The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-04-09
HOUSE GETS
 NAVAL BILL Hobson Submits Minority
 Reports. HE WANTS MORE BIG SHIPS Measure Carries an Appropriation
 of $l03,9655lS. The Alabama Congressman Insists on Four New Battieships But Ma- jortty of Committee Re-
 commends only Two.
HE WANTS MORE BIG SHIPS

Washington. April s.-The naval ap- propriation bill, authorizing the con- struction of two instead of nve bat tleships. and eight instead of four sub marine torpedo boats. and carrying a total appropriation of s1os.se7.sis Tor the naval service for the fiscal year ending June 30. 1909, was reported 10 the House today by Chairman Fioss oi the Committee on Naval Anairs.
 The total appropriation recommend ed is s22,51s.s31 less than the aggre- gate estimates submitted by the De- partment, $3,663.916 more than the amount appropriated for the fiscal year ending June 30. 1908. The bill carries an item or si,ooo,vou towards the construction of suomarine ana tornedo boats and an item of $445,- 900 toward the construction of suo-sur- face torpedo boats.
 provision Is made for the enlistment of 5000 men to man the following sbins. which are to be put in comnnis. sion within the next few months; Ine California, Mississippi, Idaho, New Hampshire, South Dakota. North car oIIna. Montana, Chester, Birmingham and Salem, and for 1,500 men required to man torpedo boats not now in com mission.
 Hcbson's Amendment.
 Representative Hobson of Alabama submitted q minority report recom- mending that provision be made Tn the bill for four first class battleships in- stead of two.
 Among. the items in the bill are the following:
 Naval training station, Great Lakes. sI0ss.6O0: construction and machfn- cry, 3e,s32,962: armor and armament. ST,ooo. .o00; equipment. $4o0.o0o' for 4rtn = 445.OoO. An increase of 4500,000 over last years appropriation was allowed in the appropriation for ordnance and ordnance stores. mainly for target practice. and because there will be in full or partial commission during the fiscal year twenty-four battleships. twelve frst-ciass cruisers ;. sixty-six second rate and third rate vessels. six ty torpedo vessels and fifteen auxilt- aries making a total of TIT vessels. Tharshts an lperease of s1so.o00 for snnokeless powder. The btll- further provides an appropriation of $415,00o for replacing the three-pounder and six-pounder guns by three inch 50 call lore or large guns. because of the in- crease in the effective range of the latest type of torpedo. These new guns are designed to give the ships protection against long range torpedo discharge.
 Provision is made for other changes Intended to keep the batteries of the ships in the highest state of efficien- cy, Nine hundred and fifty thousand dollars is appropriated for torpedoes and the converting of torpedo boats.
 The appropriation for arming and equipping the naval militia is increased to Sl00,0o0 in order that this branch of the naval reserve of the United States may be more efficiently conducted.
 Equipment of Vessels.
 The appropriation for equipment of vessels Is increased $500. 900 over the current fiscal year on account of the increased number of ships in commits sion and the necessity of fitting them with the new gun firing apparatus and wireless telegraphy.
 The appropriation for coal and trans- portation is increased $S50 000.
 For provisions for the navy an ap-' propriation Is made of $6.547. .903. The report accompanying the bill states that an allowed increased of $100, 900 in the appropriation for provisions for the marine corps lis due to the in- creased cost of sixteen per cent in the price of rations."
 The report shows that there are in course of building seven battleships, four armored cruisers. three scout cruisers, five torpedo boat destroyers four submarine torpedo boats, two col Hers and two seagoing tugs. The amount necessary to be appropriated to pay for the work now in progress and contracted for during the next fiscal year is $17,232.962.
 Under the heading, Naval program" the committee recommends that the President be authorized to have con- structed two frst-class battleships, to coast, exclusive of armor and arma- ment, not exceeding $6.O00.600 each i; ten torpedo boat destroyers, to have the highest practicable speed and to cost, exclusive of armament, not to exceed $s00,0o0 each; that the Secre- tary of the Navy oe authorized to have constructed eight submarine torpedo boats, to cost in the aggregate not more than ss,500,00 of which amount $1.o00 900 is appropriated; one sub surface torpedo boat at a cost not to exceed $4oo, ,o00. and two small vessels of like type not to exceed in cost $22.> 500 each-a total authorization of S23.. 945, ,000, which will be increased $7.000.- 900 by the cost of arming and equip ping the two battleships.
 Program of Foreigners.
 The report shows that the naval construction program of the several foreign powers contemplate the expen- diture of the following. amount for vessels as indicated, during the com ing fiscal year:
 England-Three battieships, Dread naught type, one fast unarmored cruis- CT; five oceangoing destroyers, tWelVe frstclass torpedo boats, twelve suo- marines s39,41s.650.
 France-Five destroyers, ten subma- rines, s.ess.S4s
 Gernany-Two battleships. one ar nored cruiser. two scout cruisers, twelve destroyers and several subma- rines, $So575,sso.
 Japan-s17ss5,7 7sS for construction and repair. including the restoration of Russian battleships taken as prizes. Russia-s15. 100000 for construction and repair.
 Brazil-Three battleships two scout cruisers, eighteen torpedo boats and destroyers.
 The relative positions of the several powers in naval strength is shown to be as follows:
 Ships built: Great Britain, United States. France, Germany, Japan. Rus sia, Italy, Austria.
 ships built and building; Great 8lFtAins France, United states. Ger.