The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-04-11
STRONG ARGUMENTS MADE
 ON INTERPRETATION BILL
Members of House Are Divided In Opinion As To Naval Programme, Many Favoring and Others
 Combating Big Fund.

 the programme of business mapped out by the republicans through the adoption on Wednesday last of special rule, the House today began consideration of the naval appropriation bill Under the term of the rule general debate will close to- morrow at D. m.
 Chairman Foss of the committee on na- val affairs explained the details of the bill, the main features of which have been published. Discussing the sending of the Atlantic fleet to the Pacific MT. Foss said that despite the criticisms 1t had called forth, it had been productive of inestimable value to the country.
 "Of what use Is it." he inquired, Ito build up a navy unless it can travel in feet formation on cruises where the men can be properly trained?" Had Admiral Rojestvensky, he said, made at least one cruise with his fleet to the Sea of Japan in a time of peace, there might have been a different story to tell about the con test with the Japanese navy in that mem orable batte
 MT. Foss commented upon the fact that the trend of Americas development was westward and he foresaw a two ocean" navy for the country.
 MT. Foss corrected the committee re- port embodying the naval programme of England. Instead of estimating for two battleships, four armored cruisers, one large ocean-going destroyer, and some small ocean-going destroyers, England had provided, he said, for one battleship, one large armored cruiser, eight fast pro- tected cruisers and 16 torpedo boat de- stroyers.
 Better Class of Men,
 in the opinion of Mi. Floss, based on in- formation from the navy department, there were already in the service a bet ter class of men than ever before. De- sertions, he said, were growing fewer every year. As regarded aliens in the service, he said the number was decreas- ing each year.
 The craftsmanship of the men, MT. Foss declared, had constantly improved, and referring to the recent target-prac- tice of the Atlantic fleet at Magdalena Bay, he said that if he was to divulge the confidential reports the records would be shown to be better than those of any navy in the world.
 MT. Foss dwelt at length upon the subject of pay of officers and men, and said it should be increased.
 The new navy which dates from the Spanish war, he said, had cost to date, S1.244,651, ,0O0, of which $309,000,000 had gone into ships, while the balance had gone to the maintenance of the ves- sels and naval establishment.
 MT. Foss, referring to the recent congressional hearings regarding crit icisms of American battleship construc- fion, declared that the conclusion had been reached that American warships had been honestly and properly con- structed, and compared favorably with vessels of foreign powers.
 Defending Committee.
 Defending the naval committee against criticisms which he said had been heaped upon it, because it had not authorized a large naval pro- gramme Mr. Padgett of Tennessee de- cIared the committee had taken a stand against extravaganza. He believed the committees action had been tconserva- tive. He could not, he said, subscribe to the principle that because the coun- try was rich, it's wealth should be ex- pended simply for the sake of keeping men employed. That was a doctrine or paternalism which he did not believe Congress was prepared to adopt. He charged the newspapers with having been industrious in endeavoring D mold public sentiment ito get behind the committee, and the country. to urge us beyond conservative action"
 reference to the Lilley charge that the committee had been influenced was made by MT. Henry of Connecticut, when he inquired how the committes could have been conservative in cutting in half the departments recommends ton for battleships, and doubling the values of submarines.
 MT. Padgett replied that the increase in submarines involved onlyia million and half dollars, whereas one ba't.le- ship alone would cost $10,000,0( The President, he said, called attention to the woeful deficiency in lack of sub marines. The Secretary of the Navy had emphasized the necessity for more submarines, and it was made clear that more of these vessels should be dis- tributed along the coasts. Personally ne said, he voted against the whole submarine proposition, not because he was opposed to it, mot because there was anything wrong" but because there were limitations placed upon the purchasing.
 Possible Japanese War.
 Coming to the question of possible war with Japan, MT. Padgett declared it would soon become frazzled, and agi- tators would switch off to something else
 Mr. Padgett declared that the Amer ican people were not mad on the sub ject of navy increase. He called atten- ton to the shortage of officers and men, and insisted that for that reason alone, Congress should not rush pell-mell into the construction of ships of war. Economy in naval construction was vigorously opposed by MT. Favrot of Louisiana The United States, he de- '. clared, had obligations in various parts of 1.-the world, which it could not repudiate. War was likely to be forced on the Uni Nd States at any time and the naval krength of the country should be suf- M,ient to guarantee the fullest protection. CoMMr Bartholdt of Missouri opposed any Enlargement of the naval programme. He Believed in the peaceful adjudication by s5Erbitration of all questions of dispute, he said.
 The administration programme for four N Abattleships was supported by Mir. McKin-