The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-04-14
NAVYAPPROPRIATION
GENERAL DEBATE BRINGS OUT
 MUCH DISCUSSION.
Mir. Hohsou Appeals for Maniln Bay as Naval station and Mir. Foas Vigorously Supported
 Subig Bay.

Washington, April 13.-Consideration of the naval appropriation bill was re- sumed In the House Committee today. General debate having heen concluded Saturday, the reading oa the measure for amendment was begun.
 No sooner was this done than Mir. Hobson of Alabama offered an amend ment approprlating sl00,000 for pro- noting the cause. the sum to be eX- pended by the Executive Committee of the American group of the interparlia- mentary union.
 Mir. Hobson and Mfr Bartholdt of Missouri. spoke in support of the amendment but on a point of order by MT. Toss of Illinois. 1t was ruled out as not being germane tg the bill.
 An amendment by Mir. Foss to in- crease the pay of officers of the navy and marine corps and one by Mir. Bar tholdt prohibiting navy nr marine bands from accepting private employ ment for pay. were ruled out on points of order. The House voted down an amendment by Mir. Hitchcock of Ne braska. limiting to 50 cents a pound. the price at which powder shall be sold to the government. The present price Is 67 cents and 1t was disclosed that tho government produced 1t for 47 cents
 MT. r OSB uGEldECu IudA uCSduSS OI IHS fact that the government now manu- factured one-third of the powder used by it. 1t practically controlled the sit uation and was In a position where. by appropriation, the plants could be in- creased and the government make all the powder needed by 1t.
 An amendment by Mir. Sparkman of Florida appropriatinR s300.000 for yards. docks, foundry etc. at Key West Fla. was ruled out on point of order made by MT. Foss.
 When the provision relating to the naval station at Olongapo' Philippine Islands, was reached the old contro- versy over the fortihcation of Subig and Manila Bays cropped out Mir. choose between the two, would choose Manila Bay. The wholc question, he said. was simply one of defense.
 we cannot hold Snhig Bay ten days" he said; I've can hold Manila Bay ninety days" The only way to hold the islands 1t all. he averred, was to control the sea. At present the United States had only temporary con trol. He contended that an army from Asia could land and take Subig Bay from the rear without any resistance and proceed and capture Manila city and Manila Bay, but" he said. "the lines would be drawn In and the army estimates It eould 0nly hoId out ninety days"
 Pressed by MT. Jones of Virginia to state If he had such information ofi- cially, Mir Hobson replied that he was not authorized to disclose the source of his information.
 In favoring the fertilization of Cav itc as against Sublg Bay, MT. Sherley of Kentucky said he would abide by I the decision of the joint army and navy | board whose recommendation was ia vorable to Cavite. He was not. he | said. so possessed of the fear of disas 1 ter either to the United States or any of it's possessions as to beli@ve there was any necessity for making Subit | Bay a naval base.
 MT Toss vigorously supported thu appropriation for the Subig Bay ant quoted Admiral Dewey and. other higf naval oficers as declaring that Subj Bay was the only place where a maya station and land defenser should be, O
 could be established in the PhllippineE