Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1908-02-13
TWO BATTLESH!Ps
The Naval Committee Of the House
Rejects Presidents Greater
Navy Programme.
ESTIMATES SCALED DOWN
Less Than one-Half Allowed for New
Authorizations Carries S1o1r
100000 for Construction
and Maintenance.


washington, Feb. 11.-By q vote OF
13 to 8. one member absent and not
voting. the house committee on naval
AFFAIRS Monday rejected the presidents
urgent recommendation that congress
at this session authorize the building
OF four battleships at total cost OF
100000 and by unanimous vote
there was included in the navy ap-
preparation bill an authorization for
the construction of two, to cost $9,5OO,-
900 each and to be Of the Delaware
type.
Representative Hobson announced
after the committee meeting that ne
intended to make minority report
recommending authorization for four
battleships. "But the authorization,
merely, is not enough he said. 1T
should include an actual appropriation
80 that the work of construction would
begin without moments unnecessary
delay. Even so, 1t would be three
years before these vessels could be
made ready to go into commission, and
this country has no time to lose"
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 1t Is
more profitable In the end to recon-
mend in the beginning what you know
the house will stand for. A recon-
mendation 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
$1O1 100000 for the navy establish
ment for the next fiscal year, about
$24,0O0,0O0 less than was asked for In
the department estimates.
Under the head Of new authorize
lions for whose fulfillment congress is
bound to appropriate money at the
next session II the bill as recommend
ed passes the house and senate, the
committee included two battleshlps to
cost s19,OOO,O0O; ten destroyers, 49,.
100000; eight submarine torpedo
boats, 5000, 900; total $50, $4,000, or
$3S, 73O,OOO less than the total for new
authorizations asked for by the navy
department.
The new authorization estimates re-
jected by the committee comprised the
following: Two battleships, $4,000
900; four scout cruisers, $4,000, 900;
one ammunition ship, $1,75O,OOO; one
repair ship, 100000; two mine lay.
ing ships (cruisers to be converted),
100000.
The committee. however, raised
from four to eight the number Of sub.
marine torpedo boats asked for; held
over for further consideration and in.
corporation In q special bill the mat.
ter Of providing feet GOLFERS; appro.
priated 100000 for the purchase with.
in the discretion Of 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 department require.
ments; and included an appropriation
OF $1,0OO,OO0 to enable the recruiting
Of 5000 additional enlisted men to
men newly completed battleships and
authorized the recruiting Of 5000 more
to become available after the first Of
July, as recommended by the secre-
tary Of the navy and urged by the
president,
No provision was made for the
building Of a drydock at Pearl Harbor
near Honolulu. The doubling Of the
departments estimate Of four sub |
marine torpedo boats needed was
largely Influenced by letters and petit
lions from Pacific coast chambers Of
commerce, more than score of which
were received By members Of the com.
mittee.