Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-04-11
NAVY APPROPRIATION
UNDER DISCUSSION
Chairman F0ss Defends The Pro.
gram Prepared by The Con.
gress'OnaI Committee.
WARM WORDS OF PRAISE FOR Men
Despite Report for Only Two Battle
ships Vigorous Fight is Being
Made to Have Four Laid Down =
Disagreement as to the Probabilities
of a War.
(By Associated prcss)

Try Associated Prcss)
WASHINGTON. d. c.. April i0-ia
lmrsuancc uf TIE proaram mapped
cut by the Republicans through the
/ adoption on "Wednesday last of u spec
ial rule. the House of Representatives
today began consideration of the ma
val bill Under the terms OF the RUE
general debate will close tomorrow
at o'clock y. M. Chairman Floss. OF
the committee ON naval affairs, cX-
planned the details of the bill.
Mr.. Foss corrected the committees
report cmbodying the naval program
OF England, in her estimates just sub
mittcd To Parliament had provided, no
said for one battlcship, one large
armorcd cruiser, eight fast protcc/d
cruisers and IL torpedo boat destroy
crs. In the opinion of Mr.. Foss there
were today III the service better
class OF men than ever before. De-
sortions were growing fewer every
year. AS regards aliens in the service,
he said the number was decreasing
each year.
The craftsmanship of the men, Nj.
| Foss declared. had constantly improv-
cd and referring to the recent target
practice of the Atlantic fleet AT Mag
dalena bay, he said that If he were 10
divulge the confidential reports. the
records would be shown to be even
better than those of any navy in the
world
Mr.. Foss said the pay of the oCic
crs and men should be increased.
Comparing the old navy with the
new, which he said had its birth
March ., 1888, Mr.. Foss declared that
mp to 1890 the policy of battleship
construction had been TO build ships
for defensive purposes only. The
Spanish war had opened up a larger
door OF greater opportunity and a
navy had been built up that would be
able TO hold its own on the high seas
as well as on the coast lines.
Cost OF New Navy.
The new navy he said, has cost
81 1888 Go / 900. of which 5000 900, OOU
had gone into ships, while the la.
ance had gone to the maintenance ..
| the navy.
MIR. Foss, referring to the recent
Congressional hearings regarding
criticisms of American haitleshD
construction. declared that the con-
clusion mad been reached that the
American warships had been honest
ly and properly constructed and com
pared favorably with vessels of for
/ eign powers. He characterized Rear
Admiral Converse as our greatest
living naval authority" who had de-
clared the American ships to he equal
to the ships OF any navy in the world.
Mr.. Foss said that despite the crit :
! icism the sending of the Atlantic fleet
to the Pacific had called forth, it han
been productive of incstimable value
! TO the country.
"Of what use is it, he inquired. ito
build up navy unles it can travel
in fleet formation on long cruises
where the men can be properly train
| ed?
Had Admiral Rojestycnsky,' lie
! said. 'madc al least one cruise with
, his fleet to the sea of japan in IA time
nf peace there might have been a dif-
icrent story to tell"
Predicts 1.-TWO Ocean" Navy.
Mr.. Foss commented upon the fact
that the trend of Americas develop
ment was westward ana he forasaw
a two ocean navy for the county.
Defending the naval COMMITTEE
against criticisms which he said mad
scn hcapcd upon it because it had
not authorized larger naval appFc-
priatiOn, Mr.. padgett, Tennessee. dc
clared the committee had taken n
stand against extravaganza. lie be
loved the committees action mad
boon conservative. In fact IL had
been on the side of liberality rather
than on iIe side of parsimony. He
could not subscribe TO the principal
that because the country was ricn,
its wealth should be expended simply
for the sake of Keeping men employ
cd That was Il doctrine of patriot