Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-02-22
Senator Perkins Says Country
Should Hold on 10 | Relative
Position Among Powers.
DEFENDS TRIP OF THE BIG FLEET
California Senator Speaks in Justl.
fiestion of the Expenditures for the
upbuildins Of the American Navy
Declares the Navy is the Mos, popu
lar Branch of Government.
my Associated press.l

titN Associated ProSs)
WASHINGTON. ID. c.. Feb 21.-A
defense OF the policy of sending the
American battleships to tho Pacific
ocean and maintaining that the vast
expense of the new navy wns fully
warranted. was made In the SENATE
today by Senator Perkins, Of Callfor-
mia.
His remarks We're directed to tho
resolution which he had read at the
desk rs follows: "Resolved. that II
should l,a the policy. OF this govern
ment while not adopting continuous
program fixing the number of navn,
vessels of any type. To be built In
future years, 10 maintain It's present
relative position comparison with the
havles of the other great powers"
Tho policy" he said which sent
tho ilcet 10 the Pacific IL wise ana
necessary If we are To retain on that
ocean the prestige that VIII give n
fair and open field to our sen trade"
TINS was In no wise an Indication
of any unfrendliness on the part ri
the United States toward any other
nation. The reception the fleet I'M;
received In South America. he declar-
GU. WAS an indication OF the rriendIl-
ness OF those people toward the Unit
cd States
When the fleet now on It's way to
san Francisco Is joined by the other
eifective vessels on the Pacific" Mr..
Perkins said, I'VE shall have fleet
OF is battlcships. eight armored cruis-
ers, IL protected cruisers, l3 deatroy-
ers. i've torpedo boats and two sub
marines. The battleshlps ana cruis-
ers alone aggregate 423.l72 tons.
while the other naval power on the
! Pacific npanese-has only 34i.,vl
tons In all clnsses of vessels. The
Pacific feet will be amply able TO
protect our interest in that ocean"
Bravery In the Navy.
Attention was called to the unbro-
ken record of bravery which the navy
presents from It's earliest beginning;
and on the Pacific those who man
vessels will have the example of Com
mocore Sloat. Admiral Kimberly and
Admiral Dewey for inspiration. The
senator sketched the growth of the
new navy from 1883 when the vessels
OF The famous White Squadron we're
authorized to the present day when
second sea power in the world. sur
passing France by small margin iu
me strength of our lighting force and
lar optstrippinS Germany. Russia
and japan. Ana this leads. he said.
me United States is easily able to
maintain IL authorizing only two
! more bnttleshipS of the big gun type.
heiereuce was made TO the change
III me character of battleships which
resulted from the lessons of the naval
engagements during the Russo Ian
anese war. which taught the import
hnce of big shins carrying big guns.
so that great weight of metal can be
brought within n short battle line.
! The cost of the vessels of the new
navy built, building. or authorized. is
S309.359,190, while the total expeudi-
lures account the naval establishment
since 1889 is $l.2i4.C5I ,O2s.'' said MIR.
Perkins.
Not an Unproductive Expenditure.
But this vast expenditure is not as
may be claimed by some. unproduc
i've. The construction of the ships
OF our navy gave such stimulus to tho
IRON trade that now we are the great j.
est iron and steel manufacturers IN
The world. > In 1889 there were only
10000 wage earners in the iron and
steel Industry of The country earning
$50. 100000 and turning out products
worth s296,o00.0Oe In 1905 there
were $4,000. wage carriers earning
SiS:ooO,oA0 and turning out products
worth s2,l76OO0.O0O. And there I,
hardly an Industry in the land tina:
has not been benefited in a similar
way though not perhaps in so marked
way The money expended on the
ships OF war vas not therefore an
economic loss judged by O single trade
alone"
Senator Perkins closed by calling
attention TO the brilliant service of
our fleet mt the time OF the Spanish
war aud 10 the deeds of heroism thon
performed
Want Cape Henry as Coast Defense.