The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-02-22
JUSTIFIES THE
EXPENDITURES
Senator Perkins of California
Speaks Words of Praise
of the Navy.
DEFENDS TRIP TO PACIFIC
MONEY SPENT ON SHIPS NOT AN
ECONOMIC LOSS.
DEFENDS TRIP TO PACIFIC

Washington. Feb Ex-senator Per-
kins of California today spoke in the
senate in justification of expenditures
for the upbuilding of the American
navy and of the policy of sending the
feet into the Pacific ocean. He reviewed
the achievement of the navy and de-
clared that it was the most popular
branch of the government service.
when the feet now on its way TO
San Francisco is joined by the other
effective vessels on the Pacific" he
said, Eve shall have a feet of eighteen
battleships, eight armOred cruisers, thir-
teen protected cruisers, thirteen de-
stroyers, five torpedo boats and two
submarines. The battleships and cruis-
ers alone aggregate 423.172 tons.i whileS
the other naval power on the Pacific
-Japan-has only 374,70 tons in all
classes of vessels. The Pacific feet will
be amply able to protect our interests
in that ocean"
Record of Bravery.
Attention was called to the unbroken
record of bravery which the navy pre-
sents from it's earliest beginning. and
on the Pacific those who man the yes
sells will have the examples of Commo-
dore Sloat. Admiral Kimberly and Ads
miral Dewey for inspiration. The sena-
tor sketched the growth of the new
navy from 1888 to the present day, when
the United States has become the sec
ond sea power in the world. surprising
France by a small margin in the
strength of our fighting force and far
outstripping Germany, Russia and ia
pan. And this lead. he said the United
States is easily able to maintain By
authorizing only two more battleships
of the big gun type, this nation would
stiIl lead France by 10000 tons in sea
fighting force.
Reference was made to the change in
the character of battIeships which re-
suited from the lessons of the naval en-
gagements during the Japanese
war which taught the importance Of
big ships carrying big guns. so that
greater weight of metal can be brought
within shorter battle line. Hence all
the naval powers area building ships
carrying only l2-inch rifles for offensive
purposes and a comparatively few small
rapid-fire guns for defense against tor
pedo boat attacks.
Cost of the New Navy.
THE cost of the vessels of the new
navy built. building or authorized, is
S9O9, 1853 100, while the total expenditures
on account of naval establishment since
1888 is 1924, Gal, e29," said Mr.. Perkins.
But this vast expenditure is not, as
may be claimed by some, unprOductive.
The construction of the ships of our
navy gave such stimulus to the iron
trade that more iron mills were estab-
lished. better material was produced,
prices were lowered and iron and steel
came into general use i'm all kinds Of
constructions, so that now we are the
greatest iron and steel manufacturers
i'm the world. In 1880 there were only
40 600 wage earners in the iron and I
steel industry of the country, earning
S55 900. GOO, and turning out prOductss
worth 1896, 600 600 In 1905 there were
S57 900 wage earners earning S4S2,OOO.OOO
and turning out products worth $2,1le,-
600 OO0 The average wage increased
from $500 to $500. The average wage OF
wOrkmen in the iron and steel indus
tries will today more than pay the cost
of all the vessels of our new navy built,
building or authorized; and one-half
the value of the iron and steel prod
uct for a single year will pay the en-
tire cost OF the naval establishment
since 1888. That the encouragement
given this industry by the construction
of ships of war had a very potent m
fluence i'm bringing about this result
cannot be doubted. And there is hardly
an industry in the land that has not
been benefited in a similar way, though
not. perhaps. in so marked a way The
money expended on the ships of war
was not therefore, an economic loss,
Judged BY a single trade alone"
TilIman Resolution Passed.
The senate adopted the Tillman reso-
luton authorizing the attorney general
to prosecute the transportation compa-
mics of On egOn that have received pub
lie I,pds and have violated the terms Of
the grant.
THE senate adjourned az 4:l0 p. m I'M
Ill tomorrow. when Senator McCumber
of North Dakota will read Washington's
farewell address.
SULLIVAN HANGS ON.
xx-t..--~..,, 4-,b 81 naniaI CrlIf