Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-02-11
PRESIDENTS
MA VAL POLICY
IS REJECTED
CONGRESS CUTS APPR0PRIA-
TION FOR BATTLESHIPS
SUBMARINES FOR PACIFIC COAST
ALLOWED
House Committee Votes Against
Roosevelt's Recommendation.
Hobson to Submit Minor
ity Report

By Associated Press.
WASHINGTON. Feb. 10.--By q vote
of thirteen to five, one member absent,
today rejected the presidents urgen;
recommendation that congress at this
session authorize the building of foul
battleships, at a total cost of $3S, 5000, 900
and by a unanimous vote there was
included in the navy appropriation bill
an authorization for the construction
of two, to cost $9,500,00O each, and to be
of the Delaware type.
These representatives voted in ac-
cordance with the presidents recon-
mendation: Lilly of Connecticut, Re-
publican; Thomas of Ohio, Republican;
Myer of Louisiana, Democrat; Talbot
of Maryland, Democrat, and Hobson OF
Alabama, Democrat
Representative Hobson announced
after the committee dneeting that he
intended to make a minority report
recommending authorization for four
battleships.
The preference of the committee
stood in favor of a four battleship au-
thorization, but the voting attitude OF
the majority was expressed by Repre-
sentative Foss of Illinois, chairman OF
the committee, when he said:
Experience has shown that 1t is
more profitable in the end to recon-
mend in the beginning what you know
the house will stand for. recon-
mendation for four battleships could
not be put through at this session."
Naval Bill $1o1 100000
The naval appropriation bill, as
amended and agreed upon by the COM
mittee, carries a total appropriation OF
s101, 100000 for the navy establishment
for the next fiscal year, about S24000,-
600 less than was asked for In the de-
partment estimates.
Under the head of new authoriza'
tions, for whose fulfillment congress v
bound to appropriate money at the
next session If the bill as recommends
| passes the house and senate, the com
mittee included two battleships to cos
! SIS, 900 900; ten destroyers, $S,50O,00o
| eight submarine torpedo boats, $3,040
600; total, $30,540,000 or $3S, ,73O,O0O les
than the total for new authorization
asked for by the navy department.
The new authorizations estimates re
| iected by the committee comprised tn
| following: Two battleships, $19,OOO,0oO
four scout cruisers, S10,0OO,000; one am
munition ship, $1,750,000; one repal
ship. 50 900, 900; two mine laying ship
(cruisers to be converted), $5OO,OO
The committee, however, raised iron
four to eight the number Of submarine
torpedo boats asked for; held over 10
further consideration and incorporation
in a special bill the matter of providlnl
fleet colliers appropriated 100000 10
the nurchase within the discretion o
the secretary of the navy OF three SO
called subsurface torpedo bots; thei
acceptance by the government to b
contingent upon the fulfillment OF de
nartment requirements, and included
an appropriation of $1,000,000 to enabl
the recruiting of 5000 additional enlisted
men to man newly completed battle
ships and authorized the recruiting o
5000 more to become available atter TN
first of July, as recommended py IN
secretary of the navy and urged py IN
president. No provision was made 10
| the building of a dry dock at rear
harbor, Honolulu.
Submarines for Coast
The doubling of the department
| astimates of four submarine torped
boats needed was largely influenced b.
| letters and petitions from Pacihc coas
chambers of commerce, more tnan
| score of which were received py mem
bers of the committee.
These boats, by the adoption or a.
amendment offered by Representatlv
Laudenslager of New Jersey, are 10 o.
| of the Octopus type, in accordance Wit
! the report of the marine board, befor
whom last years tests off NeWpor
were made, The effect of this amend
ment. if the house and senate concu
| i'm the committees report, may pc U
! nullifv the court decision by which tn
secretary of the navy gained the righ
to consider the lake type of boat as al
| after competitor.