that four battle ships
costing more than S60o0e00 apiece shall
oe authorized al this session. The other
S the omnibus public building bill, a
measure that has many friends, which.
Is now estimated, will carry appropria-
ions IN excess OF S2o, 900 Qe0.
President Roosevelt has told callers at
he White House that if Congress should
all to provide four battle ships. he would
veto the public building bill. On the
'ther hand, the House leaders have given
notice that Il would be politically unwise
to impose the drain upon the Treasury
hat would accrue If Congress should pro-
tide four battle ships at 300e10l0 and
public buildings at s20,000.o00.
Balances One Against Other.
The administration is balancing the one
Measure against the other in order that
he navy may be further enlarged. Hold
ng tlgat the purse strings all throughout
.he present session, the House leaders
see in the battle-ship programme a pos
Iiole uHdoing Of their plans TO keep ap-
2ropriationa within bounds They have.
therefore, practically notified the House
membership that it must take its choice
between battle ships and public build
ngs.
There is good reason TO believe, how
Ner. that the leaders will be BOWED over
they attempt 10 step the public build
ng bin, even if an amendment is inserted
the naval bin making appropriations
Tor four battle ships. Republicans as we'll
as Democrats are much in earnest Ia their
demand that public buildings shall be
authorized at this session. On both sides
II the House It is agreed that the public
building bill shall be passed, battle ships
Or 40 battle ships.
II the battle ship programme fails and
the President, as a result, should veto
the public building bill, that measure
would undoubtedly be passed over his
veto.
TIE Republican leaders realize the tenn
per OF the House on public building legis-
.atiol, but they are threatening TO inter
Iere with its passage, in an effort TO scare
oH many members who are disposed TO
vote into the naval bill four battle ships,
instead OF the two put in that measure
oy the Committee on Naval Affairs. d,
Just what viii happen when the battle
shlp section Of the naval bill comes up for
aeoate, the leaders themselves do not
know.
HObsOn Very busy.
Representative Richmond P. Hobson.
the former naval officer, has been as
busy as a bee for several months ana
has caused it 10 be made known that
sixty-five Democratic members are
pledged TO four battle ships. The rest of
the votes needed. ne declared, will come
from Republicans.
Representative Hobson announced that
the naval bin when it left the House
would carry appropriations SUFFICIENT to
defray the cost Of building four ships of
war equal to the best in the world. He is
SO eoek-sure about It that the leaders
are puzzled.
Whether the President will carry out
his intention, expressed some time ago.
and send IN a message urging that four
battle ships be provided for is problem
atical
Mr.. Roosevelt's tendency to prod the
House on matters OF legislation has
greatly irritated even those Republicans
who approve his policies. and a battle
ship Hessage might touch of some fire.
works distinctly to the Presidents dis
advantage. a. message calling FOR battle
ships, IN the opinion Of some leaders.
would have IN effect just the reverse
OF that intended. Instead Of forcing the
House to act il wouldd stiffen the backs
or those leaders who are sincere In their
belief that an authorization of two bat
tie ships is all that should be made with
the Treasury facing possible surplus.