The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1908-05-04
SENATE DEBATE
ON THE FLEET

WASHINGTON, April N.-The re-
ported purpose of the President to
send the fleet of battleships around the
world was the basis of a discussion in
the Senate today when the naval APP
preparation bill was taken up for con-
sideration.
Bacon of Georgia asked what would
be the cost or this cruise around the
world.
Hale chairman of the Committee on
Naval Affairs, replied that it would be
difficult to state the cost, but he was
satisfied that the wear and tear on the
fleet would be very great The cost,
he said, would not be known for a
year. He referred to the cruise as "a
spectacular performance
Bacon said he agreed that it was a
spectacular performance, but" he
added, lit may be a very dangerous
performance
Hale disclaimed any purpose to
charge that no good would come of the
trip around the world He referred to
it as spectacular in the sense that it
was most remarkable and wonder
! full"
Bacon said he hoped the report that
| the fleet is to go around the world
would prove incorrect. He not only
looked upon it as dangerous, but also
as expensive, saying it would cost al
most a million dollars to take the
fleet through the Suez canal alone.
Beveridge inquired whether there
are facilities in the Pacific for MAX
ing necessary repairs to the fleet and
Hale replied that was one of the ques-
lions that would have to be taken up.
1t would, he said, cost tens and tens OF
millions to supply those facilities.
Money made an extended speech on
the danger of war if the Philippines
are held by this country, saying that
all nations that have had dependencies
have been obliged to maintain great
navies. The 100000 people of the
Philippines, he said had cost this
country several hundred millions al
ready, and that money would produce
no material result of advantage to this
country, but should be charged up to
"the mere pleasure of ruling other
people,
l Money instanced the San Francisco
school troubles as an example OF the
rapidity with which war clouds might
! overshadow the country.
IF we drop the Philippines" he said
1--WE drop the chance of war in that
ocean," He was sure there was nc
treaty right on the part of Japan that
would Justify the attitude of that ma
ton on the San Francisco school ques-
ton, but Japan was ready to provoke
a quarrel"
Money predicted that in ten years
the United States would nave TO night
somebody" and he paid compliment
to Japanese valor and physical endur-
ance. Whenever we tackle that ut
tie nation, he declared, I'VE Will nave
all we can do. You have got to keep
the fleet there" he declared, II you
are to nod the Philippines.
Defending the policy OF sending the
fleet of battleships to the Paclnc
ocean, Senator Lodge said great good
is already resulting from the long
cruise and it is teaching the fleet now
to maintain itself away from shipyards
by making repairs by its own me-
chanics on board.
1T is not enough" he said, in a
navy to have the units the best IN the
world: it is necessary to have an
efficient fleet, and we have never until
this year produced an efficient fleet. l
think this voyage has done more for
the Navy than anything that has been
undertaken.
He declared that even should the
Philippines be abandoned, that action
would not make any difference in the
need of fleet.
Senator Beveridge advocated great
er Navy than the United States now
has. The policy of the Democrats, he
said, favors keeping the Philippines
until the people there are fitted for
self-government; in any event it Will
be necessary to keep the islands for
many years. Before the fleet started,
he said there had been talk OF war,
but after it reached the Pacific waters
such talk decreased and has now al
most vanished.
Upon Beveridge concluding his re-
marks, there was an outburst of ap-
plause in the galleries and Hale arose
Now" said Hale, "let us see if We
can make some progress with the bill
The Senate spent almost two hours
reading the bill and discussing its pro
visions. The only amendment of i'm