Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-04-16
WILL LAY KtEls FOR TWO SHIPS
One OF These VIII be Constructed in
Navy Yard, So There viii be Only
One Big Contract for Private Con-
consolidate at Times Was Warm
and Personal.

WASHINGTON. u. c.. April H.
BY vote of 1870 to 81 the House Of
Representatives yesterday decided
against the Presidents program for
fom battleships and adheared to the
recommendation of its committee on
naval affairs for two vessels of that
type. This result was reached after
debate which lasted for four hours
AMI was received with applause. The
entire session WIS devoted TO CON
flderation of the navy increase pro
vision of the naval appropriation bill
As this Increase was provided for in
tile last section of the bill the meas
ire was practically concluded with
disposition of the provision. The
committee of the whole concluded It's
work and will report to the House
tomorrow for . final vote on its pas
sage. The provision for battleshins
WAS the chief subject OF interest. the
committees recommending for two
hattleships of that type prevailing by
decisive vote after hard fought
effort to increase the number to four
The increase was opposed by Mr..
Tawney. chairman of the committee
on appropriations: Mr.. Foss chairman
j.
Williams. minority leader. and many
others and was advocated by Mr..
IIobson. of Alabama. who declared
that in relation TO the increase of
other nations four battleships would
only keep the American navy ARREST
OF other great navies. Mr. Lang
worth, of Ohio. in vigorous speech
told the House that the President wa
more interested in this increase than
in any other question before Congress
and as practically all of them had in
the last election declared that they
would support him. this was go,d
opportunity 10 carry out that declara.
tlOn.
An amendment by Mr.. Tawrey to
reduce the number of new battlaships
to one was voted down by an avan
more decided majority than was Mr..
Ilobson's proposition for an incrcase
TO four
A provision for two fleet collicrs T..
1G knots and of 1880 tons capacity
costing sl.S00000 each was adopted
Amendments were adopted that one
OF the battleships and one of the col
li"rs shall be built in navy yard
The bill as II stands authorizes en-
penditures of s107 $4,000.
Burton for TWO Ships.
When the provision for the increase
of the navy was reached by the
House today in the consideration of
the naval appropriation bill, Mr. Bur
ton. of Ohio, took the floor In opDo.
siion to the bntileship provision. lie
declared that the Monroe doctrine
was not maintained Ivy the military
armament and said IN reply to a
question by Mr. lIobson. Alabama.
that DIR prestige and the strength of
the nation will protect us in the .ab-
sence Of absolute power TO arbtrate.
He cited the instances of friction in
maintaining the Monroe doctrine in
Venezuela against the pretensions of
Great Britain when this country had
hut three hattleshins and Great Brit
ian thirty with the sentiment of
Europe on the side OF Great Britain
That he declared. was an illustration
of the influence OF the resulting from
It's Inherent strength.
Eve cannot lie compared with
China" he said. evidently referring
10 The Presidents message of ycster-
nav. We are not III the same class. ~
Tho claim for fonr battleships, he
pronounced to be wholly illogical"
AT this time" he proceeded "let
us continue our traditional policy no.
OF non-resistancesb Of confidence in
our strength as nation, our military
strength. our material strength bur
most of all iii the great moral and no.
lictical ideas that have made aur
country great, our ideas of justice ami
} The equality of man Those great
ideas arc stronger than battleships
Along this line lies our destiny and
|, CIR glory
II Bourke Cocl,ran's Striking Speech.
II Mr.. Cochran OF New York ther
hsdeliycred striking speech in favor o
>Yfour new ships Mr.. Cochran sait
AWhat while the House was to use II.
NXVwn Judgment concerning its actions
Atlat the President being commander
I'M chief of tho militarv forces e9ea
I'm (>Serence was due 10 his recOmmen.