The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1908-02-12
FOR RTNOBATTLES
Recommendation Of House Ma
val Affairs Committee.

900 Each and to Be Of the Delaware
Type-Eisht Instead Of Four Sub
marine Torpedo Boats Recommend
ed, to Be Of the Octopus Type.
Washington, Feb 11.-By a vote OF
thirteen to five, one member absent
and not voting, the house committee
of naval affairs rejected the presi-
dents urgent recommendation that
congress at this session authorize the
building of four battleships at a total
cost of $3S,0O0,000, and by a unani-
nous vote there was included in the
navy appropriation bill an authorize.
tion for the construction Of two, to
cost $9,500,000 each. and to be of the
Delaware type.
These representatives voted in ac-
cordance with the presidents recon-
mendations: Lilley of Connecticut
(Rep), Thomas of Ohio (Rep.), Meyer
OF Louisiana Dem.), Talbot of
Maryland (Dem.) and Hobson of Ala
bama (Dem.)
Hobson Insists on Four Battleships.
Representative Hobson announced
after the committee meeting that he
intended to make minority report
recommending authorization for four
battleships.
But the authorization merely is
not enough" he said. 1T should in
clude an actual appropriation so that
the work of construction would begin
without a moments unnecessary de-
lay. Even so it would be three years
before these vessels could be made
ready to go into commission, and this
country has no time to lose"
The preference of the committee
stood in favor of four battleship au-
thorization, but the voting attitude of
the majority was expressed by Chair
man Foss when he said:
Experience has shown that it Is
more profitable in the end to recon-
mend in the beginning what you
know the house will stand for. A
recommendation for four battleships
could not be put through at this ses-
sion"
The naval appropriation bill as
amended and agreed upon by com
mittee carries total appropriation OF
$101 100000 for the navy establish
ment for the next fiscal year, about
24,O00O0O less than was asked for in
the department estimates.
Under the head of new authorize.
tions, for whose fulfillment congress
is bound to appropriate money at the
next session If the bill as recommend
ed passes the house and the senate
the committee included two battleships
to cost $1900O,00O: ten destroyers
$S,500,0O0; eight submarine torpedo
boats, $304O,000; total, $30,54O,O00, or
$3S, ,730 900 less than the total for new
authorization asked for by the navy
department
The new authorization estimates re-
jected by the committee comprised
the following:
Two battleships, $19,000,000; four
scout cruisers, $1O,000,000; one am.
munition ship, $1,750,0OO; one repair
ship, s2000,00O; two mine laying
ships (cruisers to be converted). $780,.
900.
Eight Submarine Torpedo Boats.
The committee, however, raised
from four to eight the number of sub
marine torpedo boats asked for; held
over for further consideration and in.
corporation in a special bill the mat.
ter of providing fleet colliers; appro.
priated 100000 for the purchase,
within the discretion Of the secretary
Of the navy, of three so-called sub
surface torpedo boats. their accept
ance by the government to be contin.
| gent upon the fulfllment of depart
ment requirements; and included an
appropriation of 81 100000 to enable
the recruiting of 5000 additional en-
listed men to man newly completed
battleships, and authorized the re-
cruiting of 5000 more to become avail
able after the 1st of July, as recon-
mended by the secretary OF the navy
and urged by the president.
No provision was made for the
| building OF drydock at Pearl Har.
Dor near Honolulu. The doubling OF
the departments estimate of four sub
marine torpedo boats needed was
largely influenced by letters and petit
tions from Pacific coast chambers OF
commerce, more than score OF
which were received by members OF
the committee.
These boats by the adoption OF an
amendment offered by Representative
Loudsenlager of New Jersey are to
be of the Octopus type in accordance
with the report of the Mark board
before whom last years tests off New
port were made. The effect of this
amendment, if the house and senate
concur in the committees report, may
be to nullify the court decision by
which the secretary Of navy gained
the right to consider the Lake type
of boat as an aftercompetitlon com
petltor.
Auto Bales Hay and Cuts Wood.