The Washington herald., 1908-02-11
ONLY TWO Big SHIPS
Navy Appropriation Bill Cuts
Programme in Twain.
FOUR SUBMARINES ARE ADDED
Requests from Pacific Coast Needed
by House COmmfffee-HObson VIII
Present Minority Report, and May
BE Joined by Four Others WhO
Support His Views On Question.

The House Committee on Naval Affairs
yesterday concluded its work On the
naval appropriation bill.
The measure, as agreed upon after
three hours discussion yesterday morn
ing, will authorize the construction Of
two battle ships Of the Delaware type,
each TO cost when complete, with arms
and armament, $4,000; ten destroyers,
to cost $4,000 each, and eight submarine
torpedo boats, each 10 cost $4,000
The bill also authorizes the expenditure
" *400.go0 for the purchase, within the
discretion OF the Secretary Of the Navy.
Of subsurfaee boats provided they shall
meet certain requirements as laid down
in the bill
The measure carries an expenditure for
the entire naval establishment Of sl0l ,000,-
90. approximately This amount. however,
does not include any appropriation for
the building programme which is con-
tanned in the bin. The increase Of the
navy provided for IN the bill is simply
authorized. and no appropriation for IL
will be made until the naval bill OF next
year IS made up. Included in the bill,
however. are appropriations, available on
July / Of this year. for constructions
heretofore authorized. including two bat
tie ships Of the Delaware class, which are
now building
HObsOn Pleads for Ships.
The Secretary OF the tavy in his annual
report, and in his statements before the
committee, urged the authorization Of
four battle ships Of the Delaware type,
each to cost S9,5O0.Op0. Representative
Hobson, before the committee yesterday.
supplemented the Secretary's statement
By a long and elaborate argument in
favor Of carrying out this recommended
ton in toto. When it came TO a vote four
members Of the c0mmittee-Messrs Lilley,
OF Connecticut; Thomas, Of Ohios Meyer.
Of Louisiana. and Talbot OF Maryland
supported Mr.. HObson in favor Of four
battle ships. MT Meyer was not present
but he sent in his vote. TO be recorded in
favor OF the big building programme.
Talbot and HObson, both Of whom sup
ported the recommendation for four battle
| ships, are Democrats. Lilley and Thomas
are Republicans.
Feared Defeat In House.
/ While the committee cut down the num-
/ Der Of battle ships from four 20 two, there
was practically a unanimous sentiment
! expressed in the committee in favor OF
/ four battle ships; but IN view Of the
fear that the House would not stand for
/ so large an authorization, il was agreed
/ to limit the number to two. five Of the
members OF the committee dissenting
Mr. Hohson will present a minority re-
/ port on the matter urging authorization
and an appropriation to be Immediately
available, for four big boats. The four
members who supported Mr.. H0bs0n have
not indicated whether they viii join with
/ Mr.. Hobson Fl his minority report
/ Although the authorization for battle
ships was limited TO one-half the number
] recommended. the committee al the same
/ time doubled the Secretary's rccommen-
dations for submarines. The department
/ had recommended the purchase Of f0uI
/ submarines but the committee found
/ itself delayed with petitions and ad-
! dresses from the Pacific Coast States
asking for the establishment Of subma-
( rines for the defenSes OF Seattle, Port
/ land. San Francisco. Honolulu. and other
| Pacific haTb0Ts. and yielding 10 this SEN
/ timent the committee authorized the con
/ struction Of eight submarines. TO cost
/ $4,000.
FnVOrs Octopus Type.
The committee also included IN It's bin a
resolution. offered by Representative Lou
Ideuslager, which obliges the Secretary OF
I the Navy 70 follow the recommendations
+ Of the submarine board as made following
/ the tests al Newport last spring. The
board then reported the Octopus type as
superior TO the Lake type, AMI the Ian
! guage Of the new law will re IuiTe that
the boats purchased must come up TO the
standard laid down by the Newport board
tests. The subsurface boats, which are
I 10 be purchased after certain tests, are
/ not 10 be Classed as submarines, but theiI
aTate and apart from submarine tests
Ignores Several Requests.
! The bill contains no authorization for
an ammunition ship, a repair ship, or the
two mine-laying ships, which were recon-
mended by the Secretary Of the Navy
/ The matter Of authorizing fleet golfers
as recommended by the department, is tc
/ be left for consideration in a separate
bill
! The bill authorizes an increase in the
I number Of enlisted men in the navy by
5000, and an appropriation. TO be imme-