Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1908-02-22
Effect Of Expansive Policy on La
Dor Conditions a Suffi-
cient Warrant.
PROTECTS OUR INTERESTS
,,oc, In Pacific Equal to Any Elmer
,crries--Cruise u Notable Achieve
mcnt in Naval Afrairs

r,,sbington, Feb. Ex-senator Per-
,,rs OF California today spoke In the
so,,ate In Justification of expenditures
Cav the upbu;lding of the American
navy and OF the policy OF sending the
e,.et into the Pacific ocean. He reviewed
,he achievement of the navy and de-
o,orod that It was the most popular
branch of the government service.
when the feet now on it's way to
San Francisco is Joined by the other
rYectlve vessels on the Pacific" he
said I'VE shall have fleet of Is bat
tleships, eight armored cruisers, 13 pro-
tpcted cruisers, 13 destroyers, five tor
redoboats and two submarines. The
battleships and cruisers alone aggre-
gate 42s,172 tons. while the other naval
power on the Pacific--Japan-ha only
sfl7Ol tons in all classes of vessels. The
Pacific fleet will be amply able to pro-
tect our interests In that ocean,"
BRAVERY RECORD UNBRoKEN.
Attention was called to the unbroken
record of bravery which the navy pre-
aents from its earliest beginning, and
or the the Pacific those who man the
vessels will have the examples of Com
modore Sloat, Admiral Kimberly and
Admiral Dewey for inspiration. The
senator slketched the growth of the new
navy from 1888 to the present day, when
the United States has become tho 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
still lead France by 10000 tons in sea
lighting force.
LESSONS OF WARS.
Reference was made to the change in
the character of battleships which re-
suited from the lessons of the naval en-
gagements during the Russo-Japanese
war. which taught the Importance of
big ships carrying big guns, 80 that
greater weight of metal can be brought
within a shorter battle line. Hence all
the naval powers are building ships
carrying only 12-inch rifles for offensive
purposes and a comparatively few small
rspid-fire guns for defense against tor
pedoboat attacks.
THE cost OF the vessels of the now
navy built, building or authorized, Is
1909, 1853 1870, while the total expenditures
on account of naval establishment since
1883 is N,244,651 ,029," 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 tho iron |
trade that more iron mills were estab- |
iiahnJ M farial ac rrndtnad |
prices were lowered and iron and steel |
came into general use in all kinds of |
construction, so that now we are the |
greatest iron and steel manufacturers |
In the world.
EFFECT ON LABOR.
In 1850 there were only 100000 wage |
earners in the iron and steel industry |
OF the country, earning $1,000, 900. and |
turning out products worth 1926, 900, 900. |
In 1905 there were $4,000 wage earners |
earning s4S2, 000. 900 and turning out pro-
ducts worth s2,176,O 100000 The average |
wage increased from $500 to $500. The |
average wage of workmen in the iron |
and steel industries will today more |
than pay the cost of all the vessels OF |
our new navy built, building or au-
thorized; and one-half the value of the
non and steel product for single year |
Will pay the entire cost of the naval |
establishment since 1888. That the en-
engagement given this industry by the |
obstruction of ships OF war had very |
potent influence in bringing about this |
result cannot be doubted. And there |
Is hardly an industry In the land that |
has not been benefited in n similar |
way The money expended on the ships |
OF war was not, therefore, an economic |
loss. judged by a single trade alone"
The senate adopted the Tillman res
olution authorizing the attorney general |
10 prosecute the transportation COM
lmnles Of oregon that have received |
public lands and have violated the
terms OF the grant.
The senate adjourned at 4:10 p. m,