New-York tribune., 1908-04-17
NAVAL BILL PASSED
Awards OF SUBM4RINES.
Left to the Secretary's Discretion
Williams 4muses the House.
From The Tribune Bur.au.1

From The Tribune Bureau.1
Washington. April l6.-By a OF los TO -oi
the House amended to-day the naval appro-
priation bill leave the awarding of contracts
for the eight authorized submarine boats entirely
in the hands Of the Secretary Of the Navy. The
original proposition in the bill virtually awarded
the contracts to the Electric Boat Company, and.
although no objections were made TO that concern,
the House thought it best to remove all restric-
tons on the Navy Department.
Earlier in the afternoon the entire paragraph re-
lating 10 submarines stricken out Of bill
on point OF order raised by Mr.. Hill. Connecti-
cut, who objected TO the proviso restricting the
Secretary OF the Navy 10 the selection Of AL
such boats heretofore determined to be superior as
result of competitive tests" but the paragraph
was soon restored by MI Olcott- OF New York,
who changed the phraseology while retaining the
sense Of the clause severe arragnment OF the
Lage boat company was delivered by Representa-
tive Roberts of Massachusetts, and MI Lilley.
Of Connecticut, was attacked by Representative
knowiand, OF California, for his remarks
days ago concerning the Mare Island Navy Yard
The naval bill, carrying an appropriation Of more
than 500 oco0oo was finally passed by practically
unanimous vote.
Just before the Passage OF the bill Representa-
tive John Sharp Williams got the floor. Awaiting
himself OF the twenty minutes allowed for dis
cussng point Of order. MI Williams said it was
never OUT of place read lessons on civic right
e51sness TO the Republican party. He then pro-
ceeoed. amid general laughter, declare that
b-ll because il was Of the very highest necessity
10 the maintenance OF the navy 10 spread ntelIi-
gsnce among the. people so they might know how
much OF q navy was necessary Tor national de-
fence.
M-- Williams depicted The sorrovs OF war. and
said that when science had advanced rhs clviiza-
uon OF the Ucrd. and then degraded i by teaching
Il more effective ways OF killing. cennons loaded
with vile saltpeJ-e ana with bullets wer= put upon
the decks OF the ships and fired broadcast at one
Of 1r71a- he u-5do
and children 10 be made orphans, while man,
dressed il little brief authority, most ignorant
Of what he was most proud. was seeking the bub-
bic reputation in the cannon's mouth"
He spoke OF ships being at one time built Of
iron, and said il would have been foolish to have
built too much Of navy plated with railroad
iron" for fear Improvement soon might make
the ships obsolete Therefore. he said. our wise
ancestors built Cnly few of them, about two
at & time. they could keep up with new types
new types arose.
At this point Mr.. Hobson interrupted Mr. Will
Jams with the inquiry whether in full consideration
Of all the history OF naval architecture. the gentle
man from Mississippi finally finds himself on the
side OF the Merriuac the Monitor"
Mr.. Williams replied. amid laughter that "a little
cheese box raft referring TO the Monitor.
has won a great battle. and that once more the
lesson taught OF not making appropriation for
too many battleships at the same time" He was.
he said. amid more laughter, solemnly declaring.
his legislative responsibility my idea what is
good for the American navy
Mr.. Williams caused the members 10 shrek when
he cut of Mr.. Hobson and remarked; This is a
serious occasion. l plead for protection" He de-
cIared that If Tiberius should hear that America
had constructed some Of those 20010-Jon ships
Tiberjus would construct some 25090-ton ones, and
then the United States would have 10 construct
some Of the same kind War lords must keep
grounds Of equality with one another
When Mr.. Williams spoke OF airshps pande-
n1ontun1 reigned When ships begin sail
through the air said, I'll Will be long be
fore equippng. perhaps armOrtng and
offering and manning, dirigible balloons for the
purpose OF destroyEg-no, not 10 destroy anything,
nor for making all. for the purpose Of
preparing for peace, filling the minds OF the world
with the idea that It is the ardent desire Of the
American people 10 90 armed In order that they
may have no occasion or opportunity TO attack
anybody"
Mr. Hobson inquired II Mr.. williams, on meeting
an enemy in his own lofty altitude, and his tire
should De- punctured at 1000 feet would prefer
70 have balloon ships of little different and better
rvoe and few more OF them than the other fel-
low" He asked Mr. Williams if there would not
Be more hot air escaping than there is today"
More than *there is today" Mr.. Williams sol
EMMY declared but not more than there vas yes
terday'
Aete- NJ F4obson had referred 70 - poor yarn
related by Nj. williams yesterday" Nj. Williams
said:
-.nfr. Speaker. I decline to be interrupted any
further. When E man criticisss my reasoning
powers I do not mind II. When Critictses
my sanity do not mind Il When q man crtticses
nv personal puchriuude can reconcile myself 70
that but when Z man tells me that have told
2 poor Joke it makes me hot under the collar.
why M Speaker If 7 have Two specieltles n the
world they are jokes and poetry"
He closed by referring recent poem by Nj
palzeM On Little Johnny" I announce 70 the
count-v" he declared, that shall verse no more,
for Dalzeu Eath murdered verse.