The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-02-11
TURNED DOWN BY
THE COMMITTEE
Presidents Recommendation
That Congress Authorize Four
New BattIeShipS Rejected.
VOTE THIRTEEN TO FIVE
HOBSON WILL MAKE MINORITY
REPORT.

13 to 5, one member absent and not Vot-
ing. the house committee on naval af-
fairs today rejected the presidents ur-
gent recommendation that congress at
this session authorize the building of
four battleshipS a total cost of $685.
100000, and by a unanimous vote there
was included in the navy appropriation
bill an authorization for the construc-
ton of two, to cost $500, 900 each, and
to be of the Delaware type.
These representatives. voted in accord
ance with the presidents recommended
tons: Lilley of Connecticut (Rep).
Thomas, Ohio (Rep); Myer, Louisiana
(Dem); Talbot, Maryland Dem.), and
Hobson, Alabama (Dem.).
Will Be Minority Report.
Representative Hobson announced af-
ter the committee meeting that he in
tended to make a minority report rec
ommending authorization for four bat
tleships.
The preference of the committee
stood in favor of a four battleship au-
thorization, but the voting attitude of
the majority was expressed by Chair
man Foss when he said:
Experience has shown that it is more
profitable in the end to recommend in
the beginning what you know the house
will stand for. A recommendation for
four battleships could not be put
through at this session"
The naval appropriation bill as
amended and agreed upon by the COM
mittee carries a total appropriation OF
SOL 10000 for the navy establishment
for the next fiscal year. about S24,OOO,-
GOO less than was asked for in the de-
partment estimates.
Two Ships to Cost S1e,ooo,oo0.
Under the head of new authorizations
for whose fulfllment congress is bound
to appropriate money at the next ses-
sion If the bill as recommended passes
the house and senate, the committee in
Guided two battleships, $4,000 QUO;
ten destroyers, IS, SOC, 900: eight subma-
rine torpedo boats, SO, 040, 900; total, $780,
$40, 900, or $3S. 73O. 900 less than the total
for new authorizations asked for the
nav ydepartment.
The new authorization estimates re-
jected by the committee comprised the
following: Two battleships, $4,000, 1000;
four scout cruisers, $10,000,O00: one am
munition ship. S1,750,O00; one repair
ship $1,000 goo; two mine-laylng ships
(cruisers to be converted), S3OO,OOO
Torpedo Boats Increased.
The committee. however, raised from
four to eight the number of submarine
torpedo boats asked for; held over for
further consideration and Incorporation
in a special bill the matter of providing
fleet GOLFERS; appropriated 100000 for
the purchase, within the discretion or
the secretary of the navy, of three So
called sub-surface torpedo boats; their
acceptance by the government TO be
contingent upon the fulfillment of de-
partment requirements; and included
an appropriation of 81. 100000 TO enable
the recruiting of 5000 additional en-
listed men to man the newly completed
battleships. and authorized the recruit
ing of 5000 more to become available
after the first of July, as recommended
by the secretary Of the navy and urged
by the president.
Drydock Left Out.
No provision was made for the build
ing of a dry dock al Pearl Harbor. near
Honolulu. The doubling of the depart
ment's estimate of four submarine tor
pedo boats needed was largely infiu-
enced by letters and petitions from Pa
cific coast chambers of commerce, more
than score of which were received by
members of the committee.
These boats. by the adoption of an
amendment offered by Representative
Loudenslager of New Jersey, are to be
of the Octopus type, in accordance with
the report of the Marine board, before
whom last years tests off Newport
we're made The effect of this amend
ment. if the house and senate concur
in the committees report may be to
nullify the court decision by which the
secretary OF the navy sgained the right
10 consider the Lake type of boat as an
oftpr-pOmOptitiOQC competitor.